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Taro Okamoto
Dwayne Clemons: Center of Gravity: Live at Smalls
by Jack Bowers
On Center of Gravity, veteran trumpeter Dwayne Clemons displays his astuteness and savvy in a generally impressive session recorded in September 2023 at Smalls Jazz Club in New York City, leading a sextet in which he shares the front line with alto saxophonist Amanda Sedgwick and tenor Aaron Johnson. This is a colorful and broad-shouldered date wherein everyone more than pulls his (or her) weight, with the horns adeptly supported from end to end by pianist JinJoo ...
Continue ReadingDwayne Clemons: Center of Gravity: Live at Smalls
by Pierre Giroux
Copenhagen-based trumpeter Dwayne Clemons is an accomplished musician whose US career trajectory hit a speed bump in the 1990s when he was incarcerated for a narcotics conviction. Fortunately, he caught the attention of pianist and club owner Spike Wilner who encouraged him to come to New York to play. In time, the result was that, in many ways, Smalls became like the home base for Clemons. Center of Gravity: Live at Smalls is the second live album he has completed ...
Continue ReadingTaro Okamoto: Too Many Unknown Greats
by Peter Madsen
New York is full of improvising musicians that spend thousands of hours practicing their instruments and dream of becoming the next Joshua Redman or Joe Lovano. They come by the busloads from all over the world. Many enroll at one of the universities or schools in the area that have a world famous jazz program. They study hard with a well-known artist in hopes of furthering their knowledge and their career. Some come and try to jump right into the ...
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Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson
