Jazz Articles about Tom Harrell

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Tom Harrell: Paradise

by David Adler
July 1, 2001

This is probably Tom Harrell’s most unusual work to date, and strictly speaking, the least “jazz"-oriented. Enlisting a string quintet and harp in addition to his regular jazz sextet, Harrell pushes his compositional and arranging chops to new levels, and continues to blow great trumpet. The sound of strings and jazz ensemble immediately calls to mind Ted Nash’s Double Quartet. But Harrell has his own approach to orchestration, and his own melodic trademarks. One could think of this album as ...

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Tom Harrell: Paradise

by C. Andrew Hovan
July 1, 2001

Since the ‘80s, trumpeter and composer Tom Harrell has been an icon to scores of aspiring musicians and devoted fans, with an influence that has only been recently overshadowed by the appearance of Dave Douglas. Of course, Harrell and Douglas each have their own artistic visions, but it’s interesting to note that BMG now has both under contract. Is that a coup or what? But then we digress, so let’s get to Harrell’s latest endeavor, which is very different from ...

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Steve Kuhn: Seasons of Romance

by Glenn Astarita
March 1, 2000

The great jazz pianist Steve Kuhn tackles well-known standards and not so familiar compositions by performers such as Brazilian guitarist Dori Caymmi, bassist Steve Swallow and a contribution from saxophonist Bob Mintzer on Seasons of Romance.

The opener, saxophonist Bob Mintzer's piece titled, “Six Gun" is an ebullient, mid-tempo swing while Kuhn's easily-recognizable or patented elegance and signature style is notably portrayed from the onset. Kuhn's flair and casual poise ride atop the skillful rhythmic articulations by veteran and highly ...

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Tom Harrell: Time's Mirror

by C. Andrew Hovan
November 1, 1999

One of modern music's most acclaimed trumpeters, Tom Harrell has made the most out of his major label status. His two previous efforts for RCA, Labyrinth and The Art of Rhythm, brought the 53-year-old a good deal of critical attention and the major distribution network possible to reach a greater audience. However, as heavily lauded as he remains for his trumpet work, many are still asleep on his accomplished undertakings as a writer and arranger. This is due to change ...

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Tom Harrell: Time's Mirror

by John Sharpe
November 1, 1999

Time's Mirror is Tom Harrell's third recording for RCA and his first big band outing. Although Harrell is best-known for his small group work with Phil Woods and Horace Silver, he is no stranger to the big band idiom having worked with Stan Kenton and Woody Herman. It's interesting to note that most of Harrell's charts here date back to the 1960s when he was an undergraduate at Stanford University. Indeed, of the five originals on this 8-song program, only ...

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Tom Harrell: Time's Mirror

by Jack Bowers
November 1, 1999

And so after a long and successful career during which he has seldom been seen or heard in anything other than small–group environs (except for long–ago gigs with the Stan Kenton and Woody Herman orchestras), trumpeter / flugelhornist / composer Tom Harrell has come out of the closet, so to speak, to acknowledge that he has really been an ardent big–band enthusiast since he was a pup. Hey, good for him! Good for us, too, as Harrell has been writing ...

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Tom Harrell: Time's Mirror

by Jim Santella
October 1, 1999

Trumpeter Tom Harrell employs a big band on his latest album. While hard bop stands alone as his major field in today’s jazz community, Harrell’s roots trace through the big bands of Stan Kenton and Woody Herman before he joined Horace Silver in 1973. While all the arrangements are Harrell’s, most of them were drawn up in the 1960s when he was a music composition undergraduate at Stanford University.

Harrell’s title track is a recent composition. The ballad evokes a ...