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179

Article: Album Review

Aschaffenburger Jazz Big Band: Bluesin' for a Cruisin'

by Jack Bowers
May 1, 1999

Another largely “amateur” German big band whose remarkable proficiency would be the envy of many a professional ensemble. As near as I can understand from the liner notes (I neither speak nor read German), the band was formed in 1988 in connection with the state music school and produced its first recording (this one) in 1996 ...

191

Article: Album Review

Stanford University Jazz Orchestra: 1998-99

by Jack Bowers
May 1, 1999

This is, to my knowledge, the first recording by the Stanford University Jazz Orchestra. Methinks they should do this more often. Guest Louie Bellson, who appears on two selections, showers praise on director Fred Berry and his youthful ensemble, and the compliments are well–deserved. While the number of first–class college bands is steadily increasing, there’s always ...

123

Article: Album Review

Jens Wendelboe Big Band / New York Big Band: Lone Attic / Letter from New York

by Jack Bowers
May 1, 1999

These discs could well be subtitled “Jens Wendelboe: The Early Years,” as both were recorded in the mid–’80s, the second as the (still relatively youthful) Norwegian–based trombonist/composer was completing work on a master’s degree in composition from the Manhattan School of Music. They may have been intended as LPs (the digital revolution was then in its ...

Article: Album Review

Willie Myette Trio: ...This Is Jazz

by Jack Bowers
May 1, 1999

While the title of this new release is accurate enough in its way, Rhode Island–based pianist Willie Myette is far too self–effacing. He could have more properly called it . . .This Is Jazz (The Way It Was Meant to Be Played by a Trio). Comparisons? Well, even though Myette doesn’t sound much like Ahmad Jamal, ...

304

Article: Album Review

Red Mitchell: A Declaration of Interdependence

by Jack Bowers
May 1, 1999

An out–of–the–ordinary 1988 session by the “Red Mitchell Trio,” which, courtesy of modern technology, is composed of Red Mitchell on bass, Red Mitchell on piano and Red Mitchell on vocals. The “leader,” of course, was known primarily as a bassist (the past tense is used because he passed away in November ’92), but his “sidemen” are ...

120

Article: Album Review

People Like Us: Believe It

by Jack Bowers
May 1, 1999

For people like us who prefer their modern mainstream Jazz fresh and inventive, there’s People Like Us, a superbly synchronized and consistently enterprising quartet led by pianist Joel Forrester, featuring the wonderful baritone saxophonist Claire Daly and securely anchored by bassist Dave Hofstra and drummer Denis Charles who died in March ’98 after 23 years as ...

Article: Album Review

Laurel Macdonald: Chroma

by Jack Bowers
May 1, 1999

Hey, give me a break, please! I’m a JAZZ reviewer! I don’t know why labels and/or distributors bother to send me recordings like this. As far as I know, Laurel Macdonald may be tops in her field — trouble is, I don’t know what or where that field is. I can’t pretend to review music about ...

186

Article: Album Review

Frank Vignola: Deja Vu

by Jack Bowers
May 1, 1999

As Yogi Berra once said, “It’s like deja vu all over again.” Or in this case, Deja Vu times four, as guitarist Frank Vignola includes four brief but dissimilar versions of David Crosby’s composition on his newest Concord Vista release. Like the other songs presented here, they are aimed squarely at the “smooth Jazz” market — ...

Article: Album Review

Stewy von Wattenwyl Trio: Everything I Love

by Jack Bowers
May 1, 1999

In reviewing favorably an earlier release by Swiss pianist Stewy von Wattenwyl’s trio ( To the Point, also on Stewy’s own Brambus Records label), I closed with this observation: “As a more accurate barometer of their interpretive prowess, I’d love to hear them take a whack at some better–known material, perhaps a few songs from the ...

158

Article: Album Review

Darren Barrett: First One Up

Read "First One Up" reviewed by Jack Bowers

by Jack Bowers
May 1, 1999

This is the debut recording by trumpeter Darren Barrett who in ’97 won the annual international Jazz competition sponsored by the Thelonious Monk Institute. The man clearly has exceptional chops and enthusiasm to match — but he leaves an inescapable impression that what is being said has been recited many times before, often with deeper awareness ...