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Ron Carter: Dear Miles
by John Barron
There certainly hasn't been a shortage of artists recording tributes to Miles Davis since the trumpeter's death in 1991. The list includes contributions as diverse as Benny Golson's I Remember Miles (Milestone, 1992), Henry Kaiser and Wadada Leo Smith's Yo Miles! (Shanachie, 1998) and Cassandra Wilson's Traveling Miles (Blue Note, 1999). Almost forty years since parting ...
Javon Jackson: Now
by John Barron
Audiences who first came to know Javon Jackson through his recordings for Criss Cross and Blue Note shouldn't be the least bit surprised when the Joe Henderson-inspired tenor saxophonist, who first came to prominence with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, releases a commercially conscious disc like Now. As with his previous efforts for Palmetto Records, 2003's Easy ...
Kenny Rittenhouse: The Francis Suite
by John Barron
When a musician is willing to completely bare his soul to the world, unhampered by thoughts of criticism, the resulting sounds can be refreshingly optimistic and should be regarded as an honest artistic representation of the human experience. Without a hint of restraint, Washington, DC trumpeter Kenny Rittenhouse celebrates the blessings of his life on The ...
Neal Miner: The Evening Sound
by John Barron
Blurred by the multi-cultural, cross-genre jazz of today's global era, the sounds of specific geographical regions have become less prevalent on contemporary recordings. Neal Miner's The Evening Sound is an exception. Born and raised in Manhattan, and a fixture on the Big Apple jazz scene, the prominent bassist/composer has produced a disc of all-original material that ...
Donald Harrison: The Survivor
by John Barron
Donald Harrison has earned premiere status in the jazz world as an inventive improviser with a highly personalized voice. His command of the alto saxophone is second to none and his contributions as a genre-hopping composer are compelling to discerning and casual listeners alike. On The Survivor, recorded for the German Nagel Hayer label, the Art ...
Carl Allen & Rodney Whitaker: Get Ready
by John Barron
Drummer Carl Allen and bassist Rodney Whitaker have a lot in common. They're both from the Midwest-- Allen's from Milwaukee, Whitaker's from Detroit. Both grew up in homes filled with the sounds of gospel and R&B, and for the last twenty years or so both have achieved high ranking as two of the most heavy swinging ...
Jim Pearce: Never Open with A Ballad
by John Barron
It's hard for a jazz musician to garner recognition in an era of music industry indifference toward unknown artists--and the genre as a whole. Musicians like Jim Pearce forge ahead anyway, producing uncompromised, original music. Never Open with a Ballad is a well-conceived showcase for the multi-talented Atlanta-based pianist, vocalist and composer. Pearce delves into the ...
Jimmy Ponder: Somebody's Child
by John Barron
The jazz world is full of unsung legends that generally fly under the radar of mainstream attention. One such legend is Pittsburgh native and guitarist extraordinaire Jimmy Ponder, who has been recording soulful, swinging jazz for four decades strong as both a leader and sideman. Somebody's Child, his latest in a string of successful releases for ...
Bill Frisell: Bill Frisell, Ron Carter, Paul Motian
by John Barron
The old saying, you can't judge a book by its cover, certainly applies to the latest release by eclectic guitarist Bill Frisell on the Nonesuch label. The untitled recording--actually co-led by Frisell, pioneering bassist Ron Carter, and drummer Paul Motian--delivers an empathetic commentary on an expansive American musical landscape. What is pleasantly surprising--or perhaps reassuring--is that ...
Donald Byrd: Off To The Races
by John Barron
Donald Byrd Off To The Races Blue Note Records 2006 (1959) Detroit was producing a lot more than cars in the 1950s: the city was a breeding ground for an impressive number of hard bop giants. Two of the most dynamic instrumentalists to trek eastward from Motown to ...
