Jazz Articles

Various Artists: Original Jazz Legends- Featuring Torrid Trumpeters

by AAJ Staff
January 21, 2003

In this brassy volume of Original Jazz Legends, 1201 Music presents the three-fingered horn work of Nat King Cole and Buddy Rich, Joe Newman and Donald Byrd. Though Rich and Cole may not be best known for their horn-y aptitude, one of their bandmates lets go some fiery squeaks in the Rich-ly percussed jitterbug "Laguna Jump." "Black Market Stuff," on the other hand, is more playful than parching and "I’ll Never Be The Same" is a romantic slow dance more ...

Billie Holiday: Billie Holiday Live at Storyville

by AAJ Staff
January 21, 2003

Though born in Baltimore, Billie Holiday had strong ties to Massachusetts throughout her career. Her final performance, in fact, took place in Lowell, cradle of the industrial revolution. Long before that tragic set, however, Holiday recorded a series of shows at George Wein’s legendary Boston club Storyville. Though separated by two years from 1951-53, these discreet recordings capture “Lady Day" in prime emotive voice. From the first of Carl Drunkard’s watery piano drops which open “I Cover The Waterfront" to ...

Joe Augustine: Cool Today, Jazz Tonight

by Dave Nathan
October 1, 2001

Joe Augustine has been performing in a variety of settings at a variety of venues for more than 25 years. Along the way he has recorded several albums for different labels. His latest CD features a play list of his originals with familiar jazz and pop material. One hears in Augustine's straight from the shoulder attack echoes of Erroll Garner and Oscar Peterson especially on tunes where he can show his virtuosity and interpretative technique. This comes through on such ...

Joe Augustine: Cool Today, Jazz Tonight

by Glenn Astarita
September 1, 2001

The CD cover art features a photo of veteran jazz pianist, Joe Augustine smiling for the camera. Hence, a picture is worth a thousand words and the precursor for a good, solid outing by the leader of this date along with his quintet, also featuring the divergent talents of ex-Frank Zappa, “Genesis” and “Weather Report” drummer, Chester Thompson.

Essentially, Augustine forsakes any notions of pursuing heady, introspective, or self absorbed piano-based fare, as the leader lets the good times roll ...

Joe Augustine: License to Groove

by C. Michael Bailey
May 1, 2000

Amalgham. Cross the Crusader's Joe Sample with Gene Harris and one gets veteran Joe Augustine. Augustine has haunted jazz for the past twenty years as a pianist and arranger for big bands and has recorded consistently since the early 1990s, mostly on Revere, Moulin D'or, and now 1210 records. License to Grove is Augustine's funky, modern take on an inventive collection of standards and originals. Augustine's sound is characterized by a plush and slickly-produced rhythm section providing a carpet upon ...

70's Jazz Pioneers: Live! at The Town Hall New York City

by Glenn Astarita
May 1, 1999

The “Young Lions” of the 1970’s? Now we refer to them as the “70’s Jazz Pioneers”. Perhaps in the year 2010 some will refer to Wynton Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, Antonio Hart and Joshua Redman, as the (mainstream) “80’s Jazz Pioneers”? Although, this writer would hardly cite Redman or Hargrove as true pioneers but this is good fodder for ongoing debates et al.

Here, those 70’s’ Pioneers reunite at New York City’s famous “Town Hall” to perform well known compositions by ...