Jazz Articles

Abdullah Ibrahim (Dollar Brand): Anatomy of a South African Village / Ekapa Lodumo

by C. Michael Bailey
April 12, 2002

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It is in honor of the anniversary of free elections in South Africa that these reviews were commissioned. This article is dedicated to Mr. Abdullah Ibrahim and Mr. Nelson Mandela.

Abdullah Ibrahim, aka Dollar Brand, born Adolph Johannes Brand, was born in Cape Town South Africa in 1934. He is credited with taking part in the first jazz recording session in South Africa, a date where he joined American pianist John Mohegan for ...

Freddie Hubbard: New Colors

by AAJ Staff
May 1, 2001

The New Jazz Composers Octet, a New York scene collective of young players/composers dedicated to the ideal of new composition in jazz, here reaffirms their commitment to “new" jazz composition with nothing less than- you guessed it: backing up a aging jazz icon in an album consisting entirely of that icon's tunes.

How the irony of this could escape even the casual observer is beyond this reviewer. The New Jazz Composers collective, if one has checked out their web site, ...

Freddie Hubbard: New Colors

by C. Andrew Hovan
May 1, 2001

The quintessential hard bop trumpeter, Freddie Hubbard has had his share of ups and downs since he made his precious debut on the ‘60s burgeoning jazz scene so eloquently fostered by Blue Note. The ‘70s were a time for commercial concessions that his critics seemed to condemn with undue fervor, while the ‘80s offered their own share of physical problems. A major statement and his finest work of recent vintage, New Colors is Hubbard at its best and back on ...

Freddie Hubbard: New Colors

by Jim Santella
May 1, 2001

Freddie Hubbard and his New Jazz Composers Octet dig into the mainstream and come up with a winner. It's a team effort. Most of the selections are arranged by trumpeter David Weiss to reflect group interaction and a robust ensemble sound. Anchored by baritone saxophone and bass, the band aims for a dramatic flair as each melody is interpreted with deliberation. Seven of the eight selections are Hubbard's originals. “Red Clay" has mellowed with age, but its new “team" sound ...

Freddie Hubbard: New Colors

by Jim Santella
May 1, 2001

Freddie Hubbard and his New Jazz Composers Octet dig into the mainstream and come up with a winner. It's a team effort. Most of the selections are arranged by trumpeter David Weiss to reflect group interaction and a robust ensemble sound. Anchored by baritone saxophone and bass, the band aims for a dramatic flair as each melody is interpreted with deliberation. Seven of the eight selections are Hubbard's originals. “Red Clay" has mellowed with age, but its new “team" sound ...