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Cheryl Bentyne: Talk Of The Town
by Franz A. Matzner
Talk of the Town raises an interesting question for the jazz critic and consumer: how to evaluate a musical endeavor that so accurately, so skillfully, and so consciously resurrects a earlier stylistic periods that the notes seem to ring out from another era. Cheryl Bentyne’s surety of voice, the precision and skill of her accompaniment, and ...
Alan Broadbent: You And The Night And The Music
by Franz A. Matzner
A big-band arranger with two Grammy nominations to his name, Alan Broadbent has simultaneously maintained successful recording careers as arranger, pianist, and bandleader. A staunch advocate of the trio, Broadbent adds his latest release, You And The Night And The Music, to nine previous recordings in that format. Featuring veteran drummer Joe Labarbera and bassist Brian ...
John Basile/John Abercrombie: Animations
by Franz A. Matzner
When done properly, it’s astounding how much music a duet can generate. It is always especially notable when that duet consists of artists performing on the same instrument. In such a setting, the challenge of blending voices while simultaneously creating distinct, personal lines becomes that much more challenging. Guitarists John Basile and John Abercrombie recently recorded ...
T.S. Monk Speaks Out
by Franz A. Matzner
T.S. Monk is a voluble speaker. Which stands to reason since he is also an exceptionally engaged man. Not only does Monk have a new release due this August, Higher Ground , he will also launch his own label, Thelonious Records, open his father's archives, continue in his capacity as chairman of the Thelonious Monk Institute, ...
A Conversation with Jean-Michel Pilc
by Franz A. Matzner
Following-up the critically acclaimed trio album Welcome Home, Paris-born composer and pianist Jean-Michel Pilc recently released the stunning album, Cardinal Points, showcasing eight original compositions, including the extended work 'Trio Sonata.' The album was recorded by both Pilc's standing trio and a new quartet, and offers ambitious material of impressive density, depth, and determination. Already well ...
Azure McCall: The Gift
by Franz A. Matzner
Draped in Gospel style, as well as content, Azure McCall’s latest release falls safely into the category of inspirational music. Tunes like “Without a Song” and “Hello Love” leave no doubt that this is message music, something that even the bluesy tune “Change,” with its exasperatingly obvious motivational lyric, and the admittedly well-executed ballad “Not a ...
Henry Johnson/Nancy Wilson: Organic
by Franz A. Matzner
A soft endeavor, Organic may be a return to the basics (as the liner notes claim), but that return is a rather bland one which makes one question just which basics were being considered. A spattering of blues elements may surface here and there, and traces of '30s-era torch singing are in evidence, but the main ...
Monty Alexander Speaks
by Franz A. Matzner
Despite years spent in American, Monty Alexander’s speech remains full of the infectiously lilting, joyously expressive, idiomatic contours of his Kingston childhood. And it seems he is always laughing. It may be that this is also simply a matter of culture, but I don’t think so. I think the laughter is a part of who Alexander ...
Guitarist Fred Fried on 'When Winter Comes'
by Franz A. Matzner
Fred Fried is a gifted guitarist and composer. He plays with a soft, subtle, and complex touch that takes full advantage of his skilled, emotive compositions. Fried is not only a gifted musician, he is also a man of great thought with whom it is fascinating to discuss music, history—just about any topic at all. Like ...
Eric Lewis: Future Music
by Franz A. Matzner
Eric Lewis possesses a gifted mind that never lets go. In fact, it can appear almost compulsive, the way Lewis attacks material, as if his mind refuses to release an idea until it has been absolutely dissected, examined, reassembled, and then reordered all over again. And if he falls upon a particularly pleasing, or perhaps confounding, ...
