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Astrid Cowan: Swing Team
by Jack Bowers
What we know for certain is that Astrid Cowan was born in Detroit, studied piano for some time in San Francisco, now lives in the Los Angeles area, and is an accomplished mainstream player whose virile two–handed technique and propensity to swing at any speed are remindful of McCoy Tyner, Gene Harris and other modernists from ...
Brentwood Jazz Quartet: The Best Of
by Jack Bowers
Talk about self–effacement. The members of the Brentwood Jazz Quartet aren’t even listed by name on this anthology of the quartet’s most appealing work. The music, too, has a faceless quality about it, albeit with a twist — everything the quartet plays is gospel–oriented, as such titles as “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” “Christ ...
Ed Saindon: The Great American Songbook
by Jack Bowers
Ed Saindon’s approach to the vibraphone is said to be “pianistic,” and he lists as his models James P. Johnson, Fats Waller, Fatha Hines, Art Tatum, Teddy Wilson, Errol Garner and Oscar Peterson, among others. Still sounds like vibes to me — which isn’t by any means displeasing. On the contrary, Saindon is a marvelous technician ...
Aaron Goldberg: Turning Point
by Jack Bowers
A beautifully recorded session that really percolates. This is essentially a quartet date (Goldberg, Turner, Rogers, Harland) with Josh Redman sitting in for Turner on “The Shadow of Your Smile,” Cook adding wordless vocals on “Fantasy in D” and “Mom’s Tune,” and Kalé making it a quintet on “Jackson’s Actions.” There’s one trio track, Dizzy Gillespie’s ...
Paul Kendall: Unspoken Words
by Jack Bowers
Unspoken Words (Cats Paw) Paul Kendall, about whom we know and are told nothing, is an outstanding tenor player from the Stanley Turrentine/Houston Person academy of unvarnished swing, and his commanding presence enlivens this congenial mainstream trio (more accurately, trios) date recorded in ’97. Kendall has a clear and pleasing tone, an abundance of persuasive ideas, ...
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Jazz Ensemble 1: A Timeless Vision
by Jack Bowers
There is much to admire on this sixth recording from the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, whose staff may be small but whose aspirations and accomplishments are large (Jazz Ensemble 1 has twice in the last three years earned Down Beat magazine’s award as Best College Band). To confirm that appraisal, one need advance no further than ...
Surprise Big Band: Big Band Surprise
by Jack Bowers
I hardly knew what kind of surprise to expect from Germany’s Surprise Big Band, as director Peter Stöhr said in an accompanying note that “this is an amateur big band with no professionals (except me).” I am happy to report that the “surprise” was far more agreeable than anticipated. Stöhr’s companions from Haslach may be amateurs, ...
Western Michigan University Jazz Orchestra: Blue Miles
by Jack Bowers
The award–winning and Grammy–nominated WMU Jazz Orchestra returns for a third date on Sea Breeze, for which the ensemble earns another impressive report card. Nothing seems beyond their purview, from straight–ahead cookers by Matt Catingub (“Indian Riffs”), Robert Lewis (“Poste Haste”) or Matt Harris (“Rompe Cabezas”) to more demanding works by Thelonious Monk (“Misterioso”), Chick Corea ...
Full Spectrum Jazz: First Time Out
by Jack Bowers
So what do those hard–working computer nerds in California’s famed Silicon Valley do for R&R? Some whose talent and interest extend beyond mother boards, chips and software have gathered together with professional musicians in the San Francisco Bay area to establish Full Spectrum Jazz, a driving big band whose broad repertoire encompasses blues, ballads, salsa and ...
Espoo Big Band: Live in Australia / Plays Carla Bley
by Jack Bowers
Here are three discs (more like two and one–half, actually) by Finland’s foremost big band, Espoo, one recorded in 1993 with guest conductor Carla Bley, the others last year during an Australian tour. Also sitting in on the earlier session is the well–known American bassist Steve Swallow. On the Jazz continuum, Espoo is definitely in the ...
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