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Article: Album Review

DIVA: A Swingin' Life

Read "A Swingin' Life" reviewed by Jack Bowers

by Jack Bowers
November 23, 2014

As if being the premier all-female big band on the planet weren't enough, DIVA has enlisted the services of two purebred divas--Nancy Wilson and Marlena Shaw--to enrich its latest album, A Swingin' Life, recorded live at Pittsburgh's Manchester Craftsmen's Guild (November 2011) and Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola at Jazz at Lincoln Center (September 2012). ...

Article: Album Review

Jason Yeager: Affirmation

Read "Affirmation" reviewed by Mark Corroto

by Mark Corroto
November 23, 2014

No sophomore slump for pianist Jason Yeager. His trio disc Affirmation actually has the feel of a mature artist's fourth, fifth, and sixth recording. Maybe that is because his trio is a true working unit with bassist Danny Weller and drummer Matt Rousseau or possibly it's his ability to integrate varying musical concepts without sounding imitative. ...

Article: Album Review

Tom Barton: Aspirations

Read "Aspirations" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky

by Dan Bilawsky
November 22, 2014

Australian vocalist Tom Barton aspires to blur the lines between genres on this debut. Electronic and acoustic thoughts merge and co-exist beautifully, improvisational elements are born around concrete expressions, and in the middle of it all sits Barton, putting his poetry in motion with beautifully clear-headed vocals. While the gist of many an ...

Article: Album Review

New Zealand School of Music Big Band: Awright Awright

Read "Awright Awright" reviewed by Jack Bowers

by Jack Bowers
November 22, 2014

It's hard to believe this is a school band, no matter what the level. Music director Rodger Fox, a seasoned trombonist who leads his own play-for-pay band, must be extremely pleased and proud of what his students at the New Zealand School of Music in Wellington have accomplished, as their third album, Awright Awright, is superlative ...

Article: Album Review

Kate Williams: Atlas & Vulcana

Read "Atlas & Vulcana" reviewed by Bruce Lindsay

by Bruce Lindsay
November 22, 2014

Atlas and Vulcana formed a strongman and strongwoman act--Vulcana's real name was Kate Williams--whose feats of strength were renowned in Victorian and early twentieth century Britain. Pianist and composer Kate Williams (no relation, presumably) takes inspiration from the couple in titling this album and two of its tracks. Atlas & Vulcana has its own strengths--no brute ...

Article: Album Review

Brad Gibson: Poontet

Read "Poontet" reviewed by Hrayr Attarian

by Hrayr Attarian
November 22, 2014

Seattle drummer Brad Gibson's second release as a leader Poontet is a spicy batch of soulful grooves that belong on the soundtrack of a 1970s gritty detective film. Heavily reliant on electric instrumentation and densely atmospheric these half a dozen tracks are short on improvisational rigor without being mundane. They also allow for some soloing room ...

Article: Album Review

Mike Kennedy: Insulation

Read "Insulation" reviewed by Victor L. Schermer

by Victor L. Schermer
November 21, 2014

This unpretentious but edifying album consists of a series of guitar originals which flow into one another to form a unified whole. The music is relaxing, with a light swing that calls to mind guitarists like Wes Montgomery and Jim Hall, and might be called, to coin a phrase, “soft bop." Mike Kennedy, guitarist and leader, ...

Article: Album Review

Jonathan Kreisberg: Wave Upon Wave

Read "Wave Upon Wave" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky

by Dan Bilawsky
November 21, 2014

Wave upon wave of praise has followed the release of each one of guitarist Jonathan Kreisberg's leader dates--small group affairs that are typically built with equal parts energy and taste; Wave Upon Wave, balancing fire with heart, stealth movement with direct engagement, and power with grace, is likely to garner some more. The ...

Article: Album Review

Samo Salamon: Ives

by Hrayr Attarian
November 21, 2014

In addition to being a prolific recording artist, each one of guitarist Samo Salamon's projects is uniquely inventive. Quantity with Salamon is never at the expense of quality. Ives, his fourth release as a leader for the year 2014 is a collaboration with two other guitarists, each with his own distinct style.Their individualities contrast ...

Article: Album Review

Holograma: Origen

by James Nadal
November 21, 2014

The idea for anchoring an ancient theme to music and producing a conceptual record can be challenging as well as rewarding. The experimental jazz trio Holograma, blended Sumerian mythology with a revision of primal rhythms throughout Origen to create a courageous statement of authentic innovation. Though there are superb performances by guest artists, the trio of ...