Jazz Articles about Tony Peebles

About Tony Peebles

Album Review

Although multi-instrumentalist Chris Aschman's third recording may be a shade less than Volcanic, it does deliver some heavy punches marshaled from its roots in the funk/rock/fusion format. Aschman, who plays trumpet and steel pans, is clearly on board with that, as he wrote all save one of the album's seven numbers and arranged every one. Aschman's viewpoint is visible as well in his choice of the quartet's drummer, Henry Plumb, who more than anyone makes sure the rock-heavy ...

Album Review

Negative Press Project + Friction Quartet: Cycles 1

by Jack Bowers
February 4, 2026

Cycles 1, the fifth recording by the San Francisco Bay-area Negative Press Project, is chamber jazz of the highest order, neatly canvassing a dozen creative and colorful themes by the group's co-leaders, pianist Ruthie Dineen (nine) and bassist Andrew Lion (three). The octet is ably supported on every number by the Friction Quartet, whose elegant strings lend an aura of courtliness without discord or intrusion. The session is marked by a deep feeling of purpose, amplified by the ...

Album Review

Negative Press Project: The Victorious Sessions

Read "The Victorious Sessions" reviewed by Glenn Astarita

by Glenn Astarita
January 17, 2024

This Northern California-based ensemble has taken a bold step in its musical journey. The compositions are intricate, weaving together complex rhythms and melodies as each piece tells its own story, with the musicians' styles shining through, yet harmoniously blending to create a unified band persona. The band's standout feature is its ability to balance improvisation with structured composition amid jazz fusion, Afro-Cuban, West-African, classic West Coast “cool" and nods to the big-band era. The jazz influence is evident ...

Album Review

Pacific Mambo Orchestra: The III Side

Read "The III Side" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky

by Dan Bilawsky
June 12, 2020

Pacific Mambo Orchestra—PMO, for short—has a lot to celebrate. With the calendar turning to 2020, this Grammy-winning Latin big band celebrated its 10th anniversary and the early January release of this potent third album. Inviting special guests, strings and part-time personnel to the party, PMO uses this opportunity to craft a spicy stew seasoned with Mambo, Timba, Bolero, bop, classical associations and a whole lot more. With an excess of heat and rhythmic vivacity in its soul, ...