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Micah Thomas: Mountains
by Mike Jurkovic
It can never not be exciting and enthralling to listen to a young artist come into his or her own as pianist/composer Micah Thomas does on the very live, very rollicking, very palpable Mountains. Thomas' fourth disc as captain of the ship chronicles four hot sets in June of 2023 commissioned by The Jazz ...
Greg Reitan: The Bounding Line
by Pierre Giroux
The Bounding Line is a testament to the power of artistic immersion and long-standing musical camaraderie. Accompanied by his trusted trio members, bassist Jack Daro and drummer Dean Koba who have shared a musical bond spanning over thirty years, Greg Reitan reflects on his personal and musical journey. The ideas for Reitan's original compositions presented here ...
Avishai Darash: Between Hope and Despair
by Nathalie Tamara Freson
Avishai Darash's Between Hope and Despair is a timely album, composed as a reaction to the October 7th 2023 massacre in Israel. It refers to the spectrum of emotions one may feel in times of war, regardless of what side one stands on. This is to be expected from Darash, an intellectual pianist. He does not ...
Geoffrey Keezer: Live at Birdland
by Pierre Giroux
Pianist Geoffrey Keezer's 2024 release, Live At Birdland, is his first live trio recording in more than 15 years. Accompanied by those rhythmic stalwarts, bassist John Patitucci and drummer Clarence Penn, the group gives a tutorial in the art of the jazz trio filled with unparalleled intimacy and dynamism. In constructing the track list, Keezer wanted ...
Gary Smulyan: Boss Baritones
by David A. Orthmann
The once-popular pairings of such incisive hard-blowing saxophonists as Johnny Griffin with Eddie “Lockjaw" Davis and Gene Ammons with Sonny Stitt constitute some of the inspiration behind the making of Boss Baritones. Incorporating material penned by Griffin, Davis, Illinois Jacquet, Don Byas and J.R. Monterose indicates a healthy respect for giants who may no longer be ...
Dave Douglas: Gifts
by John Sharpe
Trumpeter Dave Douglas' talents as an improviser, composer and organizer are well known by now. In some ways the challenge for him is to find novel settings in which his abilities can be appreciated. If that is indeed an issue, then he has aced the test on Gifts, with a quartet that often sounds like a ...
Eliane Elias: Time And Again
by Edward Blanco
Internationally-renowned Brazilian jazz pianist and vocalist Eliane Elias presents her third recording on the Candid label--and the 32nd release of her long and distinguished career--on the innovative and creative Time and Again, a collection of eight new original sambas, which feature her piano, keyboards and singing in both English and Portuguese. As Mark Wexler, head of ...
MOVE: Free Baile - Live in Shenzhen
by Glenn Astarita
Portugal-based trio Move's live album, Free Baile, is more than just a recording; it is an electric charge in musical form. Capturing the raw, unfiltered energy of saxophonist Yedo Gibson, bassist Felipe Zenicola and drummer João Valinho, this album propels listeners into a world where jazz, free improvisation and a kaleidoscope of genres collide and meld ...
Music Soup: Upbeat Mood
by Nicholas F. Mondello
Upbeat Mood from Music Soup, comprised of Athens, Greece-based guitarist Nestor Dimopoulos, Hammond B-3 organist Evgenia Karlafti and drummer Vagelis Kotzabasis, delivers eight enjoyable and upbeat swinging selections. Seven are originals from either Dimopoulos, Karlafti alone, or co-written. There is intelligent playing and fine soloing throughout. “Korean Apartment" opens things and is a ...
Ada Rovatti: The Hidden World Of Piloo
by Katchie Cartwright
Ada Rovatti's curiously titled album, The Hidden World of Piloo, has a tale attached (and a tail). Piloo is an affectionate name Rovatti's father has called her since childhood, after a “naughty" cat in a favorite children's book. She adopted it for her label as well (Piloo Records). Rovatti grew up in Mortara, Italy, outside of ...
