Jazz Articles

Buddy Rich Trio: Buddy Rich Trios

by Bruce Klauber
September 12, 2023

In 2023, some 36 years after his death, the name of Buddy Rich is still synonymous with the word “drums" in many quarters, as is his reputation as a swinging, driving, fiery, and charismatic drummer/leader of a series of superb big bands, roughly in existence from 1966 until his passing in 1987. What is not generally known is that Rich was also a sensitive, passionate and inspiring small group drummer, who backed, through the years, everyone from Lester Young and ...

Jason Miles: Kind Of New 2: Blue Is Paris

by Jeff Winbush
August 3, 2017

You can't fault the motivation behind keyboardist Jason Miles' sequel to Kind of New (Whaling City Sound, 2015). Miles wanted to respond to the 2015 Paris terror attack and Kind of New 2: Blue Is Paris is the result, but though the motivation is solid, the execution doesn't match it. With Kind of New, Miles was joined by Ingrid Jensenon trumpet in his well-received tribute to Miles Davis and the seminal Kind of Blue. Here, Miles decided to ...

BeatleJazz: All You Need

by J Hunter
March 26, 2007

Remember when Miles Davis used Michael Jackson's “Human Nature" and Cyndi Lauper's “Time After Time" as concert staples? The uproar over his choices brings up a question: What, exactly, is a standard? Is the definition strictly limited to the contents of The Great American Songbook? Or is it simply a tune that did not originate as jazz, but was adapted to the genre? Thanks to artists like Brad Mehldau and Richard Glasper, Radiohead is now considered prime fodder for jazz ...

Sherrie Maricle & The DIVA Jazz Orchestra: TNT: A Tommy Newsom Tribute

by Edward Blanco
November 14, 2005

TNT is the fifth album by the explosive New York-based all-female DIVA Jazz Orchestra, blending a contemporary mainstream big band sound with a progressive flavor. Founded by a former relief drummer for the Buddy Rich Big Band, Stanley Kay, the fifteen piece big band has been under the direction of bandleader/drummer Dr. Sherrie Maricle for the last several years. Whether in the studio or in concert, the group has drawn critical acclaim for its play.

This record is ...

Buddy Rich Band: No Funny Hats

by Rusty Aceves
July 22, 2005

Musically, as he seemed to be in life, Buddy Rich was practically bulletproof. For that reason, Lightyear's recent release of this 1978 performance is really beyond criticism, and for Rich fans, a newly issued live recording is cause for celebration. Regardless, this set is as representative of the power and authority of the drummer and his band in prime form as anything else in his catalog. The level of performance Rich demanded of his bands and himself ...

BeatleJazz: With a Little Help from Our Friends

by Jim Santella
April 16, 2005

With its third album of reinterpreted songs associated with the era of the Beatles, this sterling piano trio (plus guests) explores spiritual themes and poignant melodies that have long been tucked away in our mind's library of influential music. Both the latter, mystical period and the earlier, blue collar, everyday affair with the Beatles are included here.

Michael Brecker soars spiritually on “Working Class Hero," with strong ties to the memory of John Coltrane. Randy Brecker weaves a ...

BeatleJazz: With a Little Help From Our Friends

by Paul Olson
April 11, 2005

Let me be the first to admit that I am prejudiced against jazz musicians covering the Beatles. This is in no way related to the source material: like all sentient mammals on the Planet Earth, I adore pretty much every note the Fabs recorded. It's just that their material is so weighted with cultural and nostalgic baggage that (unlike standards like, say, “All the Things You Are ) it retains too much of its Beatleness to be just a set ...

Various Artists: Stone Jazz

by AAJ Staff
October 16, 2003

“A-one and a-two: Can’t get me no...duh, duh, duh...Satisfaction, baby.”

When you really think about it, Mulgrew Miller sort of looks like Keith Richards. Take out the Grecian Formula and Lenny White might be Charlie Watts. Charles Fambrough may be from Philadelphia, but with a little work, I see Bill Wyman. Stone Jazz proves that when rockers age enough, even jazz cats like to imitate them. This collection is 48 minutes of almost dysfunctional retro. If you didn’t ...