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Steve Davis: Correlations
by Peter J. Hoetjes
Exploration and innovation may be the aspiration of modern jazz, but trombonist Steve Davis' Correlations exemplifies the fact that nothing proves more compelling than the timeless art of gathering a group of musicians who work remarkably well together. A veteran of The Jazz Messengers, One For All, and The Jazztet, Davis has a wealth of experience sharing the stage with multiple horns, essential to this album's sextet. His “get out of the way and let it happen" approach to band ...
Continue ReadingWayne Escoffery, Mingus Big Band, Tomas Fujiwara, Mara Rosenbloom & The Ron Carter Big Band
by Martin Longley
Wayne Escoffery & Tenor Traditions Smalls March 31, 2018 To assist with his investigation into tenor traditions, saxophonist Wayne Escoffery formed a full-thrust front line with Marcus Strickland and George Garzone, surely one of the most vibrant teams possible around current NYC clubland. The quintet was completed by bassist Yasushi Nakamura and drummer Kush Abadey. Their 10.30pm Saturday set created an expected frazzle of energy, with the Greenwich Village basement full to overflowing, a ...
Continue ReadingWayne Escoffery: Vortex
by Luigi Sforza
Non vi sono dubbi sulla natura di quest'ultima fatica discografica del tenor sassofonista Wayne Escoffery (londinese di nascita e newyorkese di adozione): si tratta di un progetto che declina senza remore alcuni paradigmi sonori intrinseci alla musicalità di John Coltrane. Il suono muscolare, incisivo, quasi palpabile del sassofono di Escoffery funge da guida per l'intero quartetto che si assesta comodamente sulle frequenze e sui moduli espressivi del leader, facendo registrare una buona compattezza di sound, un intenso interplay ...
Continue ReadingEarl MacDonald: Open Borders
by Jack Bowers
Open Borders brings to the fore Canadian-born pianist Earl MacDonald's burnished tentet in a program that consists of eleven sunlit and swinging themes, five of which were composed by the leader. Besides writing, MacDonald did most of the arranging, and he excels in both arenas, as he does on piano (most notably on the standards “Blame It On My Youth" and “East of the Sun" as well as on Percy Mayfield's R&B classic “Hit the Road Jack" and his own ...
Continue ReadingEarl MacDonald: Open Borders
by Mike Jurkovic
Not many piano led ensembles finds the pianist laying as far back in the musical dialogue as Earl MacDonald, who doesn't come anywhere near an extended solo until “Miles Apart" and Percy Mayfield's Ray Charles blow- out “Hit The Road Jack" (tracks five and six respectively). But that's just fine given that MacDonald has charted the conversations and man oh man, do these arrangements crackle with spirit.From the high-flying “Dig In Buddy" to the exhilarating Latin flavors “Dolphy ...
Continue ReadingEarl MacDonald: Open Borders
by Dan Bilawsky
Politicians might do well to take a few pointers from pianist-arranger Earl MacDonald. As this fine album attests to, it's far better to build bridges than walls, and far more productive to open borders and dialogue than close hearts, minds, and doors. While MacDonald didn't initially set out to make a political statement with this recording, both the events of the day and the make-up of the marvelously tight dectet that brings this music to life got ...
Continue ReadingWayne Escoffery: The Only Son of One
by Raul d'Gama Rose
Not since the works of bassist Charles Mingus and saxophonist John Coltrane has there been music so charged with emotion and so engulfed in spirituality as The Only Son of One, an album that bleeds with raw sentiment as it bares the soul of its young saxophonist and composer, Wayne Escoffery, and ultimately brings much catharsis and edification. In the sorrowful and glorious vocalastics of his saxophone, Escoffery reveals the pain and ultimate triumph of his relationship with his parents ...
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