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Article: Album Review

Lisanne Tremblay: Violinization

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by Dan McClenaghan
March 23, 2015

Say “jazz" and the musical instrument that comes to mind might be the saxophone or the trumpet. Say “classical" and it's probably the violin. But there's a long history of players of that have taken that quintessentially classical instrument and moved into the jazz/improvised music world: Stephane Grappelli (1909-1997) and his swinging Quintette du Hot Club ...

Article: Album Review

Chris Lightcap's Bigmouth: Epicenter

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by Dan McClenaghan
March 17, 2015

The group is packed with some of the top stars of modern jazz, but it's with the collective and cohesive ensemble sound that bassist/composer Chris Lightcap's Bigmouth stands out. Hard-driving, electric, edgy, with a chip sitting firmly on its collective shoulders, Epicenter, Lightcap's ode to New York City, commissioned by Chamber Music America New Jazz Works, ...

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Article: Album Review

Yelena Eckemoff Trio: Lions

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by Dan McClenaghan
March 11, 2015

Yelena Eckemoff has a lot to say artistically. The Russian-born, classically-trained pianist--now home-based in North Carolina--has released eight jazz albums in the past nine years, sets that are packed to the digital rafters with close to the time limit for the CD format--in the 70-plus minute range. For Lions, the ideas spilled over onto two CDs, ...

Article: Album Review

The Ted Howe Jazz Orchestra: Pinnacle

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by Dan McClenaghan
March 6, 2015

Pianist Ted Howe offered up one of the finest of Duke Ellington tributes, the piano trio set titled simply Ellington (Summit Records, 2005). It was a heartfelt ride through some of The Duke's most familiar tunes, swinging mightily. He now steps up into Ellington-ian ensemble territory with Pinnacle, by his thirteen piece Ted Howe Jazz Orchestra. ...

Article: Album Review

John Stowell/Michael Zilber Quartet: Live Beauty

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by Dan McClenaghan
February 27, 2015

Part of the appeal of the teaming of guitarist John Stowell with various “post Coltrane" saxophonists is the cool/hot dynamic. Stowell is the guy with a Zen restraint, the cool guy, his chords sometimes sounding as if they are ringing from frozen stalactite filaments in ice caves. Saxophonists? Some blow cool-- those of the Lester Young/Stan ...

Article: Album Review

Josh Nelson: Exploring Mars

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by Dan McClenaghan
February 20, 2015

Mars, the forth planet from the sun--that blood red star arcing across the sky--has been investigated by many in the arts. Before NASA landed four rovers on the red planet's surface, science fiction writers took up the task of exploring our planetary neighbor: Edgar Rice Burroughs with his fantastic Barsoom series, beginning with Princess of Mars ...

Article: Album Review

John O'Gallagher: The Honeycomb

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by Dan McClenaghan
February 14, 2015

Bring up the trio format, one with an alto saxophone, bass and drums, and Ornette Coleman, alto man extraordinaire, might come to mind, especially those fantastic Blue Note Records sets, The Ornette Coleman Trio at the Golden Circle Stockholm, Volume One and Two (1965). In fact, alto saxophonist John O'Gallagher, on The Honeycomb, has a lyricism ...

Article: Album Review

Chad McCullough & Bram Weijters: Abstract Quantities

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by Dan McClenaghan
February 10, 2015

Trumpeter Chad McCullough debuted as a leader in 2009 with the superb Dark Wood, Dark, Water (Origin Records). He's stayed busy ever since, recording with The Kora Band--inspired by the sounds of Africa--Tunnel Six, and the two horn, chordless The Spin Quartet, along with two previous modern jazz sets on Origin Records on which he teamed ...

Article: Album Review

Lisa Parrott: Round Tripper

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by Dan McClenaghan
January 29, 2015

Alto saxophonist/free jazz pioneer Ornette Coleman, in the recording studio for bassist Jamaaladeen Tacuma's For the Love of Ornette (Jazzwerkstatt, 2010), said to a band about to break into a tune: “Fellas. Fellas. Can you hear me? Forget the notes and get to the idea." New York-based, Australian-bred alto and baritone saxophonist Lisa Parrott seems to ...

Article: Album Review

Rich Pellegrin Quintet: Episodes IV-VI

Read "Episodes IV-VI" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan

by Dan McClenaghan
January 14, 2015

Pianist Rich Pellegrin offered up his first installment of Three Part Odyssey (OA2 Records) in 2011. It's a musical journey inspired by travels through Europe and North Africa. Employing a superb quintet, three “Episodes" blossomed from a first rate collective approach. Pellegrin and his group follow this up with Episodes IV-VI, featuring a slightly more reflective ...