Zach Rich

Socrates Garcia Latin Jazz Orchestra: Shadows of Tomorrow

Read "Shadows of Tomorrow" reviewed by Jack Bowers

by Jack Bowers
September 11, 2025

Do not let the word “Latin" in front of the Socrates Garcia Jazz Orchestra's name sway you. Shadows of Tomorrow is bright and spirited contemporary jazz albeit with a southerly twist. The salute to Latin America is for the most part rhythmic; everything else leans resolutely toward el norte, and the orchestra (which is actually based in Colorado, where Garcia teaches at the University of Northern Colorado) lends its considerable weight and savvy to every one of the leader's half-dozen ...

Album Review

Zach Rich: Solidarity

Read "Solidarity" reviewed by Jack Bowers

by Jack Bowers
April 21, 2024

Solidarity consists for the most part of warm, gentle chamber jazz ably performed by Denver-based trombonist Zach Rich, his quintet, a four-piece string section and half a dozen invited guests. Besides playing elegant trombone, Rich, who teaches at Denver's Lamont School of Music, wrote and arranged all of the album's eight handsome songs. The strings are present on the first six numbers; the seventh, “What Is America Rated?," features Julian Carey's spoken word, while the last, “The ...