Jazz Articles about Ted Rosenthal

About Ted Rosenthal

Album Review

Ted Rosenthal Trio: The Good Old Days

Read "The Good Old Days" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan

by Dan McClenaghan
May 14, 2026

In 2024, Ted Rosenthal dove deeply into the piano trio tradition. High Standards, The Ted Rosenthal Songbook and Classics Reimagined: Impromptu were all released in 2025, all on the TRM Music label. The Good Old Days, the fourth album from those bountiful sessions, released in 2026, presents Rosenthal's vision via multiple moods and thematic twists as his two trios explore early jazz styles, interpreting them in a modern style. Rosenthal's style is ebullient, in the manner of Ahmad ...

Album Review

Ted Rosenthal Trio: High Standards

Read "High Standards" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky

by Dan Bilawsky
April 13, 2025

Ted Rosenthal has remarkably high standards. How else to explain his vast achievement(s) over the past four decades? This ace pianist and composer has done it all--topped the pack at the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition, worked with the crème de la crème (i.e., baritone saxophone icon Gerry Mulligan, alto saxophone legend Phil Woods, multi-hyphenate Bob Brookmeyer, etc.), crafted over a dozen superb leader dates, penned a critically-acclaimed jazz opera (Dear Erich), fulfilled commissions for notable dance troupes, performed ...

Album Review

Ken Peplowski: Live at Mezzrow

Read "Live at Mezzrow" reviewed by Jack Bowers

by Jack Bowers
September 29, 2024

When one is diagnosed with multiple myeloma, as woodwind specialist Ken Peplowski was in June 2021, there are basically two alternatives: either accept the decision and throw in the towel or choose to fight and double down on doing what keeps you active and hopeful, in this case making beautiful music that swings. Obviously, as epitomized by the album Live at Mezzrow, Peplowski chose the latter path, and three years on has apparently won the battle, at least for now, ...

Album Review

Ann Hampton Callaway: Fever: A Peggy Lee Celebration

Read "Fever: A Peggy Lee Celebration" reviewed by Richard J Salvucci

by Richard J Salvucci
January 18, 2023

Peggy Lee was a remarkable singer and songwriter, but to some listeners, deeply enigmatic. Her time, often well behind the beat, conveyed a subtle sense of irony. “Are you getting this?" she sometimes seemed to say, “or am I going too fast for you?" She could be exuberant and world weary almost in the same breath. It was seemingly up to the audience to decipher her meaning. Lee could convey expectation and experience simultaneously, as in her version of “Folks ...

Interview

Ted Rosenthal: Dear Erich, A Jazz Opera

by Ken Dryden
January 7, 2019

Ted Rosenthal is one of the most renowned pianists of his generation. He won first prize at the second Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition and has been awarded several NEA grants as a composer. Well known as the pianist in Gerry Mulligan's final quartet, Rosenthal has recorded or performed with many other artists, including Bob Brookmeyer, Phil Woods, Art Farmer, Jim Hall, Jon Faddis, Benny Golson, James Moody, Mel Lewis, Lee Konitz and Ken Peplowski. Rosenthal has recorded fifteen ...

Album Review

Ted Rosenthal Trio: Rhapsody In Gershwin

Read "Rhapsody In Gershwin" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky

by Dan Bilawsky
June 25, 2014

The glories of George Gershwin have been well-documented in jazz settings. In fact, many would argue that Gershwin's music has been done to death. So does the world really need another tribute to this iconic tunesmith? In theory, it does not. Supply and demand, and the very nature of saturation, would say that a more-than-sufficient dose of Gershwin has been given to the world, so it's time to move on. However, these principles have never applied to this type of ...

Multiple Reviews

2013 Yuletide Offerings

by Dan Bilawsky
December 2, 2013

It's clear that the holidays are coming when the mercury dips and the cheery tidings of the season are balanced out by shopping-fueled malaise. When it comes to music, said shopping is often centered on a series of new holiday-themed releases that seem to arrive like clockwork in the weeks and months prior to Christmas; this year--surprise, surprise--is no different than any other year in that respect. In some ways, it's hard to understand the ever-continuing fascination ...