Album Review
Hakon Skogstad: 8 Concepts of Tango
by Jack Bowers
Any time an instrumental group includes a bandoneon in the lineup, that provides a pretty good idea as to where its sentiments lie. Norwegian-born pianist Hakon Skogstad includes not one but two bandoneons in his octet, and as if that were not enough in the way of a definitive clue, has named his latest album 8 Concepts of Tango. Skogstad, to state the obvious, is wedded to the tango, a conclusion to which his half-dozen earlier albums ...
read moreChristian Marien Quartett: How Long Is Now
by Troy Dostert
Drummer Christian Marien represents the kind of omnivorous musical sensibility that is so valuable in an age in which conventional musical categories seem increasingly irrelevant. His undeniable reverence for the jazz tradition is evident through his work with I Am Three, in which he has teamed with saxophonist Silke Eberhard and trumpeter Nikolaus Neuser to offer marvelous re-interpretations of Charles Mingus, both on Mingus, Mingus, Mingus (Leo Records, 2016) and, joined by vocalist Maggie Nicols, Mingus' Sounds of Love (Leo ...
read morePaul Dunmall: Bright Light A Joyous Celebration
by John Sharpe
While the opener suggests a blowing session from veteran British saxophonist Paul Dunmall, as good as that promises to be, the reality is better still. Joining him is a starry cast drawn from succeeding generations, with the addition of American drummer Hamid Drake. With the drummer touring in the UK. Dunmall took the opportunity to renew a friendship that stretches back almost two decades, one first heard on the fiery Peace And Joy (Slam, 2006). Alongside them in the studio ...
read moreRemy Le Boeuf’s Assembly of Shadows: Heartland Radio
by Dan Bilawsky
This ear-grabbing date from Remy Le Boeuf's Assembly of Shadows--the band's third release, following its eponymous debut (in 2019) and Architecture of Storms (SoundSpore Records, 2021)--is a sonic mirror, reflecting the multihyphenate leader's recent travels in both life and sound. Influenced by an odyssey across inland America, sights encountered along the way, and the adventitious, airwaves-dictated soundtrack to the journey, Heartland Radio offers up a striking portrait of a Promethean artist with an unfettered imagination. Opening on ...
read moreMaurizio Minardi: Invisible
by Neil Duggan
Success, if it is attained, comes quickly to only a small minority of musicians. Being in the right place at the right time is often a major factor. Others have a longer journey, one that involves a gradual refinement of their craft over a range of projects. It may take more time, but those experiences can be rewarding to the artist and to the listener. One artist who appears to be on such a journey is Italian composer, pianist and ...
read moreOld Mountain: Another State Of Rhythm
by Glenn Astarita
Clean Feed Records has once again proven its prowess in bringing innovative jazz to the forefront, and Old Mountain's latest offering is a guiding light for those seeking to venture beyond the conventional boundaries of the genre. Each member brings a distinctive flair, yet their interplay feels seamless, creating a soundscape that is rich in texture and depth. Old Mountain's latest album, Another State of Rhythm, invites listeners on a contemplative journey. This quintet, featuring Pedro Branco on ...
read moreZach Rich: Solidarity
by Jack Bowers
Solidarity consists for the most part of warm, gentle chamber jazz ably performed by Denver-based trombonist Zach Rich, his quintet, a four-piece string section and half a dozen invited guests. Besides playing elegant trombone, Rich, who teaches at Denver's Lamont School of Music, wrote and arranged all of the album's eight handsome songs. The strings are present on the first six numbers; the seventh, “What Is America Rated?," features Julian Carey's spoken word, while the last, “The ...
read moreMichiel Stekelenburg: Catharsis
by Glenn Astarita
Dutch guitarist Michiel Stekelenburg is also a composer and educator known for his contributions to the jazz genre, though his origins in rock music significantly influence both his playing and compositions. His versatility as a session guitarist has seen him being a member of several pop and soul bands, alongside leading his own jazz and improvisational projects. On Catharsis, he emerges as a seasoned alchemist while consolidating his innermost feelings into a potent elixir of sound. The album ...
read moreErnesto Cervini: A Canadian Songbook
by Hrayr Attarian
Composer and drummer Ernesto Cervini is a stalwart of the Canadian creative music scene both as an artist and promoter. His ninth release as a leader, the captivating A Canadian Songbook, is a collection of seven intricate pieces, composed by him and other compatriots. Cervini, at the head of his sextet Turboprop, deftly balances collective harmony and individual expressions and delivers all with refreshing spontaneity. The leader starts off his arrangement of pianist James Hill's “Skeletons" with sparse ...
read moreCannonball Adderly: Burnin’ in Bordeaux: Live in France 1969
by Mike Jurkovic
Intent on burning down the house, Burnin' in Bordeaux: Live in France 1969 finds Cannonball Adderley gleefully passing out the matches. Captured very, very, very live at the Bordeaux Jazz Festival in March 1969, Adderley and his fired up co-arsonists--pianist Joe Zawinul, cornetist Nat Adderley, Jr., bassist Victor Gaskin, and drummer Roy McCurdy--go scorched earth from the flare-up with Zawinul's spiky ember, the uber-toned “The Scavenger." It rips, it roars. It runs wild the rapids and holds strong the ramparts. It ...
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