Jazz Articles about Art Hirahara

About Art Hirahara

Album Review

Blue Moods' Force & Grace is the third in a series of Posi-Tone releases in which music of under-recognized jazz composers is given a fair shake by bands comprised of some of the label's leading lights. This time around, the group features 12 compositions by Freddie Hubbard, a figure revered for his prowess as a trumpeter, to the neglect of his talent as a writer. The material receives straightforward no-frills treatments, making it easier to savor Hubbard's penchant for writing ...

Album Review

Diego Rivera: Ofrenda

Read "Ofrenda" reviewed by David A. Orthmann

by David A. Orthmann
November 5, 2024

Tenor and soprano saxophonist Diego Rivera has amassed an impressive track record on the Posi-Tone imprint as a leader, sideman, and other projects curated by producer Marc Free. Ofrenda, a ten-movement suite, is a vehicle for Rivera's impressions of aspects of altars corresponding with the traditional Mexican holiday Día De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead). In essence, an ofrenda is usually created by and placed in the home of the family of a person who has passed away.

Album Review

Diego Rivera: Ofrenda

by Kyle Simpler
November 3, 2024

El Dia de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead) is a time to honor deceased loved ones. Although the holiday originated in Mexico, many other cultures have embraced the tradition. One of its traditional features is an ofrenda, which is a traditional altar, generally placed in the home, containing several different items ranging from food to religious items. To an outsider, the celebration might seem somber and mournful, but this is not entirely the case. El Dia de los ...

Radio & Podcasts

Good Company

by Bob Osborne
September 19, 2024

The title of Art Hirahara's new release embraces the spirit of jazz. Music made in good company with musicians interacting to create something special. Two new albums from ground-breaking saxophonist Ivo Perelman reflect this approach as well with the creation of music which pushes at boundaries. Other brand new releases from 2024 make up the rest of the show apart from a coda of two great tracks from Miles Davis electric period in 1969-1970.Playlist Show Intro 00:00 Art ...

Album Review

Josh Lawrence: Measured Response

Read "Measured Response" reviewed by David A. Orthmann

by David A. Orthmann
July 18, 2024

Art Hirahara's brief, cryptic solo piano intro to “Where Do We Go?," the opening track of trumpeter/flugelhornist Josh Lawrence's album, offers little indication of what immediately follows: Lawrence's warm-toned, delectable horn surrounded by relaxed, straightforward, middling-tempo swing courtesy of bassist Luques Curtis and drummer Rudy Royston. This intriguing transition sets the stage for a recording that establishes a loose continuity amid changes in mood and temperament. Measured Response encompasses an impressive stylistic reach. “A Tragic Tango Comedy" ...

Album Review

Behn Gillece: Stick Together

Read "Stick Together" reviewed by David A. Orthmann

by David A. Orthmann
May 30, 2024

While Behn Gillece's Stick Together, the vibraphonist's seventh disc for the Posi-Tone imprint, includes an abundance of highlights and exciting moments, there is something more substantive here than a band of excellent players constantly going full bore. The disc functions within the parameters of tried-and-true modern jazz practices, yet the difference between it and releases that bear a stylistic resemblance lies in a distinctive group sound that stays front and center amid compelling individual contributions. Regardless of ...

Album Review

Behn Gillece: Stick Together

Read "Stick Together" reviewed by Kyle Simpler

by Kyle Simpler
May 26, 2024

The vibraphone came to prominence during the Jazz Age of the '20s and has remained a staple in that genre ever since. Over the years, performers such as Lionel Hampton, Milt Jackson and Gary Burton have added to the popularity of the instrument. N ow vibraphonist Behn Gillece is building from this legacy to develop his own unique sound. With Stick Together, his seventh Posi-Tone release, Gillece gives listeners a delightful collection of music which not only highlights his musical ...