Jazz Articles about Dennis Gonzalez

like 325

Dennis Gonz: Idle Wild

by Germein Linares
January 25, 2006

As with his previous efforts, notably 2004's quartet NY Midnight Suite, Texas-born trumpeter Dennis González creates jazz steeped in life's various joys, anxieties, truths and wonders. González's works require time and patience for full appreciation as they unfold through various rhythms, melodies, and harmonies. This is a thinking person's jazz. Catchy riffs and clever hooks won't do here. Tolerance and serenity are in abundance instead on Idle Wild, with saxophonist Oliver Lake, bassist Ken Filiano and drummer Michael T. A. ...

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Dennis Gonzalez's Spirit Meridian: Idle Wild

by Mark Corroto
August 13, 2005

The second Dennis Gonzalez sighting on the Portuguese Clean Feed label solidifies his reputation with some remarkable writing and playing. He retains only drummer Michael Thompson from his first outing, NY Midnight Suite (2004). This studio session finds him in good company with bassist Fen Filiano and saxophonist Oliver Lake.

The Texan trumpeter has been a shadowy figure in jazz, electing not to quit his day job teaching in the public schools. He has worked with leaders of ...

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Dennis Gonz

by Jeff Stockton
July 10, 2005

Dennis González NY Quartet NY Midnight Suite Clean Feed 2005

After teaching for thirty years in the Dallas public school system, underground trumpeter Dennis González was asked in 2003 to participate in the FONT trumpet festival at Tonic. The back half of NY Midnight Suite is thirty minutes recorded live by the band González brought together for that event. Tenor saxophonist Ellery Eskelin plays with dynamism, ranging from low, whispery notes to full-on nearly ...

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Dennis Gonzalez NY Quartet: NY Midnight Suite

by Derek Taylor
July 25, 2004

Internet chat boards remain places where all sorts of relationships take root. Even so it's not often that they're thought of as midwives for music. We have the Jazz Corner's Speakeasy to thank, at least in part, for the particular artistic partnership that resulted in this new Clean Feed compact disc. Trumpeter Dennis Gonzalez and saxophonist Ellery Eskelin each have ongoing forums at the site that allow regulars and visitors to posit questions about their respective musical endeavors. The two ...

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Dennis González: Old Time Revival

by Frank Rubolino
July 25, 2003

Dennis González consistently has shown the ability to brew a sorcerous concoction of gut-grabbing, throbbing music, and his latest effort with a star-studded lineup of musicians again works its magic. González presents a series of his compositions that demonstrates his unique methodology for combining infectious and rhythmic melody lines with wide open, unstructured improvisations, thus magnetically drawing and holding one inside the music.Playing three variations of trumpet, including the tiny pocket trumpet, González spews out mesmerizing currents that ...