Jazz Articles
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Tim Mayer: Keeper of the Flame
by Jack Bowers
On Keeper of the Flame, Tim Mayer, a Bostonian who now calls Mexico home, leads a sharp, swinging group of like-minded amigos on a (mostly) octet studio date enriched by Diego Rivera's colorful arrangements. Mayer plays tenor sax on half a dozen tracks, soprano sax on “Bye Bye Blackbird" and “Get Organized," alto flute on “Elusive." Mayer's tenor spans a bridge from early John Coltrane to George Coleman, Joe Henderson, Bob Mintzer and other post-bop patriarchs with a dash of ...
read moreAdam Rongo: Tell Your Story
by Edward Blanco
Young saxophonist Adam Rongo introduces himself to a national audience on the appropriately-titled Tell Your Story, delivering a sparkling debut of straight ahead post-bop material featuring a seasoned cast of players superbly interpreting a selection of new and exciting cover tunes--all telling a musical story that is unfolding quite nicely. Originally from Essexville, Michigan, and coming from a musical family, Rongo gravitated to the saxophone, studied in Chicago as well as at Michigan State University and learned the jazz ropes ...
read moreDiego Rivera: The Contender
by Jud Branam
Like the famous muralist from whom he got his name, Michigan tenor saxophonist Diego Rivera covers a lot of stylistic ground while adhering to a workmanlike theme on his new CD, The Contender. Rivera leads a powerful sextet through an 11-song set of brawny, orthodox post-bop that carries on the blowing session tradition in the best sense of the phrase. The title-track opener sets an aggressive and upbeat mood with an angular, John Coltrane-styled sax intro ...
read moreMichael Dease: Coming Home
by C. Michael Bailey
Trombonist Michael Dease's Coming Home is the evolutionary culmination of all of the small group work of which he has been a part. Dease's musical personality reveals itself fully on the disc, one he has populated with a very fine band and thoughtfully composed and selected pieces for that band. Dease's previous work as a leader on Dease Bones (Astrix Media, 2007), Clarity (Blues Back Records, 2008) and Grace (Legacy Jazz Productions, 2011), as well as with multi-reedist Sharel Cassity ...
read moreMatt Garrison - Saxophone: Blood Songs
by Edward Blanco
Presenting a primarily original repertoire of sparkling modern jazz, New York saxophonist Matt Garrison follows up his critically acclaimed debut, Familiar Places (DCLEF, 2011), with Blood Songs, an audacious musical tribute to his loving parents. With the exception of producer/trombonist Michael Dease, Garrison assembles a new all-star list of players, including veterans like saxophonist Eric Alexander and trumpeter Greg Gisbert, who mix it up well with young, up-and-coming stars including pianist Roy Assaf and drummer Ulysses Owens, Jr.The ...
read moreAndrew Swift: Swift Kick
by Edward Blanco
Currently the drummer for saxophonist Sharel Cassity and her quintet, the Matt Garrison Project as well as being the drumming voice for many nationally syndicated television commercials, Australian drummer Andrew Swift unveils his debut with Swift Kick, a remarkably engaging piece of musical mastery. There's no doubt about this outing, critics and audiences alike will devour this with pleasure--and why not? The compositions and arrangements are sophisticated, the cast of all-star veterans first rate, and the artist himself, gifted with ...
read moreAndrew Swift: Swift Kick
by C. Michael Bailey
Drummer Andrew Swift belongs to a new generation of jazz artists that includes trumpeter Ryan Kisor and multi-instrumentalists Sharel Cassity and Michael Dease, all of whom join Swift on his debut recording, Swift Kick. These young artists are all well trained and steeped in tradition. However, tradition does not own their collective souls. All compose with a bright edge of intelligence and perform in the same way. This is smart jazz that does not brag or indulge in over composition ...
read moreThomas Barber's Janus Bloc: Snow Road
by Troy Collins
In ancient Roman mythology, Janus, the god of gates, doorways, beginnings and endings, was often depicted with two heads facing in opposite directions--one looking to the past, the other to the future--making him an appropriate signifier for music that embraces a range of historical traditions. Snow Road is the debut recording of trumpeter and recent Julliard graduate Thomas Barber's large ensemble Janus Bloc, whose episodic compositions reveal a plethora of stylistic antecedents, drawing from classical, jazz, and film scores.
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