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Afro Garage: Eighteen Ways to Miss Egypt
by Glenn Astarita
This European trio has only released three CDs in 23-years of existence, while framing its inspiration on a love for cinema. Hence, the album is an amalgamation of two spontaneously crafted film scores, recorded in 2005 “Thèbes à l'ombre de la tombe" and in 2011 “Thousand and One Cairo." It's a program formed on dainty surprises ...
Grencsó Open Collective: Flat / Sikvidek
by Glenn Astarita
Multi-reedman Istvan Grencso is not well-known in the US, but is a major, cutting-edge jazz artist in his native Hungary. Thus, Flat / Sikvidek duly stresses his elevated artistry and significant compositional acumen. Nonetheless, the quartet's synergy cannot be undermined, as it incorporates budding jazz stylizations of various flavors into a panorama that abides by construction ...
Pray For Brain: None Of The Above
by Glenn Astarita
New Mexico is known for its picturesque landscape, arts & crafts and Mother Earth type activities, but not cited for harvesting diverse progressive rock power trios. In addition, the band's marketing pitch asks, “What happens when two Buddhists and a Muslim meet to make music?" Evidently, a whole lot is going on, as the musicians' incorporate ...
Jay Smith Group: Too Many Notes
by Glenn Astarita
Based in Bakersfield, CA, keyboardist, composer Jay Smith's second album is titled Too Many Notes via comments by his fan base, alluding to his often blazing phraseology on the 88s. Nonetheless, Smith possesses an active mind as the program boasts a cornucopia of bop, jazz fusion, Latin jazz, rock, pulsating cadences and explosive flights of fancy. ...
Happy Family: Minimal Gods
by Glenn Astarita
Since its self-titled Happy Family (Cuneiform, 1995) and Toscco (Cuneiform, 1997) this sinewy and agile Japanese quartet has remained relatively dormant. But with Minimal Gods, the ensemble's colossal power and mesmerizing agility reemerges with massive doses of adrenaline and robust compositional prowess. Indeed, they haven't lost their touch or one iota of chutzpah during the interim. ...
Tom Harrell: Trip
by Glenn Astarita
Since the 70s, trumpeter Tom Harrell has branded a prolific stature within the annals of modern jazz as an artisan who possesses an enviable technique marked by his exquisite phrasings, silky tone and fluid progressions. Even during pieces constructed on gutsy or penetrating ensemble work, Harrell has an uncanny way of dishing out ferocious licks with ...
Fresh Cut Orchestra: From The Vine
by Glenn Astarita
Here's a Philadelphia band that offers a novel perspective on large ensemble jazz with ever-so-slight inclinations toward the outside realm, which is just enough to present an enlivening aspect to these nine diversely enacted tracks. Sadly, “The Mothers' Suite" compositions relate to the tragic passing of bassist Jason Fraticelli's mother-in-law, shortly before the birth of his ...
Marbin: The Third Set
by Glenn Astarita
Marbin is known for its extensive touring schedules, coupled with the instrumentalists' exhilarating interactions. But in the studio, the musicians present a variegated jamboree of acoustic-electric pieces, often layered with memorable hooks and textural soundscapes amid the frontline's invigorating solo jaunts. However, The Third Set captures the unit's explosive progressive rock and jazz rock nomenclature at ...
Gebhard Ullmann/Basement Research: Hat And Shoes
by Glenn Astarita
Without a doubt, German multi-woodwind ace Gebhard Ullmann is one of the busiest artists within the global jazz network. Hat & Shoes celebrates his Basement Research band's 20th anniversary and the artist's 50th CD as a co-leader and leader, including his other ensembles --Conference Call and the Clarinet Trio. The all-star quintet ups the ...
De Beren Gieren & Susana Santos Silva: The Detour Fish - Live In Ljubljana
by Glenn Astarita
Youthful concepts and treatments are highlighted on this live set, where the award-winning Belgian piano trio De Beren Gieren invites burgeoning Portuguese trumpeter, improviser Susana Santos Silva to join the band for this largely captivating performance at the Ljubljana Jazz Festival in Slovenia. The musicians' collective synergy becomes apparent rather quickly. Their inventive faculties are propagated ...
