Jazz Articles

Michael Rabinowitz: Uncharted Waters

by Roger Farbey
April 11, 2017

Like the harp, oboe and tuba, bassoon in jazz is not a common instrument but all have been occasionally successfully employed as lead soloing instruments. Amongst a handful of others, Illinois Jacquet and Lindsay Cooper both played bassoon in a jazz context. Cooper, who died of MS in 2013, was depicted playing the bassoon in John Fordham's excellent 1993 Dorling Kindersley primer Jazz . On the instrument, Fordham states: “The bassoon's sound was described by writer Sacheverell Sitwell as 'like ...

The Mac Chrupcala Trio: One More For The Road

by Edward Blanco
October 4, 2013

Pianist-composer, band leader and producer Mac Chrupcala has worked extensively in the southern New England and eastern Canada area for most of his career, and has recently added the southwest Florida (North Port) community to his stomping grounds. A leader of big bands and a veteran player with thirty-five recordings to his credit, Chrupcala's new working trio with bassist Jim Cammack and drummer Bernard Purdie presents One More For The Road, an album that offers stellar interpretations of well- known ...

Greg Bobulinski: East of the Sun

by Jack Bowers
October 1, 1999

Speaking of talent deserving wider recognition, here comes Greg Bobulinski (did I hear you say “Greg who”?) with a wonderful album of mostly standards which shows beyond a doubt that he’s a trumpeter to be reckoned with. Bobulinski seems to have all the equipment necessary for success — superior technique, gorgeous tone (on trumpet or flugel), a well–stocked reservoir of cogent ideas — everything, that is, except name recognition. One clings to the hope that discs such as this one ...

David Frazier: A Touch of Blues

by Dave Hughes
October 1, 1999

Guitarist David Frazier offersA Touch of Blues, as well as touches of many related genres, in a nicely balanced program of half originals, half covers.  Some tunes, such as the opener "Apache" and the Santana/Coster standard "Europa" exhibit the touch of blues, with soulful, yearning guitar explorations.   "Blues for Joe (Pass)" is more oriented towards the gospel-flavored, down home traditional blues.  Others tend more towards good contemporary jazz.   "Metro Groove," as the name suggests, sports a ...

Paul Kendall: Unspoken Words

by Jack Bowers
April 1, 1999

Unspoken Words (Cats Paw)

Paul Kendall, about whom we know and are told nothing, is an outstanding tenor player from the Stanley Turrentine/Houston Person academy of unvarnished swing, and his commanding presence enlivens this congenial mainstream trio (more accurately, trios) date recorded in ’97. Kendall has a clear and pleasing tone, an abundance of persuasive ideas, and chops that are apparently equal to any task. He fronts two trios, one of which includes veterans Forrester and Petschauer, the other relative ...

Greg Bobulinski: Hibiscus Flowre: Duqueovelle

by Jack Bowers
April 1, 1999

Although only the most well–informed Jazz fans have probably even heard of Greg Bobulinski, he’s a seasoned mainstream trumpeter with excellent command of his horn and plenty of interesting things to say. After graduating from North Texas State University (now the University of North Texas) he joined the Red Garland Quintet, later played with the Clark Terry big band, Dizzy Gillespie, Carmen McRae, George Coleman, Jimmy Heath, Marian McPartland, Curtis Fuller, Al Grey, Duke Jordan, Sir Roland Hanna, Thad Jones, ...