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54

Article: Album Review

Equilibrium: Liquid Light

Read "Liquid Light" reviewed by Glenn Astarita


This European trio's third release is abetted by Songlines Recordings' pristine audio processes, which is a vital aspect since many of these tracks are quietly penetrating in scope and designed with ethereal atmospherics. The artists' specialty may lie within an artsy, avant-garde schema via a channel of electro-acoustic tone poems, enamored by Sissel Vera Pettersen's luminous ...

51

Article: Album Review

PC Energetic: Illusion

Read "Illusion" reviewed by Glenn Astarita


Young German guitar-slinger Philip Czarnecki's influences derive from the rock and jazz idioms, duly exercised on his quite laudable debut album. He communicates a comprehensive scope and vivid imaginative powers via a mature outlook while working within hard-hitting jazz fusion, funk and slamming rock grooves. His fluent jazz articulations and shifting thematic overtures pose a sense ...

42

Article: Album Review

ZZ Quartet: Beyond the Lines

Read "Beyond the Lines" reviewed by Glenn Astarita


Three Europeans and celebrated American drummer Adam Nussbaum stir up some chutzpah via the guitar-accordion based format. In recent times the accordion's role in jazz-centric vernaculars has been expanding. And while this quartet doesn't invent a newfound genre, its spunky and articulate disposition, containing all original compositions engender a sophisticated outlook. With alternating tempos and several ...

48

Article: Album Review

Afro Garage: Eighteen Ways to Miss Egypt

Read "Eighteen Ways to Miss Egypt" reviewed 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 ...

43

Article: Album Review

Grencsó Open Collective: Flat / Sikvidek

Read "Flat / Sikvidek" reviewed 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 ...

40

Article: Album Review

Pray For Brain: None Of The Above

Read "None Of The Above" reviewed 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 ...

40

Article: Album Review

Jay Smith Group: Too Many Notes

Read "Too Many Notes" reviewed 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. ...

32

Article: Album Review

Happy Family: Minimal Gods

Read "Minimal Gods" reviewed 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. ...

36

Article: Album Review

Tom Harrell: Trip

Read "Trip" reviewed 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 ...

29

Article: Album Review

Fresh Cut Orchestra: From The Vine

Read "From The Vine" reviewed 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 ...


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