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Diego Rivera: Ofrenda
by Kyle Simpler
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 ...
Continue ReadingGood Company
by Bob Osborne
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 ...
Continue ReadingJosh Lawrence: Measured Response
by David A. Orthmann
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" ...
Continue ReadingBehn Gillece: Stick Together
by David A. Orthmann
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 ...
Continue ReadingBehn Gillece: Stick Together
by Kyle Simpler
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 ...
Continue ReadingBlue Moods: Swing & Soul
by David A. Orthmann
Swing & Soul is the second in a series of recordings by Blue Moods, one of the projects initiated by Posi-Tone Records producer Marc Free to attract new listeners to jazz. The release showcases a collection of compositions by pianist Duke Pearson, an underrecognized figure who worked for Blue Note as an A&R man, arranger, and sideman, in addition to leading several dates that remain in high regard by many aficionados. Five of Posi-Tone's leading lights, tenor ...
Continue ReadingArt Hirahara: Echo Canyon
by Neil Duggan
The planned happenstance theory states that unplanned events can create new opportunities. So it was that Art Hirahara was in the right place at the right time, taking last-minute advantage of studio time at Brooklyn's Acoustic Recording studio following a cancellation by another artist. Along with his long time collaborators, bassist Boris Kozlov and drummer Rudy Royston, the session produced the album, Echo Canyon. This is his ninth album for the Posi-Tone Records label and follows on from Verdant Valley ...
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