Jazz Articles about Isamu McGregor

About Isamu McGregor

Album Review

Zhengtao Pan Jazz Orchestra: Scenery in My Story

Read "Scenery in My Story" reviewed by Jack Bowers

by Jack Bowers
April 6, 2025

Zhengtao Pan, born in Shanghai, China, less than twenty-five years ago, was already well-known as a designer of video games when he chose to move to Boston, MA, to study jazz composition at the Berklee College of Music. Scenery In My Story is Pan's debut recording as leader of his Jazz Orchestra, and as its title suggests, the music is personal and thematic, tracing in solicitous terms Pan's impactful voyage from Shanghai to Boston. Intimate, yes, but ...

Album Review

Isamu McGregor: Resonance

Read "Resonance" reviewed by Karl Ackermann

by Karl Ackermann
July 23, 2017

It has been five years since the release of pianist Isamu McGregor's debut Live at the Baked Potato! (Amorphous Paraphernalia Records, 2012) and his Resonance turns out to be well worth the wait. While the first album was solidly entrenched in the fusion arena, the current outing is a genre defying and eclectic collection with an emphasis on acoustics. McGregor, still in his twenties, has worked with some top talent including Chris Potter, pianist Jean-Michel Pilc and Stefon Harris. The ...

Album Review

Isamu McGregor: Resonance

Read "Resonance" reviewed by Troy Dostert

by Troy Dostert
July 15, 2017

On this album, his second as a leader since 2012's Live at the Baked Potato, pianist/keyboardist Isamu McGregor continues to hone his approach to crafting intelligent, challenging jazz fusion. With bassist Evan Marien and drummer Gene Coye once again at his side, he's got the right partners for navigating his maze-like compositions, and guest spots by tenor saxophonist Seamus Blake, bass clarinetist Bennie Maupin and guitarist Deen Anbar also enhance the scope and stylistic diversity of the record.

Album Review

Isamu McGregor: Isamu McGregor: Live at the Baked Potato!

Read "Isamu McGregor: Live at the Baked Potato!" reviewed by Ian Patterson

by Ian Patterson
October 1, 2012

Keyboardist Isamu McGregor has fairly raced out of the blocks, playing or recording with guitarist Wayne Krantz, saxophonist Chris Potter, drummer Ari Hoenig, bassist James Genus, pianist Jean- Michel Pilc, vibraphonist Stefon Harris and vocalist Jimmy Scott--to name but a few--while still just 22 years old. His debut as leader sees him lead his energetic quartet through territory that runs from funk to jam-band workout and from rock to jazz-fusion. All-original compositions bar one, the tracks vary between nine and ...