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William Hooker: Heart of the Sun

By John Sharpe

Suddenly Heart Of The Sun from veteran drummer William Hooker's The Gift looks a whole lot more poignant. With the passing of trumpeter Roy Campbell in January 2014, Hooker has been deprived of one of his longest collaborators. Campbell first appeared alongside the drummer on Colour Circle (CJR, 1989) as part of the self styled three member William Hooker Orchestra, and then later as one third of The Gift on Live at Sangha (Bmadish Records, 2005). As ever here Campbell ...

The String Trio of New York: The River of Orion: 30 Years Running

By Francis Lo Kee

The String Trio of New York (STNY) started in 1977 with John Lindberg (bass), James Emery (guitar) and Billy Bang (violin). Lindberg and Emery have been constant while there have been a number of violinists since Bang left in 1986: Charles Burnham, Regina Carter and Diane Monroe. Now with violinist Rob Thomas, they may have their most unified musical vision. Though he contributes no compositions here, his playing is strong on every level and, because of the register of his ...

String Trio of New York: The River of Orion: 30 Years Running

By Glenn Astarita

Established in 1979 with the Black Saint album First String, featuring Billy Bang manning the violin chair, the revered band String Trio of New York celebrates its 30-year anniversary with the impressionable effort, The River of Orion: 30 Years Running. Over the years, the trio has invited guest artists, such as saxophonist Oliver Lake and pianist Anthony Davis, to partake in performances and recordings. However, bassist John Lindberg and guitarist James Emery loom as the core components of the trio's ...

Carla Marciano: Change Of Mood

By Mark F. Turner

The force: the essence of the great John Coltrane that so many musicians and fans have drawn inspiration from--its roots in the blues, swing, spirituality and exploration. Italian saxophonist Carla Marciano has been heavily influenced by it and channels that energy into her own music where she's well known for her awe-inspiring chops as witnessed on the Black Saint releases--Trane's Groove (2002), A Strange Day (2005), and here on A Change of Mood. As Star Wars' Yoda might ...

Duology: Golden Atoms

By Jerry D'Souza

Michael Marcus (Bb clarinet) and Ted Daniel (trumpet) have long been distinctive improvisers. Both have made a mark not only on the free jazz scene, but also with mainstream bands. Whatever the setting, they have found the space to add their own impulses to enrich the music. And so, of the many duos that have popped up in the world of jazz, this one makes a marked impression. Marcus and Daniel create intuitive nuggets as they play a dozen tunes ...

Greg Burk Quartet: Berlin Bright

By Terrell Kent Holmes

Pianist Greg Burk embraces deconstruction and counterpoint as a player and composer, so a playful method to the madness runs through his excellent new album Berlin Bright. The opener, “Fancy Pants," exemplifies how Burk solos and writes with mild chaos in mind. After the theme the tune fractures schizophrenically, with Ignaz Dinne soaring melodically up front on alto while Burk plays a roiling counterpoint behind him. This startling, clever effect sounds like two open music sites on the Internet playing ...

Carla Marciano: Change Of Mood

By John Barron

On Change of Mood, her third release for the Black Saint label, Italian saxophonist Carla Marciano displays her aggressive alto and sopranino playing on an all original set of straight-ahead blowing, featuring the swinging rhythm section of pianist Alessandro La Corte, bassist Aldo Vigorito and drummer Gaetano Fasano. The native of Salerno, Italy bares her musical soul with the same level of heartfelt passion displayed on her previous release, A Strange Day (Black Saint, 2006).

With a tone that is ...