Jazz Articles about Conrad Herwig

About Conrad Herwig

Album Review

A jazz guitarist with a penchant for provocation once called the guitar “the lamest jazz instrument... besides the trombone." The big horn, with its awkard slide and low, nasal sound, is certainly a jazz underdog. Its important role in big bands is indisputable, but it is generally not thought of as a frontman instrument. In other words, there’s never been a Charlie Parker or John Coltrane of the trombone. Thanks to the unwieldy mechanics of the instrument, trombonists typically haven’t ...

332

Album Review

Bill Evans: Touch

Read "Touch" reviewed by Paula Edelstein

by Paula Edelstein
June 1, 1999

Touch, produced by veteran saxophonist-composer Bill Evans for his debut on Zebra Records is one of compositional integrity that continues to explore the melodic themes of his previous release, Starfish & The Moon. His 11th as a leader, Touch exemplifies the personality and depth of Bill Evans’ musicianship on tunes ranging from smooth to straight ahead, charged with soaring soprano and robust tenor solos. The serenely lyrical “In Your Heart” imprints his smooth sax deep within the soul, ...

248

Album Review

Bill Evans: Touch

by Ed Kopp
June 1, 1999

Whenever I hear a soprano saxophone played over a pre-programmed beat my attention inevitably wavers, even if the music it is somewhat challenging. I call this condition the Kenny G Syndrome.While listening to Touch I really had to fight through the Kenny G Syndrome on a couple of tracks, but in time I warmed up to most of these 11 tunes.To be fair, Bill Evans is no Kenny G. He's a veteran solo artist with a ...

417

Album Review

Joe Henderson: Porgy & Bess

Read "Porgy & Bess" reviewed by AAJ Staff

by AAJ Staff
November 1, 1997

In the early 90's, Joe Henderson “reappeared" as a major star on the jazz scene with a Grammy winning tribute album to Billy Strayhorn. Since then, his new label, Verve, has released a steady stream of well received theme albums by Henderson, and the latest addition to that series is Henderson's attempt at the Gershwins' Porgy & Bess. After the fairly traditional Strayhorn tribute, Henderson enlisted the services of guitarist John Scofield for his tribute to Miles Davis. After a ...

306

Album Review

Conrad Herwig: The Latin Side of John Coltrane

Read "The Latin Side of John Coltrane" reviewed by Douglas Payne

by Douglas Payne
April 1, 1997

A great idea beautifully executed by New York trombonist Conrad Herwig. The trombonist/arranger/musical director chooses Coltrane's most accessible material from a period that arguably spawned his best, most memorable work (1958-1964), devised simple, exploratory frameworks for each (recalling veteran Chico O'Farrill), then assembled an outstanding collection of musicians. In addition to Herwig's sinewy trombone, there's Brian Lynch on trumpet, Dave Valentin on flutes, Ronnie Cuber on baritone, Richie Beirach (who contributed to some of the arrangements), Danilo Perez and Eddie ...