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Tom Tallitsch: Message
by David A. Orthmann
There is hard bop DNA in tenor and soprano saxophonist Tom Tallitsch's twelfth record as a leader, the third consecutive release for his TT Productions imprint. While it is always tempting to start making comparisons to classic sides from the genre, or to simply dismiss recognizable sounds as old hat in a world bursting with new ideas and concepts, Tallitsch and his associates warrant attention on their own merits. As on two recent recordings, Wheelhouse (Posi-Tone) and Ten ...
read moreTom Tallitsch: Ten
by David A. Orthmann
Ten is a recording that resides and functions well in a stylistic no man's land. Tenor and soprano saxophonist Tom Tallitsch and his clever band display little interest in paying homage to easily recognizable jazz styles; yet, they don't make a point of abandoning traditional practices either. Taking a stab at some basic descriptions of some of Tallitsch's six compositions--medium tempo swing, skewed jazz-funk, a deliberately paced jazz waltz, Latin-tinged jazz, etc.--amounts to something of a fool's errand. Suffice it ...
read moreMike Kennedy: Landfall
by Doug Collette
The release of guitarist Mike Kennedy's Landfall is most appropriately-timed for those about to enter the sweet seasons of spring and summer. It is the ideal soundtrack for lolling in the sun. With a quartet moving right in time with him, Kennedy utilizes electric and acoustic guitars, along with judiciously placed pedal steel, to conjure up that deliciously warm sense of well-being that comes from immersion in the light of sol. Yet for all the tranquility this music ...
read moreMike Kennedy: Insulation
by Victor L. Schermer
This unpretentious but edifying album consists of a series of guitar originals which flow into one another to form a unified whole. The music is relaxing, with a light swing that calls to mind guitarists like Wes Montgomery and Jim Hall, and might be called, to coin a phrase, “soft bop." Mike Kennedy, guitarist and leader, Mike Frank, piano, Paul Gehman, bass, and Dan Monaghan, drums are all Philadelphia-based musicians with extensive track records (no pun intended), and the consistency ...
read moreMike Kennedy Quartet: Idle Afternoon
by Edward Zucker
Consisting of all original compositions, Mike Kennedy's self-produced Idle Afternoon stays firmly based in the pre-hard bop lexicon, interpreting swinging and straight-ahead tunes. A Philadelphia-based guitarist, Kennedy possesses a rich, thick, soulful sound. The opening “I'll Take Two features Kennedy laying down some harmonious and stimulating lines. The album's piece de resistance is the closing track, “Days End, where he performs a three-plus minute solo. Throughout the recording, Kennedy eschews flashy displays and sticks with ballads and mid-tempo pieces. His ...
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