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Mike DiRubbo: Human Spirit
by David A. Orthmann
On his second Criss Cross release, alto saxophonist Mike DiRubbo thrives on the challenges posed by a great rhythm section. Pianist David Hazeltine, bassist Peter Washington, and drummer Joe Farnsworth, most notably of the cooperative sextet One For All, have lit a fire under dozens of significant jazz recordings over the past decade. Full of inspired ...
Jason Marsalis
by David A. Orthmann
At the age of 26, when most players are still absorbing the music's vast lexicon and beginning the lengthy process of finding their own identity, Jason Marsalis is well on his way to becoming an exceptional jazz drummer. Recordings made over the past several years reveal a staggering array of technical skills and resources that are ...
Matt Wilson Quartet: Humidity
by David A. Orthmann
An eclectic drummer, thinker, and bandleader, Matt Wilson shuns fixed stylistic boundaries. He’s endlessly curious and adventuresome, but invariably backs up imaginative leaps in conception and execution with solid musicianship and organizational skills. Humidity, Wilson’s fourth outing for Palmetto, finds his working quartet (plus violin, trumpet, and trombone on a few cuts) fully inhabiting every one ...
Wycliffe Gordon Quintet: United Soul Experience
by David A. Orthmann
The brainchild of producer Gerry Teekens, United Soul Experience extricates trombonist Wycliffe Gordon from the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra orbit and teams him with some of the most interesting young talent in the Criss Cross stable. Tradition-minded but not predictable, the music alludes to several jazz and funk styles without settling into any one of them. ...
Louis Hayes
by David A. Orthmann
Best known for extended stays in the bands of Horace Silver, Cannonball Adderley, and Oscar Peterson during the 50s and 60s, Louis Hayes’ recent recordings serve as a reminder that he’s still one of the hardest swinging drummers in modern jazz. Throughout compact discs released between 1996 and 2002 for the Sharp Nine, TCB, Criss Cross, ...
Gene Ammons & Sonny Stitt: Left Bank Encores
by David A. Orthmann
The antithesis of studio-bred perfection, Left Bank Encores is another interesting artifact of Ammons and Stitt’s long-term partnership. The presence of a large, vocal crowd at the Famous Ballroom doesn’t spur the expected tenor battle; rather, something looser and less dramatic occurs. During a brisk rendition of “Just In Time,” the set’s opener, Ammons states the ...
Mulgrew Miller: The Sequel
by David A. Orthmann
Mulgrew Miller's first session under his own name in seven years is a welcome reminder of the breadth of his talent. Miller's skills as a composer, bandleader, producer, and pianist converge to make The Sequel a unique and accessible recording. Although different in mood and texture, each of his eight compositions contains a melodic core that ...
Eric Alexander: Summit Meeting
by David A. Orthmann
A direct descendent of competitive, no nonsense titans such as Sonny Stitt and George Coleman, Eric Alexander plays the horn with a decidedly assertive temperament, as if he always has something to prove. Summit Meeting, his fourth release for Milestone, is arguably the tenor saxophonist’s finest recording as a leader in a prolific, decade-long career. No ...
Bobby Watson: Live & Learn
by David A. Orthmann
Alto and soprano saxophonist Bobby Watson’s Live & Learn (Palmetto) is a well-produced recording that speaks to diverse audiences while avoiding condescension and compromise. The tracks are short (only one over seven minutes), relatively easy to digest, and the solos by Watson, pianist Orrin Evans, and guitarist Gregg Skaff do not approach marathon length. Three cuts—“We ...
Gene Ludwig: The Groove ORGANization
by David A. Orthmann
Comprised of craftsmanship and inspiration in equal measure, Hammond B-3 organist Gene Ludwig’s The Groove ORGANization (Blues Leaf) thrives within the broad, well-trod parameters of soul-jazz. Ludwig and his partners guitarist Bob DeVos and drummer Billy James pull off the admirable feat of making music that has an aura of good times, yet is substantial and ...
