Jazz Articles

Jon Mayer: Live at the Athenaeum

by C. Michael Bailey
January 12, 2018

Pianist Jon Mayer has been quietly building his considerable discography over the last 25 years. Live at the Athenaeum joins eight previous releases that include, Full Circle (Reservoir Music, 2002); So Many Stars (Reservoir Music, 2007); Nightscape (Reservoir Music, 2009); and The Art of the Ballad (UDJ, 2014). These releases more than solidify Mayer's bona fides as an inventive composer and interpreter. Recorded at the Athenaeum in La Jolla, CA, Live at the Athenaeum proves a ballad-lover's delight ...

Nancy Marano: Sure Thing

by Dave Nathan
May 1, 2001

Nancy Marano taps the best of both West and East players for her latest album. The West Coast contingent is led by the inestimable and undervalued Mile Melvoin. For the session 3,000 miles to the East, another under recognized pianist, Michael Abene takes the lead. Marano takes is on piano for two of the tunes.

Marano is a member of that distinguished group of distaff vocalists who are legitimate heiresses to Ella, Sarah, Jeri, Billie, Carmen, June, Julie and Jo, ...

Various: BluePort Jazz Sampler

by Dave Nathan
March 1, 2001

This release hawks the virtues of the Blue Port label's first eight releases by whetting the appetite with samples from each of the albums. Featuring a stable of fine jazz musicians, mostly from the West Coast, all of whom offer absorbing and fresh renditions of mostly standard material, this CD allows the jazz fan to become acquainted with their talents before deciding which album to purchase.

There is not an unsatisfactory track on this CD. But some stand out more ...