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Rodney Whitaker: Oasis: The Music of Gregg Hill
by Jack Bowers
Oasis is the third time around for bassist Rodney Whitaker and music written by fellow Michigander Gregg Hill, following Common Ground (Origin 82780) and Outrospection (Origin 82819). Personnel is the same as on Common Ground (Terell Stafford, trumpet; Tim Warfield, saxophone; Bruce Barth, piano; Dana Hall, drums; Rockelle Fortin, vocals) with Hall and Fortin returning from Outrospection (on which Fortin is listed as Rockelle Whitaker). Hill's compositions are for the most part firmly grounded in customary post-bop ...
Continue ReadingEric Jacobson: Discover
by Nicholas F. Mondello
With Discover, Milwaukee-based trumpeter and jazz educator Eric Jacobson and team take us on an aural time trip back to the days when album covers were iconically black and white or monochrome and the contents within were drenched in blue-hued Hard Bop. This is a fine effort with that precise presentation. “New Combinations," which launches the date, is anything but new and sets the trajectory. One of four Jacobson originals, it is a straight-head burner directly out ...
Continue ReadingEric Jacobson: Discover
by Jack Bowers
If trumpeter Eric Jacobson's name doesn't ring a bell, it could be because he is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, not in New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles or any other jazz mecca. What's more, Jacobson has not recorded often; Discover is only his second date as leader or co-leader. Hindrances aside, Jacobson's is a name with which one should become familiar, as he is an excellent trumpeter and composer, and Discover is splendid from start to finish. ...
Continue ReadingSteve Slagle: Ballads: Into the Heart of it
by Edward Blanco
New York-based saxophonist, composer and educator Steve Slagle refused to let the pandemic interfere with his recording activities, and in August of 2021 completed a project covering an assortment of wonderful ballads on Ballads: Into the Heart of it. Having carved out a distinguished musical career spanning over four decades and documented on over 20 albums as leader, presenting the ballads in a slightly different way was a new challenge Slagle mastered elegantly. The album features a mix ...
Continue ReadingBruce Barth: Three Things of Beauty
by AAJ Italy Staff
Dopo le incisioni di debutto da leader in quintetto, e quelle successive in trio, Three Things of Beauty vede Bruce Barth in quartetto con Steve Nelson al vibrafono, Ben Street al contrabbasso e Dana Hall alla batteria. Una line-up che potrebbe fare ricordare il famoso Modern Jazz Quartet, ma è ovvio che qui siamo su ben altre coordinate. La ritmica di Ben Street (ascoltato di recente nel quartetto di Billy Hart con Mark Turner) e Dana Hall è swingante e ...
Continue ReadingBruce Barth Trio: Live at Smalls
by AAJ Italy Staff
Alla guida di un trio compatto ed assortito, Barth firma un pregevole disco nel segno dello swing. Grazie anche alla dimensione live la musica qui proposta ben rappresenta la mutevole cifra stilistica del pianista statunitense, giunto al dodicesimo cd da leader. Tutto si sviluppa all'insegna della sorpresa e della discontinuità, nell'intento di dar forma a multiformi costruzioni musicale in ognuna dei nove brani in scaletta. Alla base vi è uno swing gioioso e robusto, arricchito da atmosfere sospese, free forms, ...
Continue ReadingBruce Barth Trio: New York City, March 3, 2011
by Emilie Pons
Bruce Barth TrioSmallsNew York City, USAMarch 3, 2011 On Thursday night, March 3, 2011, at Smalls in New York City, pianist Bruce Barth, bassist Vicente Archer and drummer Adam Cruz delighted an audience of jazz aficionados, gathered for a lovely CD release party for Bruce Barth Trio, The Flail, and the surprising Cyrille Aimee + Friends, with singer Aimee's beautifully raucous and raspy voice quieting the chatty room of jazz lovers to a hush. ...
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