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Steve Brown: Night Waves
by Jack Bowers
While comparisons aren’t always productive or even accurate, I can’t help remarking that guitarist Steve Brown’s galvanic septet reminds me of another group with whom I fell head–over–heels in love several years ago, that one led by drummer Danny D’Imperio. What they share is a remarkable esprit de corps and a deep–seated commitment to swinging that ...
The Jazz Nonet & Guests: Hidden Agenda
by Jack Bowers
Those who remember fondly trumpeter Miles Davis’ groundbreaking “Birth of the Cool” recordings from 1949–50 should quickly warm to Hidden Agenda, a buoyant and colorful session that embodies their spirit but shuns any whisper of needless imitation. The Jazz Nonet is composed of faculty members at Arizona State University; the “guests” are fleet–fingered trumpeter Greg Hopkins ...
Denise Mangiardi: River of My Own
by Jack Bowers
I’ve always had trouble with poetry. Too literal–minded, I suppose. Lyrics, which in their way are close to poetry, must have some purpose I can readily apprehend, else they fail to engage me. So it is that Denise Mangiardi’s River of My Own, while conceived no doubt with the best of intentions, leaves me perplexed and ...
Reno Jazz Quintet: Contemplation
by Jack Bowers
The Reno Jazz Quintet is composed of faculty members from the University of Nevada–Reno, and the disc’s subtitle is “featuring Randy Porter.” The pianist is certainly a standout mainstream player, an observation that is no less accurate when applied to Engstrom, Vanek or Strong (who carves his niche on “Just in Time”). Porter, who has backed ...
Rob Ryndak: Boundless
by Jack Bowers
Scott Adams' liner notes describe Rob Ryndak's musical perspective as arising from 'the decades'long marriage of Jazz with the tropics,' and rhythmically speaking, the point is well made. This isn't typical 'Latin Jazz' ' that is to say, there are few brassy fireworks or cascading congas overspreading the landscape ' but an insistent beat from south ...
Whitworth College Jazz Ensemble: Boppin' Back
by Jack Bowers
Ever hear of Whitworth College? You say you have? Good. Can you please tell me where it is? You can’t? Well, don’t hang your head, compadre; few people could. Whitworth is actually situated in lovely Spokane, Washington. Yes, the college does have a Jazz Studies program, and yes, the Jazz ensemble, ably directed by Dr. Dan ...
Millikin University Jazz Lab 1: Easy to Love
by Jack Bowers
When assessing any big band, the tried–and–true standards can serve as convenient benchmarks. There are a number of them on Easy to Love, which the Millikin University Jazz Ensemble recorded in May 1995. What they (and the lesser–known numbers) show is an eager group of young people who have mastered the Jazz fundamentals and seem reasonably ...
University of Colorado Jazz Ensemble 1: Waking Up the Flatirons
by Jack Bowers
The Flatirons, I believe, are the mountains adjacent to Boulder, Colorado, and the 1997–98 editions of UC’s Jazz Ensemble 1 under director Greg Carroll strive earnestly to awaken them with this clamorous and colorful studio session that encompasses music composed by Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington, Bob Mintzer, Maria Schneider and Michael Brecker, among others. The ensemble ...
Miles Osland Little Big Band: My Old Kentucky Home
by Jack Bowers
Miles Osland, an intrepid and versatile woodwind specialist who can stay in the pocket but prefers to scramble, unveils a number of facets of his capacious personality on My Old Kentucky Home, from bebop, blues and ballads to Caribbean, Latin, funk, boogie and beyond. Actually, nothing here is as “beyond” as Osland has been on other ...
Emerald City Jazz Orchestra: Alive and Swingin'
by Jack Bowers
A few months ago I sang widely the praises of the Hawk–Richard Jazz Orchestra, a company of relative unknowns from Texas who made a dream come true by producing one of the more colorful and exciting big–band discs of ’98. Few contemporary ensembles have impressed me as much as Hawk–Richard — but here’s one that has, ...
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