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John Swana: Bright Moments
by Victor L. Schermer
Simply put, this album is so listenable and stood out so noticeably among the many CDs I've been spinning for myself recently, that I thought All About Jazz readers ought to know about it. I first heard then trumpeter John Swana a decade or more ago when he jammed at pianist Tom Lawton's memorable long-term gig with the late great bassist Al Stauffer at the Four Seasons Hotel in Philadelphia. I was awestruck by Swana's clarity, sustained non-vibrato tone, and ...
Continue ReadingJim Rotondi: Dark Blue
by C. Andrew Hovan
Back in 1997 when Introducing Jim Rotondi announced that a major new trumpeter star was on the ascent, few could have predicted how important and prolific Rotondi would become to the mainstream landscape. A foremost stylist in the lineage of Freddie Hubbard and Wood Shaw, Rotondi quickly proved he had absorbed the legacy, only to jettison imitation in favor of innovation. Working regularly with his own groups and the hard bop ensemble One For All, Rotondi was a major force ...
Continue ReadingDavid Hazeltine and Mike Kaplan: Two Perspectives On Cedar Walton
by David A. Orthmann
Years ago, I often went to a club in which a guest soloist was coupled with the house rhythm section. At one point in nearly every opening set, in an effort to find some common ground, the leader called Cedar Walton's “Bolivia." Sitting and waiting in anticipation for the theme to be played became an important part of witnessing each performance. Regardless of who was on the bandstand, “Bolivia" never failed to bring out the best in everyone.
Continue ReadingSmoke Sessions: A Threesome from Herring, Jackson, & Hazeltine
by C. Andrew Hovan
With the launch of their own label at the start of 2014, Smoke Jazz Club widened their circle by committing to tape performances by some of New York's finest musicians and dispersing this music via downloads and discs. A decidedly bare bones operation, the in-house production team has done a great job of capturing the ambiance of the room and everything from mastering to graphic design is dedicated to establishing an identity of quality and craftsmanship. ...
Continue ReadingGiovanni Sanguineti with David Hazeltine & Ed Thigpen: Hard to Find - Tribute to LeRoy Vinnegar
by AAJ Italy Staff
Prima di registrare in quartetto il recente Mindfulness, il bassista genovese aveva debuttato da solista con questo tributo a Leroy Vinnegar, condiviso con Ed Thigpen e David Hazeltine. Siamo in presenza di un classico piano trio di chiara estetica mainstream dove il basso del leader si pone in evidenza rispetto ai partner ma senza esagerare. Nato Genova 35 anni fa, Sanguineti ha studiato con Aldo Zunino, si è specializzato con Buster Willams ed ha svolto significative esperienze professionali con Benny ...
Continue ReadingDavid Hazeltine Trio: The Jobim Songbook in New York
by Ernest Barteldes
On this project, pianist David Hazeltine takes on the music of the late Jobim (who would have turned eighty in 2007) by looking at the music from an American point of view, without the typical bossa nova elements. Most of the music presented here is well-known, from “The Girl from Ipanema to “Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars (titled “Quiet Nights on the CD), but what Hazeltine does here is augment the classical influence that the songs' writer brought to them. ...
Continue ReadingDavid Hazeltine-George Mraz Trio: Manhattan
by Ken Dryden
Familiarity is a plus on this 2005 studio session by pianist David Hazeltine with bassist George Mraz and drummer Billy Drummond. Drawing most of their program from familiar standards and popular jazz compositions, the three musicians make each of them sound fresh with their brilliant interplay. The influence of Bill Evans is apparent in Hazeltine's approach to Dave Brubeck's “In Your Own Sweet Way, with Mraz's intricate bass line and Drummond's finesse on the brushes fueling the ...
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