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Chris Smith: Jazz Grunge
by Jack Bowers
"Grunge," according to Webster's, denotes “one that [who] is grungy." As for “grungy," the word meets one of several definitions, none of them flattering: dirty, filthy, stained, nasty, muddy, smudged...you get the idea. “Grunge" also has a second meaning: “rock music incorporating elements of punk rock and heavy metal," which is the one that New York City-based drummer and educator Chris Smith has singled out for replay on his debut recording, Jazz Grunge. While that may seem ...
Continue ReadingJed Levy: Faces and Places
by Jack Kenny
This is a beautiful album that is fired up right from the start. The sound of the tenor is faintly reminiscent of Warne Marsh. There is no seeking after angularity. Jed Levy's way with melody is completely natural and integrated into the quintet, though there are surprises all the way through the improvisations. Jed Levy is not just a tenor player, his compositions have vivacity and a clear structure and, occasionally, an impish charm. The tuneful magic is ...
Continue ReadingWaking Vision: The Breathing Earth
by C. Andrew Hovan
In terms of its history and current crop of talented musicians, Pittsburgh is a stellar music city that somehow always gets overlooked when considering the USA's major music centers. A world-class guitarist, comfortable in both jazz and popular realms, John Shannon cut his teeth in high school working with such Pittsburgh luminaries as Eric Kloss and Dwayne Dolphin. During his time spent at Berklee College of Music, Shannon had the good fortune of studying with icons such as Mick Goodrick ...
Continue ReadingAlain Mallet Mutt Slang 2: A Wake of Sorrows Engulfed in Rage
by Paul Rauch
The art of jazz would seem to be a mystery to most, and at the same time, a language understood by many. In the entirety of its history, it has served as a central location for idiomatic change, a virtual jumping off point for explorative ventures into both new and traditional world forms. The wide lens of the music of pianist/composer Alain Mallet mirrors in a way, the large embrace of all humankind necessary globally to build a meaningful dialog ...
Continue ReadingPeter Slavov: Little Stories
by Dan Bilawsky
While these ten tracks recorded by bassist Peter Slavov's variable-sized outfit were all fleshed out in the studio between 2017 and 2019, this debut album actually covers a wider span of time. Collecting music penned over the past 20 years, and attaching attendant stories for background and bridging purposes, Slavov essentially looks back over his entire professional career and beyond. Fantasy, family, literature and life as we know it all play a part in the telling of these ...
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