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Redman / Mehldau / McBride / Blade: Long Gone
by Scott Gudell
The mid-1990s saw the first recorded and officially preserved union of four up-and-coming jazz newcomers--Joshua Redman (saxophone,) Christian McBride (bass,) Brad Mehldau (piano) and Brian Blade (drums.) All four were dedicated followers of classic jazz and came together, but soon scattered and began charting their own individual courses. There was a long delay before they reunited for a second quartet recording in 2020. By then, each and every one of them had earned the respect of their peers and risen ...
Continue ReadingBrian Blade, Sun Ra, Jon Cowherd, Chris Potter & More New Releases
by Ludovico Granvassu
Sun Ra may have joined the outer spaceways almost 30 years ago but he continues to inspire our earthly affairs through the musicians that have worked with him. We explore recent releases of the Arkestra and of bassist Tyler Mitchell, both of which revolve around the contribution of Marshall Allen. The other cluster of tracks is centered around the interlinkages among three musicians that have collaborated for a long time: Brian Blade, Jon Cowherd, Chris Potter. In between, Santi Debriano ...
Continue ReadingBob Dylan: Fragments - Time Out of Mind Sessions (1996-1997): The Bootleg Series, Vol. 17
by Mike Jurkovic
Dylanologists of every stripe and level of Dylanalia had it partly right when Bob Dylan released Time Out Of Mind (Columbia) in mid-September 1997. “Great album!" They/we/us all screamed. “Great songs!" “Dylan's best since the totemic Blood On the Tracks!" (Columbia, 1975) “Mid-career masterwork!" “The Bard's New Relevance!" If you weren't there the first time it really was a Category 5 idiot wind of biblical proportion. In the chalk dust arena of popular punditry, the second enfant ...
Continue ReadingJohn Patitucci Trio: Live In Europe
by Mike Jurkovic
Bassist/composer/arranger John Patitucci's intensive sessionography is so vast and amplified by just a smattering of the names he has brought to his triple A+ game to-- Chick Corea, Wayne Shorter, Nora Jones, Monty Alexander, Warren Zevon, Lynne Arriale, Connie Han--it is rather easy to forget what a true monster he is on both electric and double bass when he spearheads out on his own. Live In Europe is a quick reminder. Available on streaming platforms only (folks at ...
Continue ReadingJeff Denson, Romain Pilon and Brian Blade: Finding Light
by Pierre Giroux
Boston's Berklee College of Music has the reputation as an incubator of some top rated musicians including Quincy Jones, Diana Krall and Melissa Etheridge among others. So it should come as no surprise that the threesome attached to this recording, bassist Jeff Denson, guitarist Romain Pilon and drummer Brian Blade were all standout students and friends while simultaneously attending Berklee. Like many other musicians, the two terrible years of the Covid-19 pandemic, put many communal activities ...
Continue ReadingDave Stryker: As We Are
by Richard J Salvucci
One of the few good things about coming late to a party is that you don't have to start the conversation. The guests are there, drinks have been served, and one way or another, a tone—or several—has been set. All you have to do is blend in. Sometimes it is easy. Other times it is not.As We Are is already established near the top of the jazz charts. It has been reviewed, and reviewed very well on All ...
Continue ReadingDopolarians: The Bond
by Vincenzo Roggero
Rispetto alla formazione che diede alle stampe l'ottimo Garden Party, ci sono due avvicendamenti: Brian Blade sostituisce Alvin Fielder, storico batterista membro dell'AACM, deceduto pochi mesi dopo quell'incisione e il trombettista Mark Franklin al posto del veterano sassofonista Kidd Jordan. Ma lo spirito e l'approccio rimangono gli stessi, un dialogo aperto tra musicisti di generazioni differenti accomunati dalla passione per la improvvisazione (più o meno libera). E quale veicolo migliore di due lunghi brani tra i venti e i trenta ...
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