Jazz Articles about John di Martino

About John di Martino

Album Review

Houston Person: From the Heart

Read "From the Heart" reviewed by Jack Bowers

by Jack Bowers
October 20, 2026

There are seldom any big surprises when tenor saxophonist Houston Person releases a new album. On the other hand, there are few moments that are less than pleasing, as consistency and good taste have been and remain Person's calling cards throughout his more than 60-year career as one of the jazz world's leading artists. Known for his warm, blues-drenched sound, Person, now in his 90s but showing few signs of bowing to Father Time, draws his magnetism From ...

Album Review

Synia Carroll: Water is My Song

Read "Water is My Song" reviewed by Nicholas F. Mondello

by Nicholas F. Mondello
June 20, 2024

Water is My Song, from Sarasota-based vocalist Synia Carroll, sends up ten terrific vocals, tasteful solos and surprises. Water-related selections and themes span across the date wherein Carroll and her team of fine players hit on the classics, hand-picked gems and uniquely presented traditional fare. “Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea" starts things swinging with Carroll's “Great Divas of Jazz"-inspired pipes swaying and over a laid-back rhythm bed. Guest artist Houston Person offers a tasty ...

Album Review

Synia Carroll: Water is My Song

Read "Water is My Song" reviewed by Pierre Giroux

by Pierre Giroux
June 11, 2024

Vocalist Synia Carroll's Water is My Song is a journey through musical fluidity. She gracefully navigates the currents of jazz with a collection of offbeat compositions inspired by the ebb and flow of water. The album is enriched by an ensemble of stellar musicians including pianist John Di Martino, bassist Kenny Davis and drummer Jerome Jennings with guests including the impeccable tenor saxophonist Houston Person on two tracks. The ten-track set opens with the Harold Arlen/Eric ...

Album Review

Andrea Wolper: Wanderlust

Read "Wanderlust" reviewed by Jerome Wilson

by Jerome Wilson
June 2, 2024

Andrea Wolper is an active jazz singer, composer, and educator but this album is her first recording since 2011. On it, she reestablishes herself as a creative vocalist and arranger who can excel in many different styles. She also benefits from the support of excellent musicians such as reed player Jeff Lederer and violinist Charles Burnham. Wolper performs several of her own compositions as well as tunes by others such as Abbey Lincoln and Carole King. Among her ...

Album Review

Andrea Wolper: Wanderlust

Read "Wanderlust" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky

by Dan Bilawsky
May 13, 2024

Itinerant creatives manifest in both literal and figurative terms. Yes, they most clearly present in true formal fashion, traveling from place to place, sharing their art wherever they may roam. But their venturesome virtues extend to the interior, too. In fact, what's often of the greatest importance and interest is the roving surrounding and propelling their work--exploration of narrow paths, walks through obscured alleys and hideaways, and time spent in secret sanctums that offer peace and space to think in ...

Album Review

Judy Niemack - Jay Clayton: Voices in Flight

Read "Voices in Flight" reviewed by Katchie Cartwright

by Katchie Cartwright
August 15, 2023

While veteran vocal improvisers Judy Niemack and Jay Clayton have known each other since the '70s, Voices in Flight marks their first time together in the studio. They have performed some of the album material in live shows since the early 2000s, including their medley of “Body and Soul" and Idrees Sulieman's gorgeous contrafact of it, “Orange Blossoms" ("With You"). Niemack sings the Sulieman tune, highlighting her craft in writing texts for instrumental jazz tunes that match the melodic inflections ...

Album Review

The Harry Allen Orchestra: With Roses

Read "With Roses" reviewed by Pierre Giroux

by Pierre Giroux
July 5, 2023

Harry Allen is a tenor saxophonist's tenor saxophonist with an elegant tone and swinging style in the manner of Scott Hamilton, Lester Young or Ben Webster. He has a well-rounded discography of over 70 releases as a leader and many others as a sideman. Over the course of his prolific career, Allen has appeared with the likes of Rosemary Clooney, Tony Bennett, James Taylor and guitarists Bucky Pizzarelli and John Pizzarelli. In this release, With Roses, Allen applies his considerable ...