Home » Search Center » Results: C. Andrew Hovan
Results for "C. Andrew Hovan"
Reuben Brown: Blue and Brown
by C. Andrew Hovan
A native of Washington D.C., pianist Reuben Brown seems to have made a few records back in the early ‘90s and then disappeared, taken off the scene by some illness alluded to in the liners to this set. In addition to those sides cut in 1994 that appeared on his debut trio date for SteepleChase, Ice ...
Dave Ballou: Volition
by C. Andrew Hovan
In his liner notes to this, the second date as a leader from trumpeter Dave Ballou, writer Mark Gardner sagaciously mentions Tim Hagan, John Swana, and Tom Williams among the talented crew of trumpeters who emerged during the early ‘90s. Of course, Ballou also fits into this group and each of these four men have in ...
Harold Danko Quartet: Stable Mates
by C. Andrew Hovan
It’s a shame that we see so little press for those few working bands currently in existence. It’s bad enough that money and schedules make it difficult to keep any kind of firm line-up in place for very long, making such business enterprises almost unviable these days. Little beyond their developing catalog of SteepleChase sides seems ...
Louis Smith: Soon
by C. Andrew Hovan
Fast approaching his 70th birthday, trumpeter Louis Smith made a minor splash with the two Blue Note records he led back in the mid ‘50s, only to then vanish under the cover of jazz pedagogy. To be exact, from 1958 to 1978 Smith did not perform or record as a leader, but was active as an ...
Horace Parlan: The Complete Blue Note Horace Parlan Sessions
by C. Andrew Hovan
Aside from the obvious heavyweights who came through the Blue Note fold, there’s that whole cast of musicians who fall under the category of “talent deserving of wider recognition”. Arguably, Blue Note might have been even more proficient at expounding the work of these neglected artists. Although not an exhaustive list, some of the names to ...
Jason Lindner: Premonition
by C. Andrew Hovan
When the Verve Music Group swallowed up a number of labels a few years ago the stable of performers at Impulse was cut drastically, particularly in the area of young up-and-coming talents. Premonition was one of the casualties of the amalgamation. As a follow-up to the great curiosity pianist/composer Jason Lindner had fostered via a few ...
Steve Wilson: Passages
by C. Andrew Hovan
Among some talented peers that would have to include Kenny Garrett and Jon Gordon, Steve Wilson is arguably one of the best alto saxophonists on the scene today. But it goes beyond that, because he has also established a unique approach to the soprano saxophone as well as the flute. Following his four decidedly mainstream affairs ...
George Colligan: Stomping Ground
by C. Andrew Hovan
One of the best-kept secrets in jazz, pianist George Colligan has developed an intrepid attitude that goes hand-in-hand with a strong sense of identity. That was just as apparent on his first date as a leader for SteepleChase, Activism, as it is on this latest excursion into trio territory. Tunes such as Charles Tolliver’s “Right Now” ...
Paul Bley: Notes On Ornette
by C. Andrew Hovan
These are the tunes that have become the stuff of legend. And don’t just take it from this reviewer, ask Pat Metheny and countless others who have found something to say in the early compositions of Ornette Coleman. Either because he was on the West Coast working with Coleman and Don Cherry at the time or ...
Andy LaVerne & Dave Samuels: Between Earth & Mars
by C. Andrew Hovan
Like label mate Harold Danko, pianist Andy LaVerne possesses talent that should be commensurate with a much broader public awareness. One of sax legend Stan Getz’s favorite accompanists, LaVerne has built a sizable catalog for SteepleChase over the past two decades- some 18 strong- with Between Earth & Mars serving as a reunion with vibraphonist Dave ...
