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Randy Napoleon: Waking Dream
by Jack Bowers
What greater satisfaction could a teacher have than to see his or her students achieve success--and in their chosen field, no less. On Waking Dream, renowned jazz guitarist and educator Randy Napoleon shares center stage with four fellow guitarists, all of whom are former students in his classes at Michigan State University (MSU) in East Lansing. The guitarists are part of a core group that includes three more MSU faculty members: pianist Rick Roe, bassist Rodney Whitaker ...
Continue ReadingMichael Dease: Flow
by Howard Mandel
Everything comes together for Michael Dease and company on Flow, which should be no surprise but mustn't be taken for granted. The dynamic Mr. Dease, a consummate musician, sweeps his diverse crew of long-term collaborators and gifted newcomers through a confluence of songs rich in melody, rhythm and feeling. Pleasure-forward, Flow entices, refreshes, buoys and inspires. The album--Dease's 18th as a leader since 2005 and his 11th from Posi-Tone, all imbued with joyful engagement and flaunting stylistic variety--covers ...
Continue ReadingMichael Dease: Flow
by Dan Bilawsky
Michael Dease is always on the go. A flurry of activity seems to surround the prolific trombonist, composer, bandleader, sideman, educator, and doubler. Yet he's always operating in the moment, never distracted by all of the spinning plates. Dease absolutely personifies the flow state, fully immersing himself in every one of his pursuits. This, his 11th album for the Posi-Tone imprint and 18th in all since his 2005 debut, demonstrates that fact as well as anything. Mixing it up with ...
Continue ReadingRandy Napoleon: Waking Dream
by Pierre Giroux
In Waking Dream, guitarist Randy Napoleon has assembled a musical family whose shared history fosters a strong sense of cohesion, one that goes beyond the leader's skillful guitar work. Longtime collaborators bassist [[ {{m: Rodney Whitaker, pianist Rick Roe and drummer Quincy Davis form the rhythmic and harmonic foundation, while four additional guitarists , Luke Sittard, Chris Minami, Jocelyn Gould and Ben Turner, create a rich sonic tapestry reminiscent of a modern guitar choir. Throughout the tracks, there are also ...
Continue ReadingArt Hirahara: Peace Unknown
by Kyle Simpler
Art Hirahara is one of the most in-demand pianists in contemporary jazz, appearing on countless recordings while steadily building an impressive solo career. WithPeace Unknown, he continues his prolific partnership with Posi-Tone Records, with a deeply personal and expansive set that brings new life to earlier compositions while introducing bold new material. Framed within a robust four-horn ensemble, the album stands as both a reflection on the past and a forward-looking artistic statement, elegantly merging lyrical expressiveness with structural daring. ...
Continue ReadingMichael Dease, Spike Wilner, Bobby West, Antonia Bennett and more
by Benjamin Boddie
Today's Music--Right Now! Fantastic music by Michael Dease, Spike Wilner Trio, Bobby West, Antonia Bennett, Alon Farber & Hagiga, Dom Salvador, Mark Masters Ensemble, Terri Lyne Carrington & Christie Dashiell, Neff Irizarry, Mads Tolling, Danny Grissett, Lucía, Tyler Henderson, Sharel Cassity, Dee Dee Bridgewater & Bill Charlap, Jed Levy, Hiromi, Freedom Art Quartet, Ben Sidran, James Moody, Peter Smith, Judy Whitmore, Dave Bass, Jennifer Lee, and more. Playlist Michael Dease “The Classic II" from City Life: Music Of ...
Continue ReadingMichael Dease: City Life: Music of Gregg Hill
by Paul Rauch
Michigan-based composer Gregg Hill is on a remarkable roll, authoring an impressive run of compositions represented on eight albums released on the Origin Records label. Each has featured a bandleader associated with the top shelf staff at Rodney Whitaker's jazz program at Michigan State University. City Life (2025) is the third under the leadership of trombone great Michael Dease. The two-disc release includes 19 compositions from Hill, and features a cast of some of the most powerful voices in jazz ...
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