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George Mraz & Iva Bittova: Moravian Gems
by Victor Verney
George Mraz & Iva Bittova Moravian Gems CubeMetier 2007
The United States is a large country and anything but culturally homogenous. Americans routinely make geographical distinctions among themselves, politically (red state vs. blue state), religiously (Southern Baptist vs. New England Baptist), and of course, musically. All three of America's indigenous musical art forms draw such lines: Southern rock is considered a distinct subgenre of rock'n'roll; Chicago blues is distinguished from its elder ...
Continue ReadingAa.Vv.: Billy Strayhorn: Lush Life
by AAJ Italy Staff
Strettissimo collaboratore di Duke Ellington per quasi trent’anni, Billy Strayhorn è uno dei grandi autori della storia del jazz. Basta scorrere i titoli dei brani contenuti in questo album per rinfrescarsi la memoria. Oggi, a quarant’anni dalla sua scomparsa, l’etichetta Blue Note pubblica questo CD, nel quale alcune delle sue più famose composizioni vengono interpretate da un nucleo di artisti davvero impressionante. Al di là del singolo brano, o della declinazione che ad esso viene attribuita dai singoli musicisti, quello ...
Continue ReadingJoe Lovano: I'm All for You
by Samuel Chell
No instrument is more synonymous with jazz than the tenor saxophone, due equally to the expressive capabilities of the horn and the legacy of great players who have been attracted to it. On the evidence of Down Beat readers' and critics' polls over the past decade, Joe Lovano would appear to be the favorite among contenders for the top spot among present-day tenor titans. Is he one of the giants? Perhaps, though one might be hard-pressed to make the case ...
Continue ReadingJoe Lovano: I'm All For You
by Jim Santella
Joe Lovano’s unique tone gives his ballad album a whispering quality that stays up close and intimate throughout. He’s with you back there at the corner table as you nurse your drink for another hour in one of your town’s respected nightclubs. Most of the crowd has already called it a night, but you’re loving this mood too much to go home. The tenor saxophone sound that wafts gently from his horn lifts your spirits and reminds you of the ...
Continue ReadingJoe Lovano: I'm All For You
by Russell Moon
Joe Lovano's I'm All For You is subtitled Ballad Songbook. Every song is taken at a leisurely pace, and the recording reminds me of Charlie Haden's Quartet West album Haunted Heart. All of the renditions are indeed haunting and very soulful. Lovano has collected three of the best to join him—Hank Jones on piano, George Mraz on bass and Paul Motian on drums. The great ones make it look easy.
Half of the 59 minute album is made up of ...
Continue ReadingSteve Kuhn: Seasons of Romance
by Glenn Astarita
The great jazz pianist Steve Kuhn tackles well-known standards and not so familiar compositions by performers such as Brazilian guitarist Dori Caymmi, bassist Steve Swallow and a contribution from saxophonist Bob Mintzer on Seasons of Romance.
The opener, saxophonist Bob Mintzer's piece titled, “Six Gun" is an ebullient, mid-tempo swing while Kuhn's easily-recognizable or patented elegance and signature style is notably portrayed from the onset. Kuhn's flair and casual poise ride atop the skillful rhythmic articulations by veteran and highly ...
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