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Marcin Wasilewski Trio: Faithful
by Greg Simmons
The Marcin Wasilewski Trio's Faithful makes its entry as one of the better albums of 2011 to date, with a selection of original titles that are melodic, highly sophisticated and thoroughly enjoyable. The piano trio--piano, bass and drums--is one of jazz's cornerstone ensembles. As such--and with perhaps thousands of albums recorded in this instrumental ...
Jason Parker Quartet: Five Leaves Left
by Greg Simmons
For its fourth album, the Jason Parker Quartet takes a sharp departure from its previous three efforts. Rather than simply cutting another solid straight-ahead quartet date, trumpeter Parker has added vocalist Michele Khazak, and multi-woodwind blower Cynthia Mullis, to reinterpret an entire folk-pop album: Nick Drake's Five Leaves Left (Island Records, 1969). Despite being far outside ...
New Tricks: Alternate Side...
by Greg Simmons
Here's something you don't read in album liner notes every day: “We recorded in Shawn's apartment...using only blankets wrapped around music stands for audio separation." New Tricks has seemingly recorded Alternate Side... in some no-frills circumstances, but there's truth in the old saying that adversity sometimes brings out the best in people. This piano-less ...
T.K. Blue: Latin Bird
by Greg Simmons
For a fellow who's been dead since 1955, alto saxophonist Charlie Parker is having a really good year. Several high-profile projects have been released featuring his music, with various adjustments, tints, and abstractions, and some of these have been quite good. Now comes multi-woodwind player T.K. Blue, with Latin Bird, which adds some Latin flavor to ...
A Guide to Record Store Day 2011
by Greg Simmons
Is April 15th--Tax Day, for Americans--a painful experience? Well, Saturday April 16th, 2011 has the antidote, at least for music lovers. It's been designated Record Store Day to promote the unique culture, and the experience of buying music from local, independently-owned record stores. Brick and mortar shops all over the United States--virtually all mom-and-pop establishments--will be ...
Great Sidemen - Great Leaders
by Greg Simmons
Being a sideman can be a thankless job. Sure, you might get to play regularly, but you rarely get to call the tune. If your boss is a big star, the gig might even pay pretty well, but if the band is going to Fargo, North Dakota in January, brother, so are you, and you weren't ...
Sheryl Bailey 4: For All Those Living
by Greg Simmons
Sheryl Bailey 4's For All Those Living has a nice, balanced feel to it, with a lively, up-tempo pace that never becomes frenetic. It's finely played, and rewards serious listening, but none of the musicians are overly showy.The quartet plays as much with Bailey's guitar work as behind it, and is clearly sympathetic to its performers. ...
Native Soul: Soul Step
by Greg Simmons
Native Soul Soul Step is a stylistically coherent and well executed effort. The quartet--a classic keyboards, saxophone, bass and drums lineup--plays mostly straight-ahead, but adds enough instrumental and musical variation to keep it fresh throughout. Keyboardist Noah Haidu is the collective's founder, and is the source of a good portion of the music's diversity. ...
John Vanore & Abstract Truth: Contagious Words
by Greg Simmons
John Vanore & Abstract Truth's Contagious Words has the qualities of either a small big-band date or a big small-band date, depending on the perspective. There are twelve musicians listed on every track, and five more who show up for a few tracks each. That certainly has the instrumental mix for a full big band sound, ...
Jane Ira Bloom: Wingwalker
by Greg Simmons
Saxophonist Jane Ira Bloom is a first-class improviser and composer, and delivers a compelling case for herself on Wingwalker. Full of inventive original compositions, fine performances, and Bloom's rich, natural tone, this record is a standout. Although the soprano saxophone is less frequently heard, this record boldly demands its place at the table with its curved-bell ...
