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Ensemble Novo At Mount Laurel Library
by Carl Medsker
Ensemble Novo Mount Laurel Library Mount Laurel, NJ June 8, 2025 In a spacious, windowed corner of the Mount Laurel, NJ public library (yes, library), amidst the Silent Zone signs, Ensemble Novo was anything but. The beautiful, sultry and sometimes melancholy sounds of Brazilian Samba and Bossa Nova filled ...
Behn Gillece: Pivot Point
by Carl Medsker
Posi-Tone will have released 253 albums in its post-bop contemporary mainstream jazz space with Pivot Point by Behn Gillece. Maintaining freshness and avoiding formula could become a creative challenge for any such productive label, but Gillece avoids that potential pitfall through well-written songs, crafty arrangements and excellent musicianship. The sequencing of songs is also thoughtful, varying ...
Al Foster: Monk’s Bossa
by Carl Medsker
On May 28, 2025, Aloysius Tyrone Foster passed away at the age of 82. He brought strong, imaginative, percussive grooves and swing to bebop, post-bop, modal, funk and fusion for over 60 years--even a little calypso and bossa. A very partial list of the musicians Al Foster performed with includes Dexter Gordon, McCoy Tyner, Sonny Rollins, ...
George Colligan: Live At The Jazz Standard
by Carl Medsker
During its relatively brief life, the Jazz Standard hosted many wonderful evenings of creative music. Artists performing in the basement beneath the barbecue restaurant ranged from Houston Person to Roy Haynes to Wadada Leo Smith. The Mingus Big Band held forth on most Monday evenings. Sadly, the club succumbed in 2021 to the economic pain caused ...
Linda May Han Oh: The Imperative
by Carl Medsker
Congratulations to Linda May Han Oh for adding the 2025 Jazz Journalists Association Bass Player of the Year award to her collection of accolades. Since emigrating to the United States from Australia in 2006 (she was born in Malaysia), Oh has built an impressive career, making significant contributions to works by Dave Douglas, Terri Lyne Carrington, ...
Sasha Berliner: Khan Younis
by Carl Medsker
Fantôme (Outside In Music, 2025) is vibraphonist Sasha Berliner's third release as a leader, and it is excellent from start to finish, due to its diversity of moods, energy, instrumentation, arrangements and well-written compositions. This is an ensemble effort, with everyone contributing to bringing Berliner's ideas to life. The core band consists of Taylor Eigsti (piano), ...
Finn Wiest Quintet: Aurora
by Carl Medsker
"Music chooses her musicians." --Patricia Barber In a small town in southern Germany, Finn Wiest heard her call and picked up the drumsticks at a young age. He worked his way to the Conservatory of Cologne, winning competitions and awards. New York City beckoned, where, in 2024, he earned a Master's degree from the ...
Billy Bang: Peaceful Dreams
by Carl Medsker
Developing a unique, recognizable voice is a vital accomplishment for a jazz musician. Within a few notes, there is no mistaking the distinctive violin of Billy Bang. In nearly every aspect of the instrument, he was singular: timbre, articulation, bowing technique, percussive use of the bow, pizzacto playing, glissandos, phrasing and yes, the occasional dissonance. He ...
Onilu: Estuary Stew
by Carl Medsker
The trio Onilu (which means drummers in the Yoruba language) utilizes a dizzying array of percussion instruments. Shekere, mbira, congas, batá drums, cajóns, alfaia, clave, clay drums, tympani, various idiophones, guagua, tongue drum, vibraphone, marimba and both electro-acoustic and standard drum kits are employed. Although used sparingly, a piano is also embraced as a valid member. ...
Vijay Iyer Trio At Philadelphia Clef Club Of Jazz And Performing Arts
by Carl Medsker
Vijay Iyer Trio Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and Performing Arts Philadelphia, PA March 15, 2025 The new instantiation of the Vijay Iyer Trio is another powerhouse. Fresh off two nights at Blues Alley in Washington, D.C., the band took to the stage in the performance space of Philadephia's Clef Club ...
