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Atley King
Ben Ferrell: Sextet
by Jack Bowers
On Sextet, bassist Ben Ferrell's six-member group strives with mixed results to maintain magnetism and diversity in five of his generally low-key compositions, some of which might benefit from an occasional shot of adrenalin. Ferrell apparently knows where he is going, and shares what can be described as a cool journey. There are three detours (Thelonious Monk's “Light Blue," Kenta Nagata's “Dragon Roost Island," Martin O'Donnell's “Never Forget," only one of which--"Never Forget"--appreciably raises the session's overall temperature). ...
Continue ReadingJames Danderfer: If Not Now
by Pierre Giroux
Clarinetist James Danderfer's If Not Now showcases warmth and craftsmanship. It is the kind of album that affirms jazz's enduring ability to blend tradition with personal expression. Recorded at Rudy Van Gelder's legendary Englewood Cliffs studio on November 4, 2024, the album features a select group including Steve Davis on trombone, Cory Weeds on tenor saxophone, Atley King on vibraphone, Miki Yamanaka on piano, Tyrone Allen II on bass, and drummer Kush Abadey. All nine compositions are by Danderfer, forming ...
Continue ReadingJames Danderfer: If Not Now
by Jack Bowers
The clarinet, which once was commonplace in jazz (think Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Woody Herman, Pee Wee Russell, Tony Scott, Buddy DeFranco, Jimmy Giuffre, Pete Fountain, Bob Wilber and many others), is all but absent these days save for a handful of adamant diehards such as Paquito D'Rivera, Eddie Daniels, Don Byron and Ken Peplowski. That is one reason why it is always a pleasure to welcome a new voice into the choir, especially one as sharp and talented as ...
Continue ReadingAtley King: Unconditional
by Jack Bowers
Unconditional is the debut recording as leader by Atley King who is described in a press release as “Canada's leading young jazz vibraphonist." While that portrayal may or may not be true--not to mention gratuitous--King is very good, as are the members of his admirable quintet. Besides playing splendidly, King wrote the first eight of the album's nine selections, closing with John Coltrane's soulful “Naima." His compositions are fine, albeit more or less generic--that is to say, ...
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Light Blue
From: SextetBy Atley King
