Jazz Articles about Warren Wolf

About Warren Wolf

Album Review

Christian Sands: Embracing Dawn

Read "Embracing Dawn" reviewed by Mike Jurkovic

by Mike Jurkovic
September 20, 2024

Way back in the mottled history of the 1950s and '60s, record biz guys in sharkskin might kick down a DJ's door and bark: “You gotta to hear this single!" But who truly listens to and what exactly is a single these days? Add in the disturbing though elusive truth that any single can take any physical or temporal shape and the evidence just points to one thing: First impressions have doomed many a pundit. If ...

Album Review

Warren Wolf: History Of The Vibraphone

Read "History Of The Vibraphone" reviewed by Pierre Giroux

by Pierre Giroux
August 28, 2024

The History of the Vibraphone is a “tour de horizon" of the instrument and an exploration of its evolution in jazz. Joining Wolf in this meticulous selection of pieces from legendary jazz artists are long-time bandmates saxophonist Tim Green, pianist Alex Brown, bassist Vicente Archerand drummer Carroll Dashiell III. Accordingly, Wolf has crafted a collection that celebrates his virtuosic vibraphone skills and honours those who have paved the way for modern players. The opening track is ...

Album Review

Funkwrench Blues: Soundtrack For A Film Without Pictures

Read "Soundtrack For A Film Without Pictures" reviewed by Chris May

by Chris May
August 3, 2023

Once upon a time it was hard to walk into an arthouse cinema without bumping into a jazz soundtrack. Miles Davis' for Louis Malle's Ascenseur Pour L'échafaud (1958), Charles Mingus' for John Cassavetes' Shadows (1959), Krzysztof Komeda's for Roman Polanski's Knife In The Water (1962) were among a legion of similarly inclined endeavours. But all that was a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. In the 2020s, if you want to hear a freshly ...

Album Review

Aaron Seeber: First Move

Read "First Move" reviewed by Troy Dostert

by Troy Dostert
September 15, 2022

Given that it is his debut disc, drummer Aaron Seeber's First Move seems aptly titled. The music it offers is anything but an opening gambit, however; even after a cursory listen, it is quickly apparent that Seeber has been at this game for some time. From the top-shelf caliber of his associates, to his unfailing poise behind the kit, not to mention some great instincts for repertoire, Seeber has more than a few moves up his sleeve, and they always ...

Album Review

Christian McBride: Live at the Village Vanguard

Read "Live at the Village Vanguard" reviewed by Edward Blanco

by Edward Blanco
February 20, 2022

Bassist Christian McBride records his first live album with his highly-acclaimed quintet known as the Inside Straight, documenting an incredible evening of music on Live At The Village Vanguard. The album showcases outstanding performances from every member of the band. It is McBride's twelfth release on Mack Avenue and it was the Inside Straight quintet that began the bassist's collaboration with Mack Avenue in 2009. After a week-long sold-out debut appearance by the group at New York's jazz club in ...

Album Review

Christian McBride & Inside Straight: Live at the Village Vanguard

Read "Live at the Village Vanguard" reviewed by Mike Jurkovic

by Mike Jurkovic
December 5, 2021

You may feel a whole lot better about things after checking out Live at the Village Vanguard. Now, without argument or scholarly discourse, that can be said for any of the time honored performances captured under that heady title, but here it's Christian McBride and Inside Straight and seriously, this one has fun written all over it. An instant Top Tenner for 2021. Bassist/educator/advocate, McBride needs no further introduction save to say he has heightened fun into an ...

Album Review

Chuck Owen and the Jazz Surge: Within Us

Read "Within Us" reviewed by Jerome Wilson

by Jerome Wilson
October 17, 2021

Florida's Chuck Owen has been a jazz educator for over 40 years, led his big band, The Jazz Surge, for 25 years and earned seven Grammy nominations along the way, so he cannot be called an unknown. Still, it seems that he is nowhere as well known as he should be, going by the quality of the music on this CD which celebrates The Jazz Surge's 25th anniversary. The band's music has some of the brassy punch of ...