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Opus 5: Swing On This
by Paul Beard
Recorded in September 2021, at the Samurai Hotel Recording Studio under the direction of Mike Marciano, this is the fifth album from contemporary jazz group, Opus 5. Entitled Swing On This, it comprises eight tracks that average around seven minutes each. Hailing from the Netherlands, Opus 5 is a stylish quintet made up of Seamus Blake on tenor saxophone and Alex Sipiagin on trumpet, with drums by Donald Edwards, bass in the hands of Boris Kozlov and last ...
Continue ReadingARC Trio and the John Daversa Big Band: ARCeology: The Music of MSM Schmidt
by Jim Worsley
What would happen if fusion, already a hybrid of musical genres, was compounded with the sound of big-band? Further, that both genres were stretched well outside the box? An ensemble of bright musical minds came together on just such a project. The results could have been the disastrous soup of too many cooks in the kitchen or, perhaps, something special and creative. Fortunately, they served up an entree which is very much the latter. It starts with quality ...
Continue ReadingVivian Buczek: Roots
by Kyle Simpler
Since 2003, Vivian Buczek has established herself as a powerful force in the contemporary jazz scene. Her voice is soulful and powerful. She can be sensitive and emotional on a ballad, but then turn around and sing blues songs as if she's been doing it all her life, which she actually has been. With Roots, she brings the listener into her musical world and offers, what she calls, “the most personal album I've ever made." On Roots, Buczek ...
Continue ReadingMisha Tsiganov: Misha's Wishes
by Edward Blanco
New York-based pianist and composer Misha Tsiganov, a well-established jazz veteran having appeared on countless albums throughout his career, presents his seventh recording as leader with Misha's Wishes, conceived and birthed during the COVID pandemic, when his time at home offered the perfect opportunity to develop this project. The long-time isolation during 2020 allowed the pianist to write, as he states, “some nice music that people will enjoy," which he certainly accomplishes here, providing seven originals in addition to reimagined ...
Continue ReadingThe Kevin Brady Electric Quartet: Plan B
by Ian Patterson
Plan A, which is to say, leading his own acoustic band, has worked pretty well for Irish drummer Kevin Brady. A number of fine small ensemble recordings--with Ensam (Lpr Music, 2016) perhaps the pick of the bunch—has seen him marshal talents such as Bill Carrothers and Norma Winstone, touring the world in the process. With Plan B Brady plugs in and rocks out, taking wing on the back of 1970s-era Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock. It is not entirely new ...
Continue ReadingYour Eggs Scrambled, Any Way You Like
by Mike Jacobs
This edition of BackTracks takes a look at a few selections that might rewire, reset, thoroughly scramble or even short-circuit the “normal" music pathways of your noodle. These five selections are each capable of this in subtle or sometimes not-so-subtle ways. Everything from stylistic jumbles and conceptual twists to abandonment of premeditated form and utter mayhem is here because let's face it, the old grey matter needs a musical shake-up now and then. (Note: Selections from Don Li's Gen were ...
Continue ReadingThe New York All-Stars: Live Encounter
by Chris May
Some things live forever and take-no-quarter hard bop is one of them... If you time travelled back to New York City circa 1958 and wandered into the Half Note or Five Spot, Live Encounter contains the sort of music you might have heard. Tough, emotionally-rich jazz with no-fuss head arrangements, extrovert horn solos and a propulsive rhythm section. The album, recorded at London's Pizza Express Jazz Club in 2018, will appeal to anyone who keeps their Hank Mobley and Tina ...
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