Jazz Articles

Carles Margarit: Ah

by Mark F. Turner
April 21, 2005

The transfer of knowledge from the past to expressions of the present is profoundly voiced on Ahi- te quedas. Though representing the full post bop idiom--full of glorious swing and intensity--the music is executed by young musicians with new musical timestamps of today's jazz.

An active member of the thriving jazz climate of Barcelona, saxophonist Carles Margarit is one of the city's rising musicians, involved in many music outlets in performing, composing, and leading his own group. His debut recording ...

Carles Margarit Group: Ahi Te Quedas

by AAJ Staff
March 25, 2004

The Carles Margarit group is a quintet of young musicians from Barcelona, Spain. They play a few standards, but their repertoire consists largely of the leader's attractive compositions. While Margarit's writing falls within the general parameters of hard bop, he crafts declamatory, catchy themes with intriguing harmonies, such as the relaxed minor blues of “Bee-Boop" or the rhythmically churning title tune.

The CD booklet has little text, but there are photographs of each musician. These are young players, ...

Chris Kase: Nine Easy Pieces

by John Kelman
March 24, 2004

In his detailed liner notes trumpeter Chris Kase attempts to shed some light on the technical considerations behind the compositions on his latest release, Nine Easy Pieces. And it is true that there is a lot of meat in his writing; but what really makes this album succeed is the easygoing manner in which all participants navigate music that, while complex and considered at its core, sounds deceptively simple.

Lester Young once said, “Can you sing me a song?" and ...

Ugonna Okegwo: UOniverse

by Matt Merewitz
October 15, 2003

Splitting his time over the past decade or so between Europe and the New York straight-ahead and avant scenes, Ugonna Okwego has developed a strong network of peers and collaborators on both continents (including pianist Bruce Barth, trumpeter Tom Harrell, trombonist Steve Davis, saxophonist Dan Faulk and international star pianist Jacky Terrasson). UOniverse is the the first time the public has seen or heard Okwego as a leader, and his past studio experiece shines though in this performance on the ...

Tim Armacost: Brightly Dark

by Alexander M. Stern
October 7, 2003

The ghost of John Coltrane hovers over Brightly Dark. At times, Tim Armacost sounds startlingly like the late saxophonist, especially when he plays soprano, as he does on 'Afro Pentameter' and on the title track. Armacost is an extremely talented musician and an excellent composer, but he is still somewhat lacking in originality. Not that anyone can blame him for choosing to emulate Coltrane. In a scene from Woody Allen's Manhattan, Allen is told by an angry friend that he ...

Bruce Barth: American Landscape

by Bill Tannebring
May 25, 2003

If you’re already a Bruce Barth fan, you’ll find much to like on American Landscape. If you’re not familiar with Barth, let me introduce you. The California-born pianist grew up in New York and spent his early years in Boston studying with Norman Simmons, Jaki Byard and Fred Hersh. It’s evident in Barth's playing that these legends of the keyboard had a tremendous influence on him.

The former Terrance Blanchard sideman is among the busiest pianists and composers in jazz, ...

Adam Kolker: Sultanic Verses

by Dan McClenaghan
May 11, 2003

Reedman Adam Kolker has garnered three Grammy nominations for his work alongside percussionist Ray Barretto. Now, as the leader on Sultanic Verses, he teams up again with Barretto, whose churning rhythms aid and abet pianist Bruce Barth, bassist John Herbert, and drummer Billy Hart.Four tunes are "Verses," shuffled in with the Kolker originals and a couple of time- polished classics: Monk's "Epistrophy" and the American Songbook gem, "All or Nothing at All." The Verses are duets, featuring Kolker's ...