Jazz Articles about James Zollar

Dave Schnitter: Sketch

by Samuel Chell
August 27, 2004

Dave Schnitter Sketch Sunnyside Records 2004

Not only did David Schnitter have the longest tenure of any tenor saxophonist in Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers but he was always present on the most exciting and memorable of Bu's sets that I was privileged to catch. His return to music and recording after a sabbatical of over 20 years is at once cheering and disturbing. There may have been more schooled and disciplined players preceding and ...

Bob Stewart: Then & Now

by Glenn Astarita
March 1, 2000

Bob Stewart is one of a select few who have catapulted the tuba into more of a prominent role within jazz and modern music circles. With that, Stewart enlists a mighty impressive cast of jazz musicians along with the legendary folk-blues singer/songwriter, Taj Mahal on Then & Now.

Stewart handles the bottom end without the utilization or perhaps, requirements of a bassist as he drives the band forward on “Hambone” which is a New Orleans style R&B/Funk number featuring brassy ...

James Zollar: Soaring With Bird

by C. Michael Bailey
July 1, 1998

Carvin' The Bird. James Zollar's Soaring With Bird leads the second wave of Naxos Jazz releases to the market place. It is unique among the Naxos Jazz offerings in that it is completely composed of standards. The object of the recording, obvious from the title, is Charlie Parker. What is not obvious from the title is Zollar's choice of compositions to address. Sure there are some of the old Parker standbys ("Donna Lee", “Parker's Mood", and “Moose the Mooch"), but ...