Jazz Articles

Oz Noy: Schizophrenic

by John Kelman
September 22, 2009

While other fusion guitarists have received wider international acclaim, Israeli-born, US-resident guitarist Oz Noy has been working in the trenches, slowly amassing a discography as impressive for its writing as it is his tastefully virtuosic playing. Schizophrenic, the guitarist's fourth release since his 2005 Magnatude Records debut, Ha!, demonstrates considerable growth in both departments. Straddling the jazz-rock fusion line--sometimes leaning a little more heavily on one than the other--Noy's music has always defined by visceral groove, inventive melody, and an ...

School of the Arts Featuring T Lavitz: School of the Arts

by Ian Patterson
November 23, 2007

Given the musicians assembled by pianist T.Lavitz on School of the Arts, it would hardly be hedging your bets to expect an out-and-out chops fest. What may come as a surprise, however, is that it is practically an all-acoustic affair. And whilst the tempo of the music is almost relentlessly fast, there are not so many solos that you'd lose count. When they do come, though, you'd better hang onto your hat.

With all bar two ...

School of the Arts Featuring T Lavitz: School of the Arts

by John Kelman
November 12, 2007

It may be an all-acoustic affair (with the exception of electric bass), but School of the Arts bristles with fusion energy. That will come as no surprise to anyone familiar with even a few of the names on this project spearheaded by pianist T Lavitz, who first came to attention in 1979 when he joined The Dixie Dregs, guitarist Steve Morse's country-tinged progressive fusion group that released a string of outstanding albums between 1975 and 1982, and still reconvenes on ...

Oz Noy: Fuzzy

by Glenn Astarita
October 18, 2007

As a sixteen-year old guitarist, Oz Noy made a noticeable splash in his native Israel. Since immigrating to New York, he's risen to first-call session status for a consortium of highly-visible pop, rock and jazz acts. But it's his solo recordings that have created the big buzz within progressive-rock circles. With his follow-up to Ha! (Magnatude, 2005), the artist once again aligns himself with the creme de la creme of jazz and rock artistes. Enviable chops aside, Noy helps redefine ...

Robert Walter: Super Heavy Organ

by John Kelman
November 18, 2005

Organist Robert Walter is best known as a founding member of the dance-jazz funksters known as Greyboy Allstars. But since the mid-1990s he's also been involved in other projects, like the George Clinton tribute band The Clinton Administration--featuring instrumental workups of classic Parliament and Funkadelic tunes--and Robert Walter's 20th Congress, an update on 1970s jazz/funk. Super Heavy Organ is the first disc he's made since relocating to New Orleans, and by recruiting a group of notable Crescent City musicians he's ...

Oz Noy: Ha!

by John Kelman
April 27, 2005

Guitarist Oz Noy may not yet be a household name, but there are plenty of musicians on the New York scene, where he relocated from Israel in '96, who recognize him for the innovator he is--including bassist/multi-instrumentalist Richard Bona, drummer Jeff “Tain Watts, and vibraphonist Mike Mainieri. Noy's working trio regularly includes bassists Will Lee and James Genus, and drummers Watts, Keith Carlock, and Anton Fig. If one can be judged by the company one keeps, then Noy is clearly ...

The Fareed Haque Group: Cosmic Hug

by John Kelman
April 21, 2005

When guitarist Fareed Haque first came onto the scene in the late '80s, he revealed his impressive technique and placed diverse musical interests, including classical and Indian music, within a more improvisational jazz context. It seemed as though he'd be the next big thing. With a melodic sensibility that brought to mind certain elements of Pat Metheny, along with the blinding technique of an Al Di Meola (albeit more restrained and, consequently, less bombastic), it just seemed like a sure ...

Alex Skolnick: Transformation

by Andrey Henkin
January 29, 2005

Despite his best efforts, guitarist Alex Skolnick remains a novelty in the exclusive jazz community. Why he should care though is another question, given that as a thrash metal guitarist, he probably sold more records than Miles Davis. His decision to be reborn as a jazz player has been well documented, as has his movement to create a new set of standards based on the hard rock oeuvre. His second album continues this effort with the inclusion of material by ...

Alex Skolnick Trio: Transformation

by John Kelman
November 2, 2004

Call me a jazz bigot. When I received Transformation by Alex Skolnick, apparently the ex-guitarist for thrash metal-heads Testament, my first thought was, “Great, another rocker trying to be a jazzer." Things didn't get better when I saw that Skolnick was interpreting material by Judas Priest, Pink Floyd, Deep Purple, Scorpions, Iron Maiden and--yes--Ronnie James Dio. Sure, plenty of serious jazz artists have approached contemporary singer/songwriters in recent years--Brad Mehldau, Charlie Hunter, even Herbie Hancock. But metal bands? I mean, ...