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Bill Henderson: Beautiful Memory: Bill Henderson Live at the Vic
by Ken Dryden
Bill Henderson debuted during the 1950s, one of many ways in which he can be compared to the late Johnny Hartman. Both jazz vocalists showed plenty of promise early on, appearing with various bands during the decade and recording for prominent labels with major musicians. While each of them had their respective heydays during the 1960s, ...
Alex Chilowicz at William Paterson University
by David A. Orthmann
Alex Chilowicz William Paterson University Wayne, NJ December 9, 2009 Saxophonist Alex Chilowicz is a 22-year-old senior in the Jazz Studies program at William Paterson University. To fulfill an honors thesis requirement, Chilowicz embarked on an unusually ambitious project--the performance of Eddie Sauter's Focus. A seven-part composition for string ...
David "Fathead" Newman: The Blessing
by Andrew Velez
What an apt name The Blessing is for David Newman's final recording before his death ended a long career last January (2009). He played for more than a decade with Ray Charles and alongside Herbie Mann, Aretha Franklin and Roy Ayers, among many others. For this last studio session he was in fine form. A Milt ...
Nicholas Urie: Excerpts From An Online Dating Service
by Eyal Hareuveni
Young and gifted American composer/conductor Nicholas Urie had a brilliant idea. Basing his debut suite, Excerpts From An Online Dating Service, on real Internet personal ads collected from cities all over United States and Canada, Urie attempts to transform these coded messages into poetic statements about the current human condition. This is implied by poet and ...
Ramsey Lewis: Songs from the Heart: Ramsey Plays Ramsey
by Tom Greenland
Whether considering his style jazzy pop or popular jazz, Chicagoan Ramsey Lewis has always kept one foot firmly in the jazz mainstream, often tapping to a gospel beat. Here the pianist has recorded an all-original set that will satisfy both audiences by mixing classical elegance with blues preaching. Backed by veteran colleagues, bassist Larry Gray's technical ...
Chad Eby: Broken Shadows
by Mark Corroto
Attention grabbing music these days is either accomplished by the loudest voice (American Idol anybody?) or the rudest performance. While not saying jazz has descended to that level, certainly the squeakiest wheel often gets the most attention. Then again, hearing a genuine voice like saxophonist Chad Eby reaffirms the instinct that an authoritative performance from a ...
Gretchen Parlato: In a Dream
by Ken Dryden
Gretchen Parlato grew up in a musical household, the daughter of bassist/guitarist Dave Parlato (who worked with Don Ellis, Warne Marsh, Gil Melle and Frank Zappa, among others). She won the 2004 Thelonious Monk Jazz Vocal Competition and released her debut CD on her own label the following year; In a Dream is her long awaited ...
Scott LaFaro: Pieces of Jade
by Stuart Broomer
In his brief career between 1959 and 1961, Scott LaFaro may have done as much to revolutionize the way the bass is played in jazz as Jimmy Blanton, another gifted and tragic figure, had with Duke Ellington 20 years before him. Like Blanton, LaFaro only took up the bass when he entered college and also died ...
Francesco Cafiso Quartet: Angelica
by Dan McClenaghan
Angelica claims a spot as a superior quartet set--alto saxophone and a rhythm section--right at the very beginning, not with the Duke Ellington-penned title tune, but with a Billy Strayhorn gem, A Flower is a Lovesome Thing." Italian saxophonist and jazz prodigy, Francesco Cafiso--just nineteen years old at the time this music was laid down--ignores the ...
John Bunch, The Bad Plus, Daedelus & Dr. John
by Martin Longley
The John Bunch TrioSmallsDecember 29, 2009Steeply down the steps, to the intimate confines of Smalls, one of New York City's most laid-back jazz clubs. Normally, this Greenwich Village joint's clientele is younger, perhaps attracted by the single cover charge that allows all-night entry. This facilitates easy coming and going, so ...


