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Mike Westbrook: Westbrook-Rossini
by Chris May
Whether you believe that opera is the loftiest manifestation of lyric art, or a bastard tradition typified by mannered singing, indifferent acting and an audience that would have Robespierre rubbing his hands in glee, there's no doubt that it has some great tunes. British composer and pianist/tuba player Mike Westbrook gathered a few of them together ...
Keith Shadwick: Free Time
by Chris May
Keith Shadwick--the well loved British journalist and author who passed away on July 28, 2008--was in his early twenties a jazz and jazz/rock musician playing saxophone, flute and piano. Then based in Australia, Shadwick was a founder member of the Sydney group, Sun. Managed by Horst Liepolt (who later ran Sweet Basil's in New ...
Balla et ses Balladins / Issa Bagayogo / Rail Band: electric-roots at their best, and worst
by Chris May
Two albums from Mali--the second release in a sparkling Rail Band archive collection, Rail Band 2: Mansa, and Issa Bagayogo's Mali Koura--recorded over thirty years apart, show how electric-roots music should and shouldn't be made. A third album, from neighbouring Guinea--Balla et ses Balladins: The Syliphone Years--documents one of the most creative and accomplished, ...
Wolfgang Muthspiel / Brian Blade: Friendly Travelers Live
by Chris May
This terrific two-disc package--identically sequenced in-concert CD and DVD recordings made in Austria in 2007--finds guitarist Wolfgang Muthspiel and drummer Brian Blade performing half a dozen tracks from their studio album Friendly Travelers (Material Records, 2007) and another, “Shanghai," from Muthspiel's trio album with bassist Matthias Pichler and drummer Andreas Pichler Bright Side (Material Records, 2006). ...
Art Pepper: Work of Art
by Chris May
Art Pepper Work of ArtProper Records2008 Anyone dipping their toes for the first time into the recorded legacy of the fitfully prolific Los Angeles-based alto saxophonist Art Pepper (1925-82) is best advised to start with the two series of albums Pepper recorded for Contemporary, one in the period ...
Pharoah Sanders: Crescent with Love
by Chris May
Pharoah Sanders Crescent with LoveEvidence1994 Saxophonist Pharoah Sanders worked extensively in John Coltrane's bands from 1965 until Coltrane's passing in 1967. At the time of making this tribute album, Sanders probably knew Coltrane and his music better than anyone outside of Coltrane's surviving wife, harpist/pianist Alice Coltrane, and ...
Django Bates: Spring Is Here (A Long Time Coming But Worth The Wait)
by Chris May
July, 2008: It's been 13 years since British composer and keyboards/peck horn player Django Bates released the third album in his “four seasons" series, Winter Truce (And Homes Blaze) (Winter & Winter, 1995). That album followed close behind Autumn Fire (And Green Shoots) (Winter & Winter, 1994) and Summer Fruits (And Unrest) (Winter & Winter, 1993).
Grant Green: Idle Moments
by Chris May
> Grant Green Idle MomentsBlue Note1964 Guitarist Grant Green is most widely remembered today as a godfather of acid jazz, a consequence of the many groove-centric albums he recorded during his career. His debut, Grant's First Stand (Blue Note, 1961), was made with soul jazz organist Baby ...
Taylor Eigsti: Let It Come To You
by Chris May
Everyone who hears him seems to agree: Taylor Eigsti is the most exciting progressive-mainstream pianist to come along in a very long time. Pianist Dave Brubeck says, “He's the most amazing talent I've ever come across." Not the most amazing talent Brubeck has come across “in recent years" or “in America," or any such qualification, but ...
Milton Nascimento & Belmondo: Milton Nascimento & Belmondo
by Chris May
Belmondo are the French jazz musicians Lionel and Stephane Belmondo--the first a saxophonist and flautist, the second a trumpeter and flugelhornist--who have developed an interesting sideline in tribute albums featuring the artists being celebrated. With pianist Horace Silver, the brothers recorded Love & Peace: A Tribute To Horace Silver (Verve, 1995), featuring ...
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