Jazz Articles

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Kurt Elling: Dedicated To You

by A. Lienhard
June 20, 2009

Dedicated To You is a tribute to one of the most beloved and beautiful recordings in jazz, John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman. On that six song album, John Coltrane introduces a relatively unknown singer named Johnny Hartman. The two musicians had only just met one another, however in a mere three hours, they produce a classic. Hartman unfortunately never gains much recognition beyond this one album. Coltrane obviously fares a bit better. Kurt Elling is a standout ...

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Jojo Mayer's Nerve: Prohibited Beats

by Phil DiPietro
June 20, 2009

The Moller Whip, the one-hand roll, the push and pull, the heel-toe--dance steps, candy bars, perhaps? No, they're the names of incredible drum techniques attributed to and perfected by charismatic Swiss drummer Jojo Mayer. If you want to know what these techniques are, explore the plethora of drum-centric websites or the demo clips on YouTube documenting his dazzling appearances at the world's major drumfests, where he's royalty.

Not documented enough on record, performances beyond his most readily available with the ...

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The Conduit Trio: Beyond Liquid Glass

by Glenn Astarita
June 20, 2009

New Mexico is recognized as an artists' haven, but not an area that features jazz-rock power trios. Nonetheless, there are always exceptions to the perceived rule. Marked by strong material, consisting of memorable hooks, guitarist Robert Branch's sizzling riffs and blitzing crunch chords steer the band through a string of tension and release stylizations.

The trio also strikes a chord that might parlay notions of classic prog-guitar heroes, Joe Satriani, Greg Howe and Allan Holdsworth. The rhythm section ...

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Nick Hempton: Nick Hempton Band

by Edward Blanco
June 20, 2009

In 2005, Australian-born alto saxophonist Nick Hempton assembled a group of players to launch an assault on the Big Apple's vibrant jazz scene. His quartet--with musicians from around the globe including Israeli drummer Dan Aran, Sicilian-born bassist Marco Panascia, and pianist Art Hirahara (the only naturally-born American in the group, originally from the San Francisco Bay Area)--has been performing at jazz venues in the New York area ever since. The quartet's self-titled debut contains intelligent renditions of three familiar standards ...

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Marshall Allen: A Universe of Achievement

by AAJ Staff
June 20, 2009

Posted on behalf of Marshall Allen. It feels good to be receiving this Lifetime Achievement Award at the Vision Festival this month. Whenever somebody achieves something worthy, it's great to be recognized for it. The musicians who have received this award in the past include people that I have performed with, know and respect. I have received things like this before, like the Bluebird Award in Germany and some honorary mentions, but this award means a lot.

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Rob Mazurek and Tortoise: New Chicago

by Mark Corroto
June 19, 2009

The “Chicago sound" may be a misnomer when used to describe the music of cornetist Rob Mazurek and the band Tortoise, but the unpretentious experimentalism of both sits foursquare in the city's musical tradition. Chicago has nurtured innovative artists from trumpeter Louis Armstrong through keyboardist Sun Ra. The Chicago-based AACM (Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians) meanwhile is a touchstone for not only the new music of the 1960s, but also for the return of Chicago jazz to the ...

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Carol Fredette: Everything In Time

by C. Michael Bailey
June 19, 2009

Jazz vocalist Carol Fredette's singing is characterized as a clinic in singing with perfect diction. With a linguist's ear, Fredette concretely pronounces every word to every song she sings as if to commit them to platinum casts for use by International Bureau of Weights and Measures. Fredette accomplishes this not in some self-conscious way, but with a humor and grace that betrays a fully lived jazz life. This is further reflected in the breezy tone Everything in Time takes. Light ...

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Marc Ribot / Evan Parker / Han Bennink at Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, June 14th

by Marcus O'Dair
June 19, 2009

Marc Ribot / Evan Parker / Han Bennink Queen Elizabeth Hall London, England June 14, 2009

The Moment's Energy, a new ECM release from Evan Parker, may be a slight disappointment from an artist who has been acclaimed by some as the heir apparent to John Coltrane. Yet this appearance, part of London's Ornette Coleman-curated Meltdown festival, saw the sixty-something tenor and soprano player in first-rate form, particularly during an unaccompanied solo on the ...

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Jake Hertzog: Chromatosphere

by John Barron
June 19, 2009

Twenty-two year old guitarist Jake Hertzog, a native of Champaign, Illinois, delivers a truck-load of youthful energy for his power trio release, Chromatosphere. The Berklee College of Music Graduate is helped out on the self-produced, chops-heavy session by bassist Harvie S and drummer Victor Jones. Pianist Michael Wolff joins in on three tracks.

Hertzog's music moves through heavy jazz-fusion, instrumental progressive rock and straight-ahead bebop, all with an explosive, effects-driven edge. Tunes such as the opening “California Hills" and the ...

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John Geggie / Edward Simon / Jim Doxas: Ottawa, Canada June 13, 2009

by John Kelman
June 19, 2009

John Geggie/Edward Simon/Jim DoxasGeggie Concert Series: 2008-09, #8 National Arts Centre, Fourth Stage Ottawa, Canada June 13, 2009

It's been a banner year for John Geggie's Geggie Concert Series at the intimate Fourth Stage in Ottawa, Canada's National Arts Centre. With guitarist Vic Juris heating the room up at the bassist's February, 2009 performance, it's hard to imagine another show--although every show in the series is a winner--where the interaction, chemistry and ...