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Lukasz Pawlik: Long Distance Connections
by Jim Worsley
This is fusion of the highest order, the type of project that is easy to get excited about. The complexities of Polish composer, pianist, cellist and arranger Lukasz Pawlik's compositions soar to new heights on his second album as a leader. Enlisting gold-star talent from both home and abroad, this amounts to about a fifty-fifty configuration ...
Jon Gordon: Stranger Than Fiction
by Hrayr Attarian
Saxophonist Jon Gordon's superb 13th release as a leader, Stranger Than Fiction, consists of 10 cinematic and captivating originals. Gordon leads a large ensemble of mostly Canadian musicians through his vibrantly textured compositions. The focus is more on dynamic interplay of different band members and orchestral segments than on individual expressions. There are, however, brilliantly virtuosic ...
Arturo O'Farrill & The Afro-Latin Jazz Ensemble: Dreaming In Lions
by Chris May
Music for dance comes in a variety of forms. At one end of the spectrum are abstract soundscapes composed without reference to the choreography with which they share the stage; an example being John Cage's work with the choreographer Merce Cunningham. At the other end of the spectrum is music written in close collaboration with the ...
Scott Reeves: The Alchemist
by Edward Blanco
Trombonist, composer and band leader Scott Reeves once performed a live concert at the City College of New York with his then quintet, which has now been documented as his newest offering entitled The Alchemist. However, new is not the operative word here, as this musical event took place on May 5th, 2005. While concentrating on ...
Matthias Müller / Eve Risser / Christian Marien: Formation < Deviation
by John Sharpe
Two German improvisers, trombonist Matthias Mueller and drummer Christian Marien, join forces with French pianist Eve Risser for a brace of intriguing collectives under the moniker Cranes. Müller and Marien have performed together since 2006 as Superimpose, often appearing with guests, including saxophonist John Butcher, trumpeter Nate Wooley and vocalist Sofia Jernberg on their 2021 release ...
Giampiero Locatelli; Stefano Dallaporta; Andrea Grillini: Ground 71
by Neri Pollastri
Attivo da oltre cinque anni, Ground 71 è un piano trio che mescola con nonchalance acustico ed elettrico, accomunando il lavoro sui diversi piani grazie a un analogo atteggiamento di ricerca sul piano ritmico e timbrico. Lo compongono il pianista reggino Giampiero Locatelli, il contrabbassista padovano Stefano Dallaporta e il batterista bolognese Andrea Grillini, i quali ...
Frank Macchia: Bluezapalooza
by Dan McClenaghan
Frank Macchia has recorded some serious sounds in his day. Landscapes (Cacophony, 2008), for instance, with The Prague Orchestra, was a sweeping masterpiece of an album which should have won him some sort of Aaron Copland Award (It was nominated for a Grammy). But the reedist-composer-arranger also has a fun side, with albums like 2012's Swamp ...
Sarah Wilson: Kaleidoscope
by Jerome Wilson
Trumpeter Sarah Wilson has had several unique experiences throughout the development of her musical career, such as writing music for dance productions and puppet shows. That is reflected in the wide range displayed on this aptly-titled CD which draws as much from folk music, classical music, African pop and indie rock as it does from jazz. ...
Denise Donatelli: Whistling in the Dark... The Music of Burt Bacharach
by Edward Blanco
Multi Grammy-nominated jazz vocalist Denise Donatelli joins forces with Grammy Award-Winning record producer Larry Klein to offer her first concept album devoted to single composer on the soft-textured Whistling in The Dark... the music of Burt Bacharach. The music from one of the greatest song writers in American musical history, was something both Donatelli and bassist/producer ...
Toldam / Riedel / Berg / Wiklund / Christensen: Tak for dit brev
by Troy Dostert
Danish pianist Simon Toldam has made his mark as an abundantly creative improviser, most recently manifest on his work with Ways--a duo comprised of saxophonist Brodie West and drummer Evan Cartwright. Their Fortunes (Lorna Records, 2020) was an album defined by unusual gestures and subtle refractions, keeping the listener guessing throughout. Toldam's latest release, Tak for ...

