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Various Artists: Justin Time For Christmas Four
by Mark Sabbatini
The problem with too many multi-artist compilation albums is they tend to feel like catalogues--which, ironically enough, is not endearing in a Christmas album. Justin Time For Christmas 4 suffers from this sin, so to speak, then complicates it in a further bit of irony: the handful of artists who turn in performances worthy of further ...
The Blake Wilner Quartet: The Reprieve
by Mark Sabbatini
Pull something in all directions at once and odds are it'll end up stuck in the middle. The thought came to mind while listening to The Reprieve by the Blake Wilner Quartet, which claims influences ranging from Monk (minimal traditionalism) to Coltrane (maximal progressivism) to Philip Glass (maximal minimalism). The songs range from original ...
Mike Frost: The Mike Frost Project
by Mark Sabbatini
If I were promoting a group's debut album, I'm not sure it'd be as the work of a band from “one of Chicago's premier cruise lines." That seems about as catchy as “famous Caribbean pizza." Luckily, Mike Frost's sextet doesn't need the pitch for its debut album, a first-class ticket that for the most part leaves ...
Eric Frazier: Find Yourself (Then Find Me)
by Mark Sabbatini
One hesitates before telling a lifelong New Yorker to be more assertive, but drummer Eric Frazier may need a reminder. Frazier, an unquestionable talent on the conga and other hand percussion, is too deferential in playing and restrained in arranging for 2004's Find Yourself (Then Find Me) to be all it can be. It's ...
Eddie Gomez And Mark Kramer: Jazz Fiddler On The Roof
by Mark Sabbatini
It's the original composer's favorite jazz rendition. It features Eddie Gomez. How can you go wrong? Well, maybe if your ideal treatment of “Fiddler On The Roof" is Cannonball Adderley's hard bopping tack on sax or a various artists avant-garde compilation that left purists shuddering. But for a largely mellow jazz trio collection that ...
Daryl Stuermer: Retrofit
by Mark Sabbatini
To me, Daryl Stuermer is the ex-Genesis guitarist who did some '80s fusion album that's languished in deep-discount bins almost since its release. A new album doesn't exactly come with high expectations. Middle-of-the-road instrumental pop, I figure, probably in an above-average wrapping. Nothing too daring on solos, and probably a good background listen when ...
Reykjavik Jazz Festival 2004
by Mark Sabbatini
Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 Day 1: From the Big Apple to the Big Chill Going to Iceland for its jazz probably sounds like going to Alaska for its beaches - but believe it or not my home state has some of ...
Supa Lowry Bros.: Vol. 1
by Mark Sabbatini
This is the album I searched all of New York City for. OK, now that this jazz/hip/soul group has a review blurb to take out of context, a bit of elaboration: perusing endless bins at megastores like Virgin and Tower Records is great, but what I really hoped to find during a recent trip ...
Bj: Gling-Gl
by Mark Sabbatini
If Van Morrison is the headline act of this year's Reykjavik Jazz Festival, then maybe it makes sense that trip-hop diva Björk is Iceland's biggest name with a jazz album. And here's a further shock: it's a pretty good one. Gling-Gló is available in the US for the first time following ...
Dianne Reeves: Christmas Time Is Here
by Mark Sabbatini
This is one of those albums that's not really ideal for playing while opening gifts Christmas morning--in a very good sense. Christmas Time Is Here is an above-average and sometimes spectacular album that doesn't deserve to compete with screaming kids and tearing paper for the listener's ear. Reeves is on a tear lately ...
