Home » Search Center » Results: Mark Sabbatini
Results for "Mark Sabbatini"
Pablo Aslan: Avantango
by Mark Sabbatini
I cannot pretend I know anything about bassist Pablo Aslan or the supposedly “vibrant New York tango jazz scene"--I bought this CD because it was in the 99-cent bin of a Seattle record store and the concept sounded intriguing. It's safe to say I scored a real bargain. Aslan, a native of ...
Dave Grusin: Now Playing
by Mark Sabbatini
Pianist Dave Grusin built much of his reputation composing and playing scores for movies like On Golden Pond during the 1970s and '80s. His latest album is, depending on your point of view, either a trip down memory lane or another round of milking the cash cow. Now Playing features fifteen solo performances ...
Von Freeman: The Great Divide
by Mark Sabbatini
There's an inclination to treat an 81-year-old sax master with kid gloves when assessing a new recording, but Von Freeman needs no such assistance. The Great Divide continues his late in life resurgence as he pays tribute to former co-players Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young and Charlie Parker. It may not be a landmark ...
Jessica Jones Quartet: Nod
by Mark Sabbatini
Jessica Jones Quartet Nod New Artists Records 2004 One of the first things apparent about this album is that it doesn't dwell in any particular time zone. Jessica Jones' third quartet album, Nod , opens with an ensemble that sounds deliberately muffled like a 1950s bebop ...
Nicole Henry: The Nearness Of You
by Mark Sabbatini
Had I seen her web site beforehand--promoting her as a “singer, actress, host, model"--I might actually have been less inclined to buy this album. Performers who make a living based on looks as well as vocal talent are often lacking in one or both categories, but Nicole Henry proves she's capable of both. The ...
Keith Javors: Mo
by Mark Sabbatini
Mo' City Jungle is a bit like a mediocre blind date where the person in question makes a nice first impression but reveals an unpleasant identity crisis as the evening progresses. Pianist Keith Javors' third album is a bit frustrating because his septet of players indicate early what they're capable of, but seldom live ...
Chuck Deardorf And Dave Peterson: Portal
by Mark Sabbatini
I suspect a number of Seattle jazz fans have waited a long time for this album. Guitarist Dave Peterson and bassist Chuck Deardorf have spent 25 years teaching music, playing clubs and recording as sidemen with various artists. With that much experience it's probably safe to assume that 1) they know everything they need ...
Quincy Jones And Bill Cosby: The Original Jam Sessions 1969
by Mark Sabbatini
The phrase “your opinion of this album may depend on what you think of TV theme music" is generally not meant as praise. But this “long-lost" collection of funk-jazz written by Jones and Cosby bears no resemblance to the syrupy soundtracks of modern shows like “The West Wing" and “Law And Order." Instead it ...
Will Vogtman: A Step Out Of The Blue
by Mark Sabbatini
As a small-time blues harmonica player happy achieving mere competence among pros, Will Vogtman probably needs few kind words to be happy about this album. The Maryland resident says his first exposure to music was jazz and his student playing days were dominated by the genre, making it a natural decision to take a ...
Tomasz Stanko Quartet: Suspended Night
by Mark Sabbatini
Now this is what a ballad album is all about.Polish trumpeter Tomasz Stanko turns in one of the finest efforts of his four-decade career with Suspended Night, an album that can only be described as haunting and gorgeous. It is one of those rare discs able to reach any level of listener, from casual ...
