Jazz Articles

Mike LeDonne: Bags Groove (A Tribute to Milt Jackson)

by C. Michael Bailey
April 12, 2002

Bags...in all his glory...

Intermediate-sized jazz bands have always been interesting. Miles Davis' 1949 Birth of the Cool Nonette set the stage for all “little-big" bands. Pianist Mike LeDonne's tribute to Milt Jackson, Bags Groove, is performed in this same vein. Ledonne assembles a swinging little octet that effectively takes Jackson's better known compositions and pieces associated with him on a little highway driving. Everything is urbane and intelligent here, much in the same spirit of the great vibraphonist himself. ...

Dave Santoro: The New Standard

by C. Michael Bailey
April 12, 2002

Bass on Top...

Bassist Dave Santoro has formed a “standards" quartet that effectively expands the philosophy of Keith Jarrett's Standards Trio. Jarrett, along with drummer Jack DeJohnette and bassist Gary Peacock represent a “standards" unit, reinterpreting the great American songbook. They have had the market cornered in performing standards for the last 20 years. Santoro makes this concept one better with the addition of tenor saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi, who is charged with reharmonizing the same American Songbook. This has resulted ...

Dave Santoro: The New Standard

by C. Michael Bailey
April 12, 2002

Bass on Top...

Bassist Dave Santoro has formed a “standards" quartet that effectively expands the philosophy of Keith Jarrett's Standards Trio. Jarrett, along with drummer Jack DeJohnette and bassist Gary Peacock represent a “standards" unit, reinterpreting the great American songbook. They have had the market cornered in performing standards for the last 20 years. Santoro makes this concept one better with the addition of tenor saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi, who is charged with reharmonizing the same American Songbook. This has resulted ...

The Richard Sussman Quintet: Free Fall

by C. Michael Bailey
March 1, 2002

The re-release of a classic...

Formerly released on Inner City records in 1979, Richard Sussman's Post Bop masterpiece Free Fall languished for several years before being revived by Jamey Aebersold and Double Time Jazz Records. It is odd that as fine a recording as this is, Sussman recorded only once more for Inner City Records ( Tributaries, 1980).It is a pity, because this maiden voyage smacks of subtle brilliance. Sussman was savvy enough to bring on board a young and ...

Bill Charlap: Contrasts with Jon Gordon / Voyage with Phil Woods

by C. Michael Bailey
February 1, 2002

A precocious, well- studied pianist, trading eights with two alto giants.

 The common denominator in both of these recent releases would at first glance appear to be pianist Bill Charlap. However, the relationship goes much deeper. Alto saxophonist Jon Gordon was a school chum of Charlap's at New York City's High School for the Performing. Phil Woods's was Gordon's principle teacher and produced Contrasts for Double-Time records. The disc was recorded in Phil Wood's home. Phil Woods's mentions Voyage in ...

The Richard Sussman Quintet: Free Fall

by Glenn Astarita
January 1, 2002

Originally released on “Inner City Records” in 1978, this reissue sounds as fresh and cutting-edge as just about anything that resembles contemporary mainstream/progressive jazz! Pianist, Richard Sussman sports a very impressive resume; evidenced by his work with “Blood, Sweat & Tears,” Buddy Rich, pop vocalist, Carly Simon, and others. Besides, he also composed a portion to the classic film, “Midnight Cowboy”. Here, the pianist enlists the tight rhythm section of bassist, Mike Richmond and drummer, Jeff Williams. However, we also ...

Mike LeDonne: Bags Groove

by David A. Orthmann
January 1, 2002

The survival of jazz as a living art form depends on the transmission of essential performance elements from one generation to the next, with the proviso that youth eventually contribute something new to the tradition rather than simply stay in place. Heeding all aspects of this process,Bags Groove, Mike LeDonne’s homage to the late Milt Jackson, is not your run-of-the-mill tribute record. A youthful veteran conversant in a number of jazz styles, LeDonne spent several years in the last of ...

Craig Wuepper: The Returnsman

by Dave Nathan
May 1, 2001

Jazz ensembles led by drummers rarely gain the prominence they perhaps deserve, the outstanding exception being Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. Craig Wuepper works hard to change that perception on his maiden album as leader. There are four his works on the program and they are where Wuepper especially displays his considerable drumming talent. Although he cites the likes of Philly Joe Jones and Elvin Jones among his influences, he is less noisy and intrusive than these two major modern drummers. ...

Don Braden: The Contemporary Standards Ensemble

by C. Andrew Hovan
February 1, 2001

It's a known fact that the majority of jazz performers, both past and present, draw on popular material in some way or form for a part of their repertoire. These items are the “standards" that have become the language of most improvising musicians. These tunes have stood the test of time, but emanate from a previous era. Technology, values, and mindsets have changed since the days of the Porters and Gershwins and one has to really wonder whether or not ...

Dan Wall: On the Inside Looking In

by C. Andrew Hovan
February 1, 2001

It just so happens that he currently makes his home in Cleveland, Ohio, yet pianist/organist Dan Wall is a world class player who could hold his own in New York, LA or just about anywhere. An integral part of guitarist John Abercrombie’s trio for some eight years now (see and hear Open Land and Tactics ), Wall rarely sits at the Hammond B3 for in-town gigs, but has made a strong attempt to develop a voice on the instrument through ...