Jazz Articles

Arturo Sandoval: Hot House

by Javier AQ Ortiz
March 1, 2002

In societies haunted by seemingly providential preventive warnings and labels, this album should come with a cover admonition: “Warning! Testicular trumpet playing can affect all those with a weak heart for well-executed music, especially Kenny G fans. Please consult your physician before buying this album.” Well, on the other hand, do not think for a minute that Sandoval's work can be subsumed into ballsy, brawny, cojonudo, flights of unparalleled blowing. After all, no one can be described as the “Best ...

Various: Endless Miles

by C. Michael Bailey
November 1, 1998

Tributes When it comes to popular music, I shy away from all-star tribute discs. It has been my experience that they are uniformly bad with the exception of one or two superb performances (such as Buddy Guy?s ?Red House? on Stone Free: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix, Warner Brothers 45438). Jazz tributes have a better chance of having superb performances because of the improvisatory nature of the music and general superior musicianship of the jazz player. The newest Miles Davis ...

T. S. Monk: Monk on Monk

by Jack Bowers
October 1, 1998

A daunting task, recreating the idiosyncratic music of the legendary Thelonious Sphere Monk without lessening its power or singularity, and who better to accept the challenge than Monk’s drumming son, T.S. Monk (with a lot of help from his friends). Herein are nine of Monk’s matchless compositions, ably refashioned by T.S. and colleagues with an abundance of spirit and a scrupulous aversion to needless parody. In June, Monk on Monk was honored by journalists as “Recording of the Year” at ...

Endless Miles: A Tribute to Miles Davis

by Jack Bowers
October 1, 1998

A well--formed program of contemporary Jazz (for the most part anyway), presented for a good cause as well. A part of the net proceeds from Endlessmiles, recorded by a number of all--star groups at New York City's Birdland on May 26, 1998--the 72nd anniversary of the late trumpeter's birth--will be used to help establish an endowment for young musicians, the MilesDavis.com scholarship, to be administered by the International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE). Two of the eight songs ...

Various Artists: The Instrumental History of Jazz

by John Sharpe
May 1, 1998

For all those who ask the question “how do I get started with jazz"? this deluxe 2 CD set is the perfect answer. Starting with Scott Joplin's Maple Leaf Rag (1917) and ending with Geri Allen's 1992 recording of Dolphy's Dance, this package covers a lot of ground. The 22 tracks present a representative tune from each of 10 different jazz genres. The enclosed 52 page booklet is jam packed with vital information on the music and the people who ...

Dave Grusin: West Side Story

by Jim Santella
January 1, 1998

It's been forty years already since West Side Story premiered on Broadway in New York City; since then, jazz luminaries such as Stan Kenton, Dave Brubeck, Oscar Peterson, and Dave Liebman have released recorded collections of Leonard Bernstein's exciting music from that score. Individual songs from the musical, such as “Somewhere," “Maria," and “Tonight," have become standards in everybody's book. For Dave Grusin's look at the familiar theater score, he's brought together a core rhythm section that includes John Patitucci ...

T.S. Monk: Monk on Monk

by Rick Bruner
October 1, 1997

Several years ago Thelonious Sphere Monk III (AKA T.S. Monk), son of the one and only Thelonious Sphere Monk, entered the jazz scene after a stint in the pop music field. He has since released some fine albums but until now has not devoted an entire recording to the music of his legendary father. Monk on Monk explores nine of the elder Monk's compositions arranged for large ensemble by trumpeter Don Sickler.

A bevy of jazz legends gathered to assist ...

T.S. Monk: Monk On Monk

by Jim Santella
September 1, 1997

Employing Don Sickler's transcriptions and arrangements, T.S. Monk's ten-piece ensemble sounds like a big band; saxophones, trumpets, trombones and rhythm section combine to interpret Thelonious Monk's compositions. Focusing on tunes Monk wrote for family and friends, the ensemble delivers “Little Rootie Tootie," written for his son, “Boo Boo's Birthday," written for his daughter Barbara's birthday, “In Walked Bud," written for his best friend Bud Powell, “Ruby, My Dear," written for a girlfriend, “Jackie-ing," written for a favorite niece, and “Crepuscule ...