Home » Search Center » Results: Elliott Simon
Results for "Elliott Simon"
Odean Pope: A Singular Voice in the Choir
by Elliott Simon
Grounded in the Baptist spirituals of his youth followed by a musical upbringing in Philadelphia with the likes of John Coltrane and organist Jimmy Smith as mentors, tenor saxophonist Odean Pope is the bridge between hard bop and free. His contributions to jazz are of major historical significance and through his over ...
Adam Kolker: Flag Day
by Elliott Simon
Flag Day, from saxophonist Adam Kolker, exquisitely raises the standard of creative improvisation with its refreshingly cerebral musical explorations. Kolker is of the school that favors unhurried journeys through tunes. This allows the musicians to discover interesting musical nooks and crannies, expand on them and in the process create new music. Kolker wields an elegant instrument, ...
Tim Kuhl: Ghost
by Elliott Simon
This sextet, put together by drummer Tim Kuhl for his debut, has a big sound while also incorporating unique voices. Most specifically, trombonist Rick Parker and guitarist Nir Felder combine to differentiate this release from the rest of the pack by broadening the sonic palette in a way that adds surprising twists to strong compositions. Saxophonist ...
Sam Sadigursky: Words Project II
by Elliott Simon
Multi-instrumentalist Sam Sadigursky has released the second of his Words Projects, wherein musicians and like-minded vocalists present poetry in a beat-cum-back to the future manner. This is not your grandfather's poems read over a bongo but is creative integration of vocals into an instrumental fabric. Sadigursky's saxophones and clarinet as well as Pete ...
John Escreet: Consequences
by Elliott Simon
It is uplifting when a release reveals that there is still compositional fire in the heads, hearts and instruments of the children of freedom and grandchildren of bop. British pianist John Escreet is the latest very pleasant surprise from this generation of 20-somethings--one who not only has technical ability but also compositional inventiveness and stylistic relevance. ...
Jed Levy: Evans Explorations
by Elliott Simon
Explorations (Riverside, 1961) is one of two landmark studio recordings from the Bill Evans trio that, through chordal voicings, a classically-based style and egalitarian instrumental interplay, moved the jazz piano trio toward impressionism and away from a rhythmic approach. It still sounds amazingly contemporary and the task that tenor saxophonist Jed Levy has set for himself ...
Omer Klein: Introducing Omer Klein
by Elliott Simon
New York's Smalls club has been the launching pad for an inordinate amount of jazz artists that belies its diminutive square footage. One segment of their territory is an Israeli-American jazz connection that has produced a culture of premier artists who have gone on to influence the broader jazz community. Pianist Omer Klein is part of ...
Danny Grissett: Encounters & Waldron Mahdi Ricks
by Elliott Simon
Ghostliness permeates both pianist Danny Grissett's Encounters and trumpeter/ flugelhornist Waldron Mahdi Ricks' eponymous album. Grissett is on Ricks' debut as a leader and leads a trio for his sophomore effort. The sessions showcase two sides of the young pianist--one who can most certainly swing in a modern jazz way, but who also has the rarer ...
Ted Rosenthal Trio: My Funny Valentine
by Elliott Simon
Ted Rosenthal's My Funny Valentine finds the pianist joined by bassist George Mraz and drummer Al Foster in a tribute to singer Helen Merrill. Rosenthal and Mraz have toured extensively with Merrill in Japan and this CD serves up songs from her repertoire. The subtleties of the arrangements combined with intriguing juxtapositions and perfect lyricism make ...
Glenn White: Sacred Machines
by Elliott Simon
For Sacred Machines, tenor man Glenn White has enlisted some of the most recognizable working jazz musicians in New York for a session of precisely played original modern jazz. White's horn is soulful and rich and he expertly uses the talents of his supporting players, particularly the subtle genius of pianist Roberta Piket and Jamie Baum's ...
