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Nathan Borton: Each Step
by Dan McClenaghan
The 1960s were fine and formative times for jazz guitar. Wes Montgomery was there. So was Grant Green. The pair led the pack, and still do, to an extent. Guitarist Nathan Borton, with his debut recording, Each Step, embraces the traditions of these two influences. Borton's sound comes directly out of the straight ahead bebop style, beginning with the album's title tune, a Borton original--a gorgeous easy swinger. Cole Porter's oft-covered Just One Of Those Things" turns up ...
read moreUlysses Owens Jr. Big Band: Soul Conversations
by Jack Bowers
Drummer Ulysses Owens Jr.'s Big Band comes out swinging on its debut recording, Soul Conversations, thundering through Michael Dease's incendiary arrangement of the Dizzy Gillespie/John Lewis flame-thrower, Two Bass Hit." For more such heat, however, the listener must move forward to Track 5, John Coltrane's impulsive Giant Steps," thence to Track 9 for Charles Turner III's earnest homage to Harlem Harlem Harlem," on which he doubles as vocalist. That's not to say that everything in between is ...
read moreDiego Rivera: Indigenous
by Kyle Simpler
The old saying, a picture is worth a thousand words" might be a cliché, but it also contains an element of truth. Some of the most powerful messages come across without relying on words. And when it comes to music, lyrics are not always needed to convey a message. Such is the case with Diego Rivera's Indigenous. Named after the famous Mexican artist, Diego Rivera has established himself as a major figure in jazz music. Since 2000, he ...
read moreVarious Artists: Tales Of Wonder: A Jazz Celebration Of Stevie
by Kyle Simpler
There aren't many songwriters who have reached a level of success comparable to Stevie Wonder. He is one of the most important figures in American music, and to celebrate his 70th birthday, Posi-Tone records is releasing Tales of Wonder: A Jazz Celebration of Stevie. This compilation, performed by some of the label's excellent roster of musicians, offers a fitting tribute to this legendary artist. Rather than simply offering something of a greatest hits compilation, Tales of Wonder digs into Wonder's ...
read moreDiego Rivera, Paolo Pavan and More
by Bob Osborne
This week we feature new releases from Diego Rivera and Paolo Pavan, a host of other recent albums, and forthcoming releases, as well as some classic Carla Bley to close proceedings. Playlist Diego Rivera Connections" from Connections(Posi-tone) 00:00 Paolo Pavan Black Hand" from BlacHand (Paolo Pavan) 05:12 Michele Franzini, Greg Osby Beauty Has Your Voice" from Choices (Inner Circle Music) 10:15 Enrico Rava, Joe Lovano"Interiors" from Roma (ECM) 18:17 Dave Holland, Zakir Hussain & Chris Potter Good ...
read moreDiego Rivera: The Contender
by Jud Branam
Like the famous muralist from whom he got his name, Michigan tenor saxophonist Diego Rivera covers a lot of stylistic ground while adhering to a workmanlike theme on his new CD, The Contender. Rivera leads a powerful sextet through an 11-song set of brawny, orthodox post-bop that carries on the blowing session tradition in the best sense of the phrase. The title-track opener sets an aggressive and upbeat mood with an angular, John Coltrane-styled sax intro ...
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