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Ray Brown Jr.: Friends and Family
by Hrayr Attarian
A solid pedigree does not necessarily guarantee talent, but in the case of Ray Brown Jr. it clearly has, which makes Friends and Family even more disappointing. Brown has an evocative baritone and an impeccable mastery over the art of singing that rivals the best classically trained opera performers. His delivery on this record, however, is ...
Dan DeChellis Trio: Organic Material
by Hrayr Attarian
Good ideas need to be expanded upon rather than repeated, since even the best of them may lose their appeal with multiple restatements. Dan DeChellis' Organic Matter is full of interesting musical concepts that are not really explored to their fullest; rather, they are repeated with each track multiple times, creating a pleasant, hypnotic effect that, ...
Tom Beckham: Rebound
by Hrayr Attarian
Catchy tunes and intelligent soloing do not a masterpiece make, but they do create a memorable and enjoyable listening experience. Tom Beckham's third album as a leader finds him in sympathetic, although slightly overbearing, company of saxophonist Chris Cheek and a rhythm section led by pianist Henry Hey. Beckham has a unique approach ...
Peter Sommer: Crossroads
by Hrayr Attarian
It takes self-confidence and talent for a new musician to lock horns with a more experienced practitioner of the same instrument, and tenor saxophonist Peter Sommer has plenty of both. His only other recording was a collaborative effort with pianist Art Lande, and this second recording is his first as a leader. On ...
Eric Mintel: Ground Breaker
by Hrayr Attarian
The title of a record may be misleading, and even when it promises more than it delivers, it doesn't necessarily mean that the music is of poor quality. Eric Mintel's Ground Breaker does no such thing but it is a solid, well above average effort in the post bop tradition. The original tunes are all complex, ...
Larry McDonough Quartet: Simple Gifts
by Hrayr Attarian
Never look a gift horse in the mouth the old saying goes, but pianist Larry McDonough's Simple Gifts is a record that needs careful deconstructing and critiquing. The CD starts off with a smart arrangement of Beethoven's “Ode to Joy," where Richard Terrill's soprano saxophone states the theme before the musicians take solo turns. They don't ...
Iron City: Put the Flavor On It
by Hrayr Attarian
How is it that a record can sound so pleasant but at the same time disappoint? That is the case with Iron City's Put the Flavor On It. Iron City is an organ trio led by guitarist Charlie Apicella and presumably named after the legendary album by Grant Green, John Patton and Ben Dixon. Although this ...
Bob Gluck Trio: Sideways
by Hrayr Attarian
Great art and in particular great music does not neatly fit in narrowly defined categories. Such is the case with the Bob Gluck Trio's Sideways. The music is a mix of different jazz styles with an overall strong classical flavor. The CD contains nine pieces: three long bass-dominated ones, each over 10 minutes; and six shorter ...
Charlie Munro: Eastern Horizons
by Hrayr Attarian
The statement that jazz music has universal appeal is a well-worn cliché, but like most, a very true one. This is no more evident than in Eastern Horizons, a long out-of-print classic from Australian cellist and multi-reed player Charlie Munro, now available on CD. Recorded in 1967, it is considered to be a landmark of Australian ...
Nicki Parrott: Moon River
by Hrayr Attarian
It seems, according to some unwritten rule, that most female jazz instrumentalists sooner or later record a vocal album or two. Unfortunately, on these recordings, often passable vocal skills take precedence over superior instrumental talent. Perhaps this is intended to meet the demands of the commercial market, with bassist Nicki Parrott's Moon River a prime example. ...
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