Jazz Articles
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Christy Doran: in The Corner Of The Eye
by Ian Patterson
For forty years, Irish-born, Lucerne-based guitarist Christy Doran has recorded prolifically for numerous labels. Inevitably perhaps, many of his earlier works are out of print, so it's cause for celebration that this release brings together the very best of Phoenix (hat Art, 1990) and What a Band (hat Art, 1992), two long-neglected yet essential Doran recordings. The majority of Doran's releases have been with bands, from the seventies jazz-rock/free jazz group OM to New Bag, his main working ...
Continue ReadingNathan Davis Quintet: The Hip Walk
by Ken Dryden
There are numerous examples of talented American jazz musicians who had long careers but were overlooked by critics, broadcasters and much of the jazz audience, often because they spent decades as full time jazz educators, which limited their opportunities to tour in support of their recordings. Nathan Davis, primarily known as a tenor and soprano saxophonist, though he was also a fine flautist and clarinetist, falls into that category, though part of the reason he is lesser known is that ...
Continue ReadingAntonello Losacco: Worlds Beyond
by Neil Duggan
Jazz albums featuring the seven-string electric bass are fairly unusual. Antonello Losacco makes a strong case that this situation should change, by making full use of the wide harmonic and melodic possibilities of the instrument on his album, Worlds Beyond . He was a co-designer of the bass he uses, having undertaken technical research into the pitch, tone and sound that can be created. Losacco has explored and collaborated on numerous musical projects and in a variety of ...
Continue ReadingIvo Perelman, Nate Wooley, Mat Maneri, Fred Lonberg-Holm, Joe Morris, Matt Moran: Seven Skies Orchestra
by Hrayr Attarian
Ever the intrepid innovator, saxophonist Ivo Perelman takes his music in a new direction on the double-disc set, Seven Skies Orchestra. After a long series, primarily of duets, Perelman returns to a larger ensemble setting, a sextet in this case. That is not the only difference between this release and his previous output; the music here, although still entirely improvised and easily recognizable as Perelman's, moves in a more spacious, contemplative direction, less introspective and more outgoing. Vibraphonist ...
Continue ReadingNew Music From Moto Perpetuo, Escalandrum, Ken Aihara And Jizue
by Len Davis
New music from Italy with Moto Perpetuo, Escalandrum and guitarist Sebastian Lans from Argentina, and from the Netherlands Ellewout de Raad and Sebastian Visser. US based Japanes keyboardist Ken Aihara and from Chile Abrete Gandul. Japanese bands Jizue and Trix and we finish with some progressive music from Belgium with Paskinel. Playlist Moto Perpetuo “Operation:Suitcase" from Untitled (Cobert Edizioni) 00:00 Escalandrum “Cisne Negro" from Escalectric (Warner Music) 05:50 Sebastian Lans “Facu Vidal" from Vuelta Al Mundo (Ekelefante en ...
Continue ReadingFrode Gjerstad with Matthew Shipp: We Speak
by John Sharpe
While the combination of reedman Frode Gjerstad--the godfather of Norwegian free jazz who dwells about as far from the so-called Nordic sound as you can get--and pianist Matthew Shipp -whose lineage can be traced back through what he terms The Black Mystery School, which takes in Thelonious Monk, Mal Waldron and Randy Weston among others--might seem unlikely, it makes perfect sense when you hear it. From the first piece “About Music" on, it is clear that this pairing is not ...
Continue ReadingJohn Ellis, Donald Vega & Gerald Cannon
by Joe Dimino
On the first episode of 2024, we begin with celebrated bassist Gerald Cannon live at Dizzy's Club in New York City. From there, we play releases from late 2023 and new music from 2024 including music from John Ellis, Kelly Jefferson, Mark Burnell and Christian Dillingham. Veteran musicians Donald Vega and Marius Van Den Brink also add some good flavor to this initial hour of 2024 jazz. The show comes to a close with Chris Mondak and material off his ...
Continue ReadingMatt Otto: Umbra
by Gary Fukushima
In his 30-plus years in music, Matt Otto has, in addition to mastering improvising and training his ear to near perfection, learned to write incredibly complex compositions, challenging in every musical aspect: melodic, harmonic, rhythmic. Yet even now, his composing continues to evolve. “I feel like it's maybe less evolution than like going back to my roots," the tenor saxophonist contravenes. “I started out being a mostly free player, and I'm missing as I get older more of ...
Continue ReadingTom Griesgraber & Bert Lams: Don't Look Back
by Geno Thackara
The title probably isn't really a warning. To judge from the warm affable sound of Tom Griesgraber's Chapman Stick piece, “Don't Look Back" feels more like a piece of optimistic advice. Further brightened by the easygoing chemistry he shares with Bert Lams as they skip through what should be a rhythmic booby trap, it's as bouncy as classy pastoral quasi-folk can get. ...
Continue ReadingHoward University Jazz Ensemble 2023: Nefertiti
by Jack Bowers
The Howard University Jazz Ensemble was formed almost half a century ago, in 1975, by Fred Irby III, its first--and, so far, only--music director. Every year since 1976, the ensemble has recorded and released an album to showcase its prowess and growth under Irby's baton. This year's entry, Nefertiti, is a tribute to the legendary saxophonist Wayne Shorter, many of whose compositions have become jazz standards, including the album's title song. Interestingly, Shorter, a twelve-time Grammy winner ...
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