Home » Search Center » Results: ACT Music
Results for "ACT Music"
Vince Mendoza: Blauklang
by Glenn Astarita
For jazz aficionados, composer/arranger Vince Mendoza's artisanship is a well-known entity. However, he's also enamored the works of pop-rock stars of note, including Joni Mitchell, Elvis Costello and Sheryl Crow. Mendoza is a master-craftsman who possesses a keen ear to complement his vivid imaginative powers, characteristics that are fastidiously transmitted throughout this rather wondrous ...
radio.string.quartet.vienna with Klaus Paier: Radiotree
by Chris May
Following their high octane homage Celebrating The Mahavishnu Orchestra (ACT, 2007), Austrian conservatoire rebels radio.string.quartet.vienna return, in part, with a salute to their fellow countryman, keyboard player Joe Zawinul, who passed in 2007. The quartet, augmented by accordionist Klaus Paier, offer striking interpretations of three of Zawinul's compositions--the iconic "In A Silent Way," from ...
Vince Mendoza: Blauklang
by John Kelman
It's been nearly a decade since composer/arranger Vince Mendoza released the sweepingly orchestral Epiphany (Zebra, 1999), but he's been anything but inactive. The arranger/orchestrator of choice for artists including quirky popstress Bjork and her hit album Vespertine (Elektra, 2001), and Joni Mitchell--reinventing the iconic singer/songwriter's vast songbook on Both Sides Now (Reprise, 2000) and Travelogue (Nonesuch, ...
Oddjob: Sumo
by John Kelman
There's something a little otherworldly about Swedish jazz-rockers Oddjob. While there's an unmistakably retro feel to Sumo, its third release and first to receive widespread distribution, there's a strange, futuristic skew to its groove-happy roots in '60s and '70 soul jazz that keeps the music slightly off-kilter. The members of Oddjob have ...
Jorg Brinkmann Trio: Ha!
by John Kelman
Uncommon instruments in jazz have become, well, more common. Instruments normally considered exotic are finding their way into music that's often distanced from their conventional comfort zones. Uncommon groupings are also becoming more commonplace, with traditional rhythm sections by no means obsolete, but no longer essential. Jörg Brinkmann isn't the first cellist to operate in the ...
Oddjob: Sumo
by Chris May
Swedish band Oddjob have been together since 2002, ploughing a melodic and groove-centric furrow built on the electric jazz-fusion of the 1970s, and staying the right side of “ambient" thanks to the brio and creativity which they bring to the music. On Sumo--their fourth album and ACT debut--the band have widened their sights to include funk, ...
Alboran Trio: Near Gale
by AAJ Italy Staff
La prematura ed improvvisa scomparsa di Esbjorn Svensson ha privato la musica di una voce in grado di comunicare ad un pubblico ampio, che va dal jazzofilo incallito al rockettaro più assiduo. Non è però azzardato sostenere che l'Alboran Trio è forse il gruppo più indicato per raccoglierne l'eredità. Non solo in quanto facente capo, come ...
Depart: Mountain Messenger
by Chris May
The histories of the players who make up the powerhouse trio Depart are distinguished, but give only a small clue to the nature of the music they offer on Mountain Messenger or its predecessor, Reloaded (ACT Music, 2006), the group's debut. Austrian saxophonist Harry Sokal and the Swiss rhythm team of bassist Heiri Kanzig ...
E_L_B (Peter Erskine_Nguyen Le_Michel Benita): Dream Flight
by John Kelman
Active leaders all--and busy sidemen as well--drummer Peter Erskine, guitarist Nguyên Lê and bassist Michel Benita worked together in other contexts, prior to forming the collective trio E_L_B and releasing their self-titled 2000 ACT debut. Busy schedules prevented a follow-up for seven years; but following a successful tour where the trio became a quartet with the ...
Ulf Wakenius: Love is Real: Ulf Wakenius Plays the Music of Esbjorn Svensson
by John Kelman
While the recent proliferation of piano trios has proven the pop/rock world can provide plenty of grist for jazz exploration, few are as successful as e.s.t. in writing instantly (and consistently) memorable original material that's rife for reexamination by others. The democratic trio attributes its writing to the group, but pianist Esbjorn Svensson is clearly its ...
