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Alison Rayner Quintet: SEMA4
by Neil Duggan
Live albums offer a snapshot of a band at a particular time, sometimes capturing them at their peak, when the adrenaline is flowing and the group's energy and cohesion are at their best. SEMA4 by the Alison Rayner Quintet (also known as ARQ) is such an album. It was recorded live at the Vortex Jazz Club ...
Toms Rudzinskis: Interception
by Mark Corroto
Even the most seasoned sommeliers can be caught off guard when presented with a wine from an uncharted region. That might be your first reaction to Interception by the Toms Rudzinskis Quartet. The Latvian-born composer and alto saxophonist offers a vibrant, nuanced session brimming with both tart and sweet tonal qualities. This vinyl LP ...
Mike Holober & The Gotham Jazz Orchestra: This Rock We're On: Imaginary Letters
by Jack Bowers
This Rock We're On, acclaimed composer and pianist Mike Holober's 2024 recording as leader of the Gotham Jazz Orchestra, is challenging to summarize in mere words, as it consists of a multi-part suite (on two CDs) which blends jazz, classical and art songs in a thematic environment that uses a series of “imaginary letters" from a ...
John Lamkin: Hot
by Tony Poole
Best known as a dedicated music educator, Dr. John Lamkin II has spent decades shaping the next generation of musicians as Director of Bands at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. But in 1984, he stepped into the spotlight with Hot, a dynamic blend of fusion, R&B, and straight-ahead jazz-funk that showcased his prowess as a ...
Robby Ameen: Live at the Poster Museum
by Jack Bowers
Unlike some drummer-led albums, wherein it is hard to determine who is actually piloting the ship, there are no doubts about who is in charge on Live at the Poster Museum--and that would be none other than Robby Ameen whose sharp and forceful timekeeping enlivens the heart and soul of every number, lending them a sizable ...
Luis Vicente: Come Down Here
by John Sharpe
Portuguese trumpeter Luis Vicente hits pay dirt with Come Down Here. Although he explores a range of styles from poised but unfettered outings such as Chamber 4 (FMR, 2015) and For Sale (Clean Feed, 2015), to fire music collaborations with the likes of tenor saxophonist John Dikeman on House In The Valley (Clean Feed, 2023), the ...
Jackson Potter: small things
by Dan Bilawsky
Grandiose gestures are well and good, but it's actually the small things, both independent and aggregated, that often prove most impactful. Those micro events or occurrences can lead to serious matters or link together to create an incredibly meaningful web of wonders at the macro level. That's a fact that Jackson Potter most certainly recognizes. For ...
Western Jazz Collective: Dark Journey: The Music of Andrew Rathbun
by Jack Bowers
The Western Jazz Collective is a seven-member co-op group that actually hails from America's Midwest--more specifically, Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo--where the ensemble's crew serve as members of the faculty. The designation “Western" thus refers to the university rather than the septet's geographic location. Be that as it may, what infuses and animates ...
Ron Magril: Inspired
by Neil Duggan
This is the second album as leader from Israeli guitarist & composer Ron Magril. It follows on from his debut, Until Now (Ubuntu Music, 2022). That album featured a hard-bop quartet. Inspired finds Magril in an organ trio setting, paying tribute to his musical heroes, Wes Montgomery and Grant Green. All eight tracks on ...
Jon Irabagon: Server Farm
by John Sharpe
Artificial Intelligence would have a hard job pinning down saxophonist Jon Irabagon's defining characteristics. When a player is as talented as Irabagon, who can turn his hand to almost any style, sometimes the challenge is to find a focus that stimulates. On Server Farm, Irabagon has taken the notion of AI and the ever increasing prevalence ...
