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Results for "Hrayr Attarian"
Rich Halley 4: Crossing the Passes
by Hrayr Attarian
Saxophonist Rich Halley has always had a thick, brassy tone and a bold and daring improvisational approach. Over the years a certain contemplative wisdom has permeated his music enhancing its intellectual edge without tempering its fiery zeal. The result, as demonstrated on Crossing The Passes is a sublime balance of the cerebral and visceral.On ...
Daniel Bennett Group: Clockhead Goes to Camp
by Hrayr Attarian
Reedman Daniel Bennett's Clockhead Goes to Camp is a crystallization of the motifs explored in his previous work. The thirteen short tracks--the longest clocking at less than six minutes--are concise, crisp and deceptively simple. The intriguingly surreal ambience results from the mixture of international folk influences and futuristic minimalism.“Last Summer At Camp Creepy" is ...
Geof Bradfield: Melba!
by Hrayr Attarian
Chicago based saxophonist Geof Bradfield's Melba! is a much needed tribute to the criminally underexposed trombonist and arranger Melba Liston. Liston debuted with trumpeter, bandleader Gerald Wilson, was one of the stars of trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie's bebop big band and devoted herself to arranging after she met pianist Randy Weston with whom she had a long ...
The Harris Group: Errands
by Hrayr Attarian
Ric Harris demonstrates a lean and mature sound on the Chicago guitarist's second release, Errands. Consisting entirely of Harris originals built around themes explored on his debut, Choices (Self Produced, 2012). Here, however, they are more evolved and account for greater textual unity.Harris' lilting, multilayered, harmonies form the focal point of each composition. The ...
Ron Oswanski: December's Moon
by Hrayr Attarian
Keyboardist Ron Oswanski is known primarily as an audacious organist. He does, however, also bring a unique agility to the accordion and is endowed with a lyrical touch on the piano as his debut album December's Moon amply demonstrates.The dozen tunes cover modern jazz compositions, Oswanski's originals and a Led Zeppelin anthem. The wide ...
Antonio Adolfo: Finas Misturas
by Hrayr Attarian
Pianist, composer and educator Antonio Adolfo's second instrumental release as a leader, on his own AAM label, is entitled Finas Misturas (in English, “fine mixtures"). The name refers to the fusion of jazz elements with the rhythms and sensibilities of Adolfo's native Brazil. The result is a pleasing batch of six covers and four originals.
Tianna Hall and the Mexico City Jazz Trio: Two for the Road
by Hrayr Attarian
It would be a mistake to dismiss vocalist Tianna Hall's fifth album Two For The Road as another collection of reinterpreted familiar workhorses. While it's true that the record consists exclusively of standards Hall's nuanced approach to them, and the inclusion of a couple of lesser-known songs, makes for a unique listening experience.The two ...
Marbin: Last Chapter of Dreaming
by Hrayr Attarian
Even on their eponymous debut Marbin's style was far from being derivative but with Last Chapter of Dreaming their third release in as many years they have matured and found their singular artistic voice. In a way this album expands on the themes and motifs expressed on their second Breaking the Cycle but the ideas are ...
Robert Hurst: Bob a Palindrome
by Hrayr Attarian
Bassist and composer Robert Hurst's sixth release as a leader Bob a Palindrome crackles with excitement and brims with innovative ideas. Leading a superlative ensemble made up of long time collaborators, Hurst presents eight of his compositions that range from the impressionistic to the intimately poetic.The pièce de résistance is the dramatic three part ...
Brian Groder & Tonino Miano: FluiDensity
by Hrayr Attarian
Listening to the stimulating FluiDensity is akin to eavesdropping on an intelligent, ad-lib conversation between two friends. Trumpeter Brian Groder and pianist Tonino Miano, both master improvisers, mine the modernist western musical canon for the majority of their ideas and spice it up with a bit of jazz and various ethnic motifs.The energetic “Optika," ...
