Jazz Articles

Richard Todd: With a Twist

by C. Michael Bailey
June 24, 2002

Mellow...

The French horn is no stranger to Jazz. Claude Thornhill used French horns in his 1940s big band where they made big impression of arranger Gil Evans. Evans then joined Miles Davis for his famous Nonet sides that made up The Birth of the Cool sessions. It has been a bit of a hard road for the instrument to break into the forefront of jazz improvisation. Richard Todd has stepped up to the challenge with a disc of jazz ...

Richard Todd: With a Twist

by Dave Nathan
June 7, 2002

With such notable exceptions as Julius Watkins, Tom Varner and Willie Ruff, the French Horn has not made a large splash as a solo jazz instrument. Often found in orchestras, such as Claude Thornhill's, or in small groups, it adds a distinctive mellow, melodic harmonic substance to the music. Contemporary and classic horn player, Richard Todd, has taken the instrument into a chamber setting for his initial foray into the world of jazz recording, with a smattering of interesting results ...

Industrial Monk: Prophecies

by Glenn Astarita
December 1, 2001

The message here might pertain to notions that religion (or religious connotations) can be a truly hip experience, thanks to the overall approach taken by sound engineer, Fred Vogler and Japanese born synthesist/composer, Takashi Kawai. On this release, the duo pursues nicely orchestrated loops, samples and Techno rhythms along with vocalists who chant Latin verse atop groove-based, ambient electronic soundscapes.

Vogler and Kawai also enlist the services of guitarist, Goffrey Moore, and bassist, Mark Jones to complement the vocalists as ...