Jazz Articles

Tineke Postma: For the Rhythm

by Jim Santella
January 2, 2006

Driving with plenty of contemporary excitement all around her, Dutch saxophonist Tineke Postma provides the kind of tension and release that makes modern jazz swing. Not quite thirty, but experienced through rigorous educational programs in both the United States and Holland, she has combined a strong foundation with her natural inclination for jazz's mainstream. Eight of the eleven pieces on this, her second album as leader, come from her composing pen.

Saxophone influences such as Cannonball Adderley and ...

Sandro Albert: The Color of Things

by Jim Santella
July 7, 2005

Wow, what an exciting mainstream jazz celebration from guitarist Sandro Albert on his second CD as leader! With woodwind artist Katisse Buckingham serving as his musical partner, and by inviting a little help from several other talented friends, Albert has created a sensational album that should appeal to a wide segment of the jazz listening population.

Unlike much of jazz from these past 25 years or so, The Color of Things includes elements from all the various factions. ...

Sandro Albert: The Color Of Things

by Mark Sabbatini
June 11, 2005

Sandro Albert's biggest weakness may be his near-perfect ability to imitate one of the world's best jazz guitarists. The Brazilian native has a lot going for him on The Color Of Things, his second album. His compositions reflect a strong melodic and harmonic ear, a first-rate roster of players mixes well, and there's plenty of intellect at work beneath an easygoing surface. It'd be so much easier to appreciate if he didn't sound like Pat Metheny most of the time. ...

Esbjorn Svensson Trio (e.s.t.): Seven Days of Falling

by Jerry D'Souza
September 16, 2004

The Esbjörn Svensson Trio, or e.s.t. as it prefers to be known these days, brings luminosity to the art of the piano trio on this, its eighth recording. Credit these three players with a strong sense of musicality and the ability to go past the obvious and build layer upon layer of enticing sonority. The arrangements are clever, letting them spin ideas and move them into unexpected terrain. The continuous changing and shaping of structure lends a sharp edge that ...

Soul Ballet: DreamBeatDream

by Brian Soergel
September 3, 2004

The dreamy, sexy music that Soul Ballet offers comes courtesy of Rick Kelly, who imagines Soul Ballet as a conceptual process. What kind of process? Well, it you like downtempo instrumentals with elements of classical, rock, new age and smooth jazz music, Soul Ballet is your musical nirvana. This is the style of romantic of music that is huge in Europe and in “chill music" circles. Kelly plays keyboards and uses samples, beat boxes and all available modern musical technology ...

Esbjorn Svensson Trio (E.S.T.): Seven Days of Falling

by John Kelman
August 22, 2004

Now in their tenth year, the Swedish piano trio e.s.t. has gradually evolved into a significant force on the European scene, playing to packed houses and releasing records that figure on jazz and pop charts. Why they've never managed to achieve the same level of success in North America is a mystery. The more elegant alternative to the Bad Plus, they share a similar penchant for song-like structure, but with a more delicate approach, clearly rooted in Bill Evans and ...