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Fred Hersch: Songs From Home
by Pierre Giroux
In order for solo piano playing to be maintained at a high standard, the artist must exhibit a prolific imagination, a wealth of conviction and self-assurance, note-striking precision and a firm sense of swing. Throughout his career, Fred Hersch has exhibited these qualities. Since performers (be they musicians, dancers or actors) are ...
Ian Hendrickson-Smith: The Lowdown
by Pierre Giroux
Those who thought that the re-emergence of vinyl records might be a passing fad as a saleable medium in this era of CDs, streaming and MP3 downloads, are proving to be wrong. The latest sales figures produced by RIAA for the first half of this year show vinyl sales at $232 million compared to CD sales ...
Das Rad: Adios Al Futuro
by Glenn Astarita
This UK-based band's follow-up to its self-titled 2019 release is a tad less experimental and more grounded in progressive rock and krautrock, aptly called out in the press release. It is an acoustic-electric offering often sweetened by Martin Archer's wistful sax lines, slightly tinged with studio echo to provide a little depth. Moreover, many of these ...
Dayna Stephens Quartet: Right Now! Live At The Village Vanguard
by Dan McClenaghan
New York City's Village Vanguard has a history. Founded by Max Gordon in 1935 and, after his passing in 1989, operated by his wife Lorraine until her death in 2018, the venue became famous for launching jazz careers and hosting the recordings of more than a hundred jazz albums, including saxophonist Sonny Rollins' A Night At ...
Jim Waller Big Band: Bucket List
by Jack Bowers
One glance at Jim Waller's silver mane is enough to make it clear he is no young lion. In fact, Waller, a veteran composer, arranger and multi-instrumentalist who calls San Antonio, Texas, home, is nearing his eighth decade. Even though Waller's career has been long and successful, there was one item on his Bucket List that ...
Mario Romano: The Journey So Far
by Edward Blanco
Argentinian-born, Canadian-based pianist Mario Romano delivers his fourth album as leader with The Journey So Far, essentially a compilation project that takes tracks from previously recorded albums and presents them in new light. A successful real-estate developer with a strong musical background, Romano spent most of his life building a business career and after achieving uncommon ...
Uffe Steen: Retroscope
by Jim Worsley
Every once in a while it happens. You never know when. You never who its going to be. Listening to a lot of music increases the odds. Still, one can go a stretch before experiencing that moment." Hats off to Danish guitarist Uffe Steen for providing such a treat for the ear and for the human ...
Taeko: Contemplation
by Edward Blanco
It is well known that American jazz is very popular in Japan, which explains why so many Japanese musicians move to the United States to develop their jazz pedigree further. New York is a favorite place to chase one's passion for jazz as singer Taeko Fukao did, moving over in the early 90's. She now presents ...
Satoko Fujii / Natsuki Tamura: Pentas: Tribute To Eric and Chris Stern
by Dan McClenaghan
Pianist Satoko Fujii and trumpeter Natsuki Tamura came off a European tour in 2019 and went into the studio in Krakow, Poland, and recorded Pentas, their seventh duo disc, an effort that joins the Fujii/Tamura pairings How Many (Libra Records, 1997), Clouds (Libra Records, 2002), Like In Krakow, In November (Not Two Records, 2006), Chun (Libra ...
Raphaël Pannier Quartet: Faune
by Dan Bilawsky
The debut from drummer Raphaël Pannier has no difficulty laying out references to modern modes of impressionism and the nature of wildlife implied in its title. Its opener --a ten-minute take on Ornette Coleman's Lonely Woman" that offers slinky melody, sophisticated coloring, intense upheaval, a bass soliloquy and a return to the shadowy theme--is but the ...

