Jazz Articles about Ralph Alessi

Ralph Alessi: Cognitive Dissonance

by John Kelman
August 16, 2010

For his Cam Jazz debut, trumpeter Ralph Alessi recruits two key players from his sadly overlooked Look (Between the Lines, 2007). But while ubiquitous bassist Drew Gress (Marc Copland, Claudia Quintet) is a mainstay of Cognitive Dissonance, pianist Andy Milne only guests on the knottily themed but swinging “Sir" and a quirkily, near-unrecognizable version of Stevie Wonder's “Same Old Story." The rest of the album's fifteen tracks--eleven by Alessi, in addition to a free-spirited yet surprisingly lyrical version of Sam ...

Ralph Alessi & This Against That: Look

by AAJ Italy Staff
May 10, 2007

Ralph Alessi è uno di cui ci si può fidare. Musicista solido e capace; improvvisatore intelligente e misurato, side-man richiesto ed apprezzato per la propria versatilità e capacità di mettersi al servizio della musica degli altri (tra i suoi mentori ci sono Uri Caine, Don Byron, Steve Coleman, Sam Rivers e Fred Hersch). Insomma, il classico infaticabile gregario (prendendo in prestito un termine ciclistico) che ogni leader vorrebbe avere nel proprio gruppo. Non può che far piacere, dunque, avere per ...

Ralph Alessi & This Against That: Look

by J Hunter
April 19, 2007

Is it possible to be structured and free at the same time? If you say “No, then you need to take a long look at Look, the latest release from Ralph Alessi & This Against .Alessi's airy horn was a key component of the boundary-stretching Uri Caine Ensemble Plays Mozart (Winter & Winter, 2007). Look shows Alessi is out to expand his personal artistic frontiers as well as create an atmosphere where his partners can make their own voices heard. ...

Ralph Alessi & This Against That: Look

by Sean Patrick Fitzell
April 10, 2007

An integral part of projects led by pianist Uri Caine and saxophonists Steve Coleman and Ravi Coltrane since the early '90s, and a founder of the School for Improvised Music (SIM), trumpeter Ralph Alessi nevertheless remains under the radar. Look, just his fourth release as a leader, convincingly counters this oversight. Alessi is a modernist who uses expanded forms, complex rhythms and a broad harmonic spectrum to explore the confluence of composition and improvisation. But the music ...

Ralph Alessi & This Against That: Look

by Mark F. Turner
February 25, 2007

Like the angelic blast of Gabriel's horn, trumpeter Ralph Alessi plays his mortal trumpet with exhilaration and sublime finesse. A popular session player, he has heightened recordings like Scott Colley's Archtiect of the Silent Moment (CamJazz, 2007) and Simone Guiducci's Dancin' Roots (Felmay, 2005). Alessi's own recordings as a leader--including Vice & Virtue (RKM, 2003) and This Against That/Vice & Virtue (RKM, 2002) --are obscure gems of eclectic music; but Look is an outstanding work of intellect ...

Olivier Le Goas Quartet: Gravitations

by AAJ Italy Staff
February 6, 2007

Ventinove anni, francese, Olivier Le Goas è qui al suo album d'esordio. Un esordio forse tardivo rispetto agli standard d'età dei 'giovani musicisti emergenti' cui siamo abituati, ma indubbiamente un esordio sontuoso. Per gli illustri compagni di ventura, che lungi dall'essere uno specchio per le allodole per ascoltatori poco avveduti, sono piuttosto una conseguenza (oltre che, naturalmente, uno dei fattori causali) dell'elevatissima qualità della musica questo album. E, appunto, per la musica in esso contenuta. E' sufficiente scorrere l'elenco dei ...

Olivier Le Goas Quartet: Gravitations

by Matt Cibula
January 12, 2007

Who the heck is Olivier Le Goas, and why do you need to know about him, like, tout de suite?

The 39-year-old drummer, who's much better known in Europe than he is here, has studied classical music, has led trios and other groups in his native France, and has even played in New York with some of the hippest guys around.

Gravitations should serve as his coming-out party. It's full of ambitious and spiky hard bop compositions, played with what ...