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Ralph Bowen: Soul Proprietor
by C. Andrew Hovan
As revolutionary as the compact disc has been to the music industry, sometimes you really can have too much of a good thing. More specifically, I can’t help but echo what producer Michael Cuscuna once told me about new releases. He bemoaned the fact that many of today’s discs are just too long, wearing out their ...
Jesse van Ruller: Here and There
by C. Andrew Hovan
It’s no surprise that Jesse Van Ruller makes a strong statement as a mainstream soloist on his first Criss Cross release, Here and There. What is a bit confounding is that fact that it’s taken so long for the Dutch native to find such a perfect forum for his talents. Back in 1995, the guitarist won ...
Mulgrew Miller and Wingspan: The Sequel
by C. Andrew Hovan
As prolific he is as a sideman, pianist Mulgrew Miller’s own catalog as a leader is rather scant, making the release of The Sequel all that more welcome. As a bit of clarification, it should be noted that the reprise the album’s title suggests refers to Wingspan, the name of Miller’s ensemble and his 1987 Landmark ...
Trio Mundo: Carnaval
by C. Andrew Hovan
As far back as the ‘40s and ‘50s, musicians such as Machito and Dizzy Gillespie were developing a fusion of Latin and jazz sensibilities that seemed perfectly natural and ever since the two genres have been perfectly happy bedfellows. But it really all comes down to the rhythmic momentum of the percussion, which mixes so seductively ...
Alex Sipiagin: Steppin' Zone/Hindsight
by C. Andrew Hovan
Russian native Alex Sipiagin comes to American jazz via many sources and inspirations. While he cites Wayne Shorter’s Native Dancer as one of his favorite albums, the breath of his influences includes Russian folk music, European classical forms and the whole scope of jazz in its many forms. A valuable sideman and member of the Mingus ...
Conrad Herwig: Hieroglyphica/Shades of Light
by C. Andrew Hovan
It is without taking away anything from the founding fathers of this music to suggest that some of today's practitioners might be the most technically gifted lot to come along. Of course, they now have the entire rich history of jazz at their fingertips and slews of recordings for inspiration, yet there's no denying the talent ...
Michael Melito Quartet: 'Bout Time!
by C. Andrew Hovan
With advanced technology to the point that just about anyone can put together and sell their own CD (with little regard as to whether or not the music is worthy of dissemination or not, mind you), so much of the self-produced jazz which reaches this reviewer's doorstep is half-baked and not worth much more than a ...
Carla Thomas: Gee Whiz
by C. Andrew Hovan
While the current teen set may be too busy choosing their next American Idol live on television or too young to care that every generation has its own iconic favorites, those with a few more years under their belts will likely remember a 16-year-old Lesley Gore singing “I’ll Cry If I Want To” to scores of ...
Stanley Turrentine: The Blue Note Stanley Turrentine Quintet/Sextet Studio Sessions
by C. Andrew Hovan
With Mosaic Records expanding its horizons over the past few years, fans of many different styles have had the opportunity to expand their collections and recent Mosaic honorees have included Mildred Bailey, Eddie Condon, Bobby Hackett, Chico Hamilton, and Anita O’Day. But to those long time followers, it continues to be the hard bop verities of ...
Willis Jackson: Nuther'n Like Thuther'n
by C. Andrew Hovan
Right out of the gate, tenor man Willis Jackson signals that “Pool Shark” is going to be about the kind of hip boss shoutin’ (to borrow a Jackson album title) that was part and parcel of the Chitlin’ Circuit back in the days. With a Charleston beat that sets up a static background, Jackson tells his ...
