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Nettai Tropical Jazz Big Band: Live in Yokahoma Japan
by Ed Kopp
There's been a lot of debate recently about authenticity in music, sparked in part by an interesting article in The New York Times about alternative country artist Gillian Welch. An LA native, Welch sings authentic-sounding Appalachian folk tunes in the first person. Some critics are upset that this former Valley Girl has the gall to assume ...
Count Basie: Live at the Sands (before Frank)
by Ed Kopp
The mid-'60s are regarded as a creative low point for the Count Basie Orchestra, but this live recording proves that the Basie band was as stylish and swingin' as ever in 1966, though fewer folks were paying attention. Recorded during a week-long stint at the Las Vegas Sands Hotel, this release compiles material from the band's ...
Sean Driscoll Group: Islands
by Ed Kopp
One of 12 bands to win Musician Magazine's “Best Unsigned Band Contest" in 1997, the Sean Driscoll Group is a jazz-fusion outfit fronted by guitarist-composer Sean Driscoll, yet another attendee of the Berklee School of Music in Boston. His group consists of six young musicians from four countries -- the U.S., Mexico, Sweden and Venezuela -- ...
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones: Left of Cool
by Ed Kopp
Bela Fleck is one of the most innovative musicians in contemporary jazz: he has completely recast the role of the banjo in jazz. Honorary Flecktone Jeff Coffin joins the fold on Left Of Cool, a lengthy and intermittently absorbing CD. Coffin is a Nashville saxophonist who's far jazzier than Paul McCandless, the saxman who usually plays ...
Joe Zawinul and the Zawinul Syndicate: World Tour
by Ed Kopp
Joe Zawinul claims this is the best band he's assembled since Weather Report, and it's hard to argue the point. This iteration of the Zawinul Syndicate is an extremely captivating live band. I saw them perform last summer, and no exaggeration, it was one of the best concerts I've ever attended. World Tour is an incendiary ...
James Andrews: Satchmo of the Ghetto
by Ed Kopp
1/2 New Birth Brass Band leader James Andrews makes his solo debut on Satchmo of the Ghetto, an upbeat release that mixes second-line jazz with New Orleans Ninth Ward R&B. Singer-trumpeter Andrews lifts expectations with the evocative nickname he's chosen for himself, but he truly merits comparisons to the original Satchmo. Andrews has a similar gravelly ...
Sax Gordon: Have Horn Will Travel
by Ed Kopp
Sax Gordon appropriately fuses blues and jazz on Have Horn Will Travel, his terrific debut release for the newly renamed Bullseye Blues and Jazz label. This is an ultra-fine release from a talented saxman with a great sense of humor and an even better sense of swing. The 32-year-old Gordon, aka Gordon Beadle, honed his powerful ...
Sonny Stitt: Best of the Rest
by Ed Kopp
1/2 The first bebop album I ever bought was Sonny Stitt with Bud Powell and J.J. Johnson, a 1950 release that remains one of my favorite all-time recordings. Seconds after I heard Stitt rip into “Fine And Dandy" I was completely smitten. Sure Stitt borrowed a great deal from Charlie Parker, but he was an immensely ...
Common Ground: "not enough space"
by Ed Kopp
1/2 Two listens and I became hooked on Common Ground, a clever fusion duo consisting of saxophonist Chris Farr from Philadelphia and guitarist Erik Sayles of Connecticut. This is the pair's second release, and it also features monster drummer Dennis Chambers, talented bassist James Genus, keyboardist Dan Zank, and percussionist Brian Farr. Chris Farr and Erik ...
Los Hombres Calientes: Los Hombres Calientes
by Ed Kopp
1/2 “You mean there's another damn Marsalis?" This was my incredulous response after a couple of trusted N'Awlins residents named the band they consider the hottest new jazz outfit in the city. Los Hombres Calientes is a new Afro-Latin jazz ensemble fronted by young drummer Jason Marsalis, trumpet prodigy Irvin Mayfield, and veteran percussionist Bill Summers, ...
