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Suzanne Pittson: Resolution: A Remembrance of John Coltrane
by Dave Hughes
One of the most adventurous vocal CDs to come around in a long time is Suzanne Pittson's Resolution: A Remembrance of John Coltrane. Pittson achieves her goal of molding her voice into saxophone-like solos. She's bold and daring, very much in the spirit of the CD's honoree. The occasional slight lapse in intonation can be forgiven ...
Mary Pearson: You and I
by Dave Hughes
Vocalist Mary Pearson's CD You and I is interesting in that each song is a duet in which she is accompanied by a lone instrument. It may be a piano (Lynne Arriale on four tunes, Fred Hersch on two), a guitar, a bass, or on two tunes, drums. While Pearson doesn't delve into scat singing or ...
Christopher Gross Ensemble: Hit the Mark
by Dave Hughes
Saying that this modern-day guitar-violin fusion quintet was influenced by Jean-Luc Ponty's band circa late 70s would be an understatement. The CD's title track opener, which they admit is a “variation" on Ponty's “Mirage," could be found by a sympathetic court to be so close to the original as to be plagiarism. The next tune, while ...
Dixie Dregs: California Screamin'
by Dave Hughes
The Dixie Dregs (also called simply “the Dregs") produced muscular southern rock/fusion during the late seventies and early eighties. They reunited briefly in the early nineties, and reunited again in August, 1999, for a series of concerts at Los Angeles' famed Roxy Theater. The best performances from these hot nights have now been released on California ...
Vince Mendoza: Epiphany
by Dave Hughes
Vince Mendoza is a highly creative and cerebral composer and arranger. Epiphany represents perhaps his most ambitious work to date, a full symphonic program with jazz soloists. The program works the classical to jazz spectrum thoroughly, although most of the emphasis is on modern classical; the suite never quite lets loose on a full jazz romp. ...
Didier Malherbe and Loy Ehrlich: Hadouk
by Dave Hughes
Didier Malherbe and Loy Ehrlich's Hadouk is a CD that should have appeal for those into the “world music" scene. Malherbe and Ehrlich employ a wide range of wind and percussion instruments, plus occasional stringed instruments, from eastern Europe and Africa in an engaging set of earthy yet intricate tunes. There's little jazz here, in the ...
Jazz is Dead: Laughing Water
by Dave Hughes
On their sophomore release, Laughing Water, Jazz is Dead continues their mission of presenting the catalog of the Grateful Dead in sort of a country-rock context, with occasional classical, gospel, and jazz flavoring. It's unpretentious, infectious jamming by musicians with virtuoso chops to burn. The exuberant “Let Me Sing Your Blues Away" (not a vocal) alternates ...
Victor Bailey: Low Blow
by Dave Hughes
On his first solo release in ten years, Low Blow, bassist Victor Bailey, alumnus of Weather Report and Steps Ahead and currently bassist for the Zawinul Syndicate, reinforces his standing among the bass elite. Bailey liberates the electric bass from its traditional background role as the harmonic and rhythmic foundation of a band and demonstrates its ...
Rhythm Logic: Rhythm Logic
by Dave Hughes
Rhythm Logic is a rather typical guitar-keyboards-bass-drums contemporary ensemble, presenting a likable, if not remarkable, program of adult contemporary fare. Eight of the ten tunes on their self-titled debut are originals, the remaining two are well-known covers: Earth, Wind & Fire's “Fantasy" and Donald Fagen's “I.G.Y." (from his solo album Nightfly). The covers were included, I ...
Michael Feinstein w/ Maynard Ferguson: Big City Rhythms
by Dave Hughes
Up to this point, Michael Feinstein has focused his talents on Broadway and Tin Pan Alley tunes. This is his first foray into big band swing, and it's a rewarding and satisfying effort. Feinstein exhibits expressiveness, precision, and an excellent command of dynamics. Maynard Ferguson is primarily in a supporting role here, fronting a full big ...
