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Avishai Cohen: Devotion
by Jim Santella
Avishai Cohen's modern mainstream sextet performs in a hard bop tradition while encompassing ethnic influences from all over the world. In Cohen's compositions you can pick out modes, rhythms, and themes that feel as though they represent cultures from eastern Asia, northern Africa, central Europe, South America, southwestern Asia, the U.S. and more. The 28-year-old Jerusalem ...
Milt Jackson meets the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra: Explosive!
by Jim Santella
Vibraphonist Milt Jackson, 76, formed the roots of the Modern Jazz Quartet almost fifty years ago. That same lyrical quality that drives the MJQ stands before the fourteen-year-old Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, sharing, blending, and coaxing the melodies out of his vibraphone’s metal bars. The microphones are set up so that the listener has the same opportunity ...
Susannah McCorkle: From Broken Hearts To Blue Skies
by Jim Santella
From a moody “laugh all your sorrows away" with its late night lounge setup, to “never saw things goin’ so right" with its energetic trumpet and alto saxophone interludes, Susannah McCorkle has put together another eclectic session from the American popular songbook. This is her seventeenth album, following From Broadway To Bebop and From Bessie To ...
Marohnic, Pilafian, Hopkins Jazz Nonet: Jazz!
by Jim Santella
In tribute to Miles Davis’ landmark fifty-year-old Birth Of The Cool Capitol album, Summit Records has put together an ensemble featuring like instrumental timbres. Greg Hopkins conducts and leads with stirring trumpet melodies while Chuck Marohnic and Sam Pilafian lend piano and tuba depth to the session. The album’s cover art, provided by the estate of ...
Charles Lloyd: Just Before Sunrise
by Jim Santella
The reissue of two mid-1960’s Charles Lloyd Quartet Atlantic albums comprises this 90-minute 2-CD set from 32 Jazz. Offering leading-edge hard bop fire with spotlights on all four members of his quartets, Lloyd traveled around the world to spread this message. In the past few years, Joel Dorn’s 32 Records has reissued a wide selection of ...
The Wild Magnolias: Life Is A Carnival
by Jim Santella
Mardi Gras is party time for New Orleans. The Wild Magnolias sing a popular form of rock music with ties to jazz and blues. Dr. John guests on four tracks to lend solid piano accompaniment for lead singer Big Chief Bo Dollis. Although the Mardi Gras “Indians" don ornate Native American costumes, they’re not Native American ...
JoAnne Brackeen: Pink Elephant Magic
by Jim Santella
From the march tempo and hard bop power of “Pink Elephant Magic" to the drifting ballad waltz time of “Filene’s," JoAnne Brackeen’s latest album covers a lot of territory. The pianist’s seven compositions, coupled with three familiar pieces, provide variety and result in a well-rounded set. Bret Primack’s informative liner notes are available on the ‘net ...
Lisa Thorson: Resonance
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by Jim Santella
Members of the Boston area Lisa Thorson Five have been friends for eleven years; the group’s firm cohesiveness is a direct result. A student of Sheila Jordan, the singer/leader presents modern mainstream vocal art with obvious nods to Erik Satie and Thelonious Monk. Each artist solos and everybody works together on the thrilling arrangements. Spontaneity and ...
Scott Henderson: Tore Down House
by Jim Santella
With a fusion of jazz, blues and rock, guitarist Scott Henderson put together a set of his own songs; the lone exception is Jaco Pastorius’ “Continuum." Most of the album features Thelma Houston with a blues trio; Houston wails while Henderson smokes in a contemporary electric blues vein. Most of the guitarist’s career has been based ...
Eddie Jefferson: Vocal Ease
by Jim Santella
Writing lyrics to fit transcribed jazz solos note for note, Eddie Jefferson founded vocalese in the late 1940s. His lyrics contained a contextual message about the referenced artist, which he performed, to the accompaniment of a small ensemble. The singer’s “Parker’s Mood" salute to Bird and his “I Cover the Waterfront" salute to Pres were recorded ...
