Jazz Articles

like 401

Improvisation from Barcelona: Agusti Fernandez and Octante

by John Eyles
August 3, 2009

Albums by pianist Agusti Fernandez and the group Octante (as well as the concurrent release of Barcelona Chronicles by guitarist Derek Bailey) provide a timely opportunity to celebrate the dynamic improvised music scene of Barcelona, Spain. The profile of the city's improvisers has steadily grown in recent years, not least because of the work of IBA (Improvisers of Barcelona Association), a collective of improvising musicians and dancers, which organises concerts around the city, often in private homes. The work of ...

like 244

Christina Gustafsson: My Move

by Bruce Lindsay
August 3, 2009

Recent years appear to have seen a resurgence of jazz vocalists, with singers covering songs from across musical genres as well as performing originals. Scandinavia has produced some fine new singers to help in this resurgence: Christina Gustafsson, from Sweden, has the potential to be one of the best. Her second album features the same core group of musicians as her debut, Moments Free (Prophone, 2007), but unlike her all-original debut, My Move mixes originals with standards. ...

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Jurgen Friedrich: Pollock

by Jerry D'Souza
August 3, 2009

Pianist Jürgen Friedrich, bassist John Hebert and drummer Tony Moreno banded together in 1998 when Friedrich, who was on a visit to the United States, met the other two at a jam session. The empathy between them was instant and they decided to team up. They hit the road, creating an ambience that was snug in the comfort zone of chamber music.

Friedrich is a judicious and resolute pianist, choosing his notes with deliberation. He is in no hurry to ...

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Turn Out the Lights: The Final Village Vanguard Recordings, June 1980

by Jeff Stockton
August 3, 2009

Bill Evans Trio Turn Out the Stars: The Final Village Vanguard Recordings June 1980 Nonesuch Records 2009

The recent wave of celebrity deaths is a reminder that there's no greater loss the arts can suffer than losing someone in their creative prime. Pianist Bill Evans was 50 when he returned to New York's Village Vanguard for a series of dates in the summer of 1980 with his relatively new trio, and he ...

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Ken Vandermark: Collected Fiction (Improvised Bass & Reed Duos) & Fire Room: Broken Music

by Marc Medwin
August 3, 2009

Ken VandermarkCollected Fiction (Improvised Bass & Reed Duos)Okkadisk2008 Fire RoomBroken MusicAtavistic2008 Saxophonist Ken Vandermark has made a career of placing himself in diverse company, whether as a leader or as part of a shared effort. These two releases continue the trend, finding him in partnership with collaborators old and new. However, he brings new ...

like 184

Warren Smith: Old News Borrowed Blues

by Lyn Horton
August 3, 2009

Famous for his participation in Max Roach's percussionist band, M'Boom, drummer/vibraphonist Warren Smith has demonstrated with finesse how an approach stimulated by rhythm can become the impetus for larger ensemble music. A program of original compositions from his past, now arranged for brass, bass, guitar and percussion, is recorded for the first time in Old News Borrowed Blues. The album features a wonderful lineup in John Carlson and Cecil Bridgewater (trumpets), Joe Daley (euphonium), Jack Jeffers (bass trombone), Craig Rivers, ...

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Stan Getz: Stan Getz with Guest Artist Laurindo Almeida

by Andrew Velez
August 3, 2009

This is music that may be impossible to listen to while remaining still. The instant Stan Getz and Laurindo Almeida take off with “Minina Moca" ("Young Lady"), the party's on. Although the performances throughout are masterful, nothing is about showboating. This is music of great beauty in a totally relaxed setting. By the 1960s, Almeida was already a veteran of West Coast studio dates and years with Stan Kenton's big band. Kenton first heard the guitarist in ...

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Christian McBride & Inside Straight: Kind of Brown

by Ken Dryden
August 3, 2009

Since arriving in New York City in the late 1980s, where he briefly studied at Juilliard, Christian McBride has been one of jazz's most in-demand bassists. In addition, he has become a valuable composer, arranger and jazz educator with a wide-open interest in many musical styles. The initial CD by McBride's Inside Straight quartet features saxophonist Steve Wilson, pianist Eric Reed and drummer Carl Allen (with whom McBride worked in Benny Green's trio), expanding to a quintet on ...

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John Patitucci: Remembrance

by Joel Roberts
August 3, 2009

The bassist of choice through the years for Chick Corea, Roy Haynes, Wayne Shorter and many other jazz giants, John Patitucci is noted for his daunting technique on both acoustic and electric basses. Remembrance is a stripped-down effort with Joe Lovano on tenor and alto clarinet and Brian Blade, his longtime partner in Shorter's group, on drums. The trio plays at a supremely high level, Lovano soloing with his usual command and expressiveness and Blade providing subtlety and strength.

like 278

Peter Slocombe: Lullaby For Elizabeth

by Warren Allen
August 2, 2009

At age 24, Peter Slocombe sounds like a veteran. His debut, Lullaby For Elizabeth, shows a warm, lilting tenor sax sound, hinting at Joe Lovano and Michael Brecker, but mixed with a unique restraint rarely found in today's young jazz players. His music mixes folk and funk alike in the greater jazz tradition, keeping it all moving with an assortment of grooves.

“Memories of Pin Mill" opens with piano and guitar playing almost classical, poignant lines that build to a ...