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Mark Isbell: Jazz Influence
by Jim Santella
Combining heartwarming ballads with up-tempo romps, Mark Isbell offers a pleasant, acoustic jazz setting where the listener can find the kinds of swing and syncopation that have given jazz its identity. “Jazz Influence” is among them. This soaring samba by Carlos Lyra affords a close-up look at the alto saxophonist’s light melodic approach and natural ease ...
The Marsalis Family: A Jazz Celebration
by Jim Santella
The First Family of Modern Jazz performed on August 4, 2001 at a concert hall in The Crescent City to mark the retirement of Ellis Marsalis from teaching duties at the University of New Orleans. Fortunately, the event was captured on tape. As with most live performances, this celebration includes a fair amount ...
Orna: The Very Thought Of You
by Jim Santella
The South African-born vocalist Orna, carrying a distinctive lightness in her highly accurate vocal delivery, sits down with Brian Bromberg and a stellar ensemble for a session that revels in its simplicity. Favoring a light samba lilt and surrounded, in part, by synth strings, the persuasive singer gives pause to one of those rainy days we’ve ...
Jimmy Amadie: In A Trio Setting
by Jim Santella
Pianist Jimmy Amadie interprets each classic, Sinatra-type standard on In A Trio Setting with a crystalline touch and his usual buoyant swing. His improvisation carries the trio along natural paths with a universal sense of time. The salute to Frank Sinatra is coincidental, but it does represent the range of this artist, who ...
David Murray Latin Big Band: Now Is Another Time
by Jim Santella
David Murray shares the microphone with two large ensembles here to combine articulate big band arrangements with fiery, Afro-Cuban improvisation. His wall of percussionists and detailed harmonic landscape introduce the leader’s seven compositions. Where one piece moves slowly along sensual borders, the next selection charges headlong into a frenzy of animation. All the while, the composer ...
Jessica Williams: All Alone
by Jim Santella
Jessica Williams interprets our favorite standards like no other. She turns “As Time Goes By” into a history lesson, with mental images from the film Casablanca and outside quotes to fill in the cracks. Irving Berlin’s “All Alone” takes on a similar role, as the pianist’s crisp right hand dances lightly to a simple stride left, ...
Matt Wilson Quartet: Humidity
by Jim Santella
Founded in 1996, the Matt Wilson Quartet took shape in order to explore new and interesting ways of expressing mainstream jazz. Without a piano or a guitar to provide obvious harmonic concepts, the band has to rely on its two saxophonists and bassist for overlaps that carry the mood. Consequently, the song list avoids too many ...
David Zoffer & Adam Larrabee: Courage In Closeness
by Jim Santella
The piano and guitar duo of David Zoffer and Adam Larrabee explores many contrasting aspects of the jazz art on Courage In Closeness, recorded live in Boston. They interpret originals in such a manner that expression takes over and the blues weaves itself throughout. Zoffer delights in drawing together music from various historical epochs. Early Gershwin ...
The Jim Cifelli New York Nonet: Tunnel Vision
by Jim Santella
Arranging for nonet is a lot like arranging for big band. You’ve got all the elements, but you miss out on the doubling. Instead of power and some anonymous hard blowing, you get a balanced approach that swings lightly and caresses each melody. Jim Cifelli’s nonet arrangements are patterned after those of big band leaders Gil ...
Stefano Di Battista: Round About Roma
by Jim Santella
Stefano Di Battista sparkles with his quartet, a full symphonic orchestra, and a lush string ensemble on this new release. Capturing the romantic spirit of an exotic Roman holiday, the saxophonist’s modern mainstream creations inch forward gracefully. Di Battista has discovered a great way to describe old Rome without showing its age. Tradition and modernity have ...
