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The Essential Satoko Fujii, Part 3: Trios
by Dan McClenaghan
Satoko Fujii's trio work, in the classic format of piano, bass and drums, or with various other instruments making up the threesome— most notably Natsuki Tamura's trumpet—are as adventurous as anything she does. Spaciousness is more prevalent, though onslaughts of dense clusters still show up. As with every effort she puts out, she is joyously original. ...
Yannick Rieu Generation Quartet: Qui Qu'en Grogne
by Dan McClenaghan
Veteran jazz man Yannick Rieu, based in Montreal, was tagged back in 1988 as one of the top saxophonists in the world, his name mentioned alongside Branford Marsalis, Joe Lovano and Courtney Pine. That set the bar high. A bit over thirty years have passed since he was presented with that high praise. Qui Qu'en Grogne, ...
The Essential Satoko Fujii, Part 2: Duos
by Dan McClenaghan
Satoko Fujii releases a lot of albums. Most of them are regular CDs, but she has also moved into the Bandcamp offerings, online only. The Essential Satoko Fujii, Part 1 featured four different sides of her artistry: Solo, duo, trio, quartet and orchestra. Part 2 will showcase some of her outstanding duo discs. Satoko ...
Rich Pellegrin: Passage
by Dan McClenaghan
In the summer of 2019, pianist Rich Pellegrin retreated to Whidbey Island, Washington, near Seattle. On the island, in the fellowship hall of the Langley United Methodist Church, lies an Everett Concert Grand Piano, from 1915. It is an aging and perhaps imperfect instrument, but one with a certain character which compelled Pellegrin to set up ...
Elias Stemeseder: Solo Piano
by Dan McClenaghan
Pianist Elias Stemeseder, Austrian-born and New York-based since 2015, is ready--in 2022--to release his first album under his own name. Piano Solo is something he might not have taken on. He considers himself still a student. If not for the encouragement of Intakt Records' Florian Keller, this album may not have happened. The pianist has contributed, ...
The Essential Satoko Fujii, Part One: Solo, Duo, Trio, Quartet and Orchestra
by Dan McClenaghan
Satoko Fujii's recorded output comes at you hard and fast. It can overwhelm. In 2018—in celebration of her sixtieth birthday—the pianist/composer/bandleader released an album a month. Not download offerings, but real, handsomely produced CDs, with top of-the-line cover art and sturdy cardboard covers—jewels for the eye, ear and hand. Several other years have seen a release ...
Karl Silveira: A Porta Aperta
by Dan McClenaghan
Toronto-based trombonist Karl Silveira opens his debut recording, A Porta Aperta, with no ego at all. The disc spins into life with “Nymark Plaza," featuring an arrangement which allows the rhythm section—pianist Chris Pruden, bassist Dan Fortin, with Nico Dann on drums—a good deal of room to stretch out after a brief beginning of understated harmony ...
Spin Cycle (Tom Christensen & Scott Neumann): Spin Cycle III
by Dan McClenaghan
Spin Cycle III, by the group Spin Cycle, co-led by drummer Scott Neumann and saxophonist Tom Christensen, opens in a high octane mode, via Neuman's sizzling drums, Pete McCann's stinging guitar and Phil Palombi's muscular, juiced-up bass laying down a precision foundation, with the crisp articulation of Christensen's tenor sax out front. The tune is “Churn," ...
Zurich Jazz Orchestra & Steffen Schorn: To My Beloved Ones
by Dan McClenaghan
Multiple reedman, composer and arranger Steffen Schorn served a six-year tenure with the Zurich Jazz Orchestra. The collaboration resulted in a masterful trilogy of albums, Three Pictures (2018) and Dedications (2021), both on Mons Records, and now To My Beloved Ones. This is luxurious big band music, serious sounds. The traditions mix with modernity; moments of ...
Gordon Grdina: Oddly Enough: The Music Of Tim Berne
by Dan McClenaghan
Saxophonist Tim Berne farms out some of his music—oddly, since, considering his work with his groups Blood Count, Big Satan and Snakeoil, etc., his original compositions could be considered some of the least coverable sounds out there. The typical Tim Berne album growls and howls, careens around ninety degree turns, caterwauls and fires sonic laser beams ...
