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Alexis Parsons: Alexis
by Richard J Salvucci
Alexis Parsons is an honest-to-goodness jazz singer. She has considerable vocal chops, a wide range and great time. She usually comes in right on or slightly behind the beat. Except when she does not. Which makes for considerable contrast and interest. Her sense of drama is apropos ("Organ Grinder" may be the sole exception, but de gustibus) and you often have the sense you are listening to an instrumentalist rather than a singer. Or to put it differently, Ms Parsons ...
Continue ReadingMartin Wind Quartet: My Astorian Queen
by Pierre Giroux
Bassist Martin Wind is a German national who received his early education and began his career in that country. He arrived in the US in the mid 90s to further his musical education, and studied with the likes of Jim McNeely, Mike Holober and Kenny Werner among others. He eventually began to receive broader recognition through his association with pianist Bill Mays. Over the years, and now a U.S. resident, he has gained a reputation as a multifaceted musician both ...
Continue ReadingMartin Wind Quartet: My Astorian Queen
by Mark Corroto
Bassist Martin Wind reminds us that “nostalgia" is not a four-letter word (or nine-letter for that matter). Wind would say, “nein" to that idea. The German-born bassist, now a solid member of New York's jazz community, can be heard in piano trios led by Bill Mays, Ted Rosenthal, and Bill Cunliffe, in drummer Matt Wilson's various projects, and in a duo with Belgian guitarist Philip Catherine, to name just a few ensembles in which he is THE in-demand sideman. As ...
Continue ReadingMary LaRose: Out Here
by Jerome Wilson
Vocalist Mary LaRose has long been putting vocals, with and without words, to the works of modern jazz composers such as Albert Ayler, Ornette Coleman, Charlie Haden and Eric Dolphy. This CD is her first full-length exploration of Dolphy, probing the free-wheeling elusiveness of his work with a group which includes several of the instruments he used in his recordings, cello, vibraphone, and bass clarinet. LaRose approaches Dolphy's music by putting lyrics to some tunes, singing wordlessly on ...
Continue ReadingAlexis Parsons: Alexis
by Jack Bowers
The self-named Alexis is the third album by New York-based vocalist Alexis Parsons. To showcase her talents, she has chosen a medley of standards (half a dozen) and lesser-known but engaging originals, opening and closing with the Cole Porter classics “Easy to Love" and “In the Still of the Night." Rodgers and Hart, the Gershwins, Kurt Weill, Astrud Gilberto and even Franz Schubert are also represented. For back-up, Parsons employs two trios—pianist David Berkman, bassist Drew Gress and drummer Matt ...
Continue ReadingJeff Lederer: Eightfold Path
by Jerome Wilson
The “spiritual jazz" tradition has been undergoing something of a revival and it gets a real boost with this robust new offering from tenor saxophonist Jeff Lederer. This is a revival of the Sunwatcher Quartet, a group Lederer formed in 2011 to celebrate the music of Albert Ayler. This version of the band retains original members Jamie Saft on keyboards and Matt Wilson on drums but adds the distinctive electric bass sound of Steve Swallow. Lederer wrote all ...
Continue ReadingMary LaRose: Out Here
by Mark Corroto
Vocalist Mary LaRose has explored the instrumental music of jazz artists in the past, penning lyrics to the music of Thelonious Monk,Ornette Coleman, Albert Ayler, and Charles Mingus. Also included in her previous releases is the music of Eric Dolphy, who has always been a spirit guide for LaRose. With Out Here, she dedicates an entire album to Dolphy's compositions, plus a couple pieces tied to his legacy. This session reminds you of the great Carmen McRae's Carmen ...
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