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Triosence with Sara Gazarek: Where Time Stands Still
by Nicholas F. Mondello
A commanding recording that delivers an itchy, irresistible attraction for repeated playing is rare, indeed, and Where Time Stands Still falls precisely into that category. Repeated renderings display additional highlights both instrumentally and vocally. It is very appealing--if not challenging--listening. Combining a trio of fine German musicians (Triosence) with an intriguing American (Sarah ...
Jim Manley: Brass Poison Too
by Nicholas F. Mondello
Trumpet players who dwell in the altissimo range of the instrument face multiple dilemmas: they must maneuver the purely physical demands of playing in that extreme register (challenging), perform impeccably (difficult) and display musical grace and ease in doing so (incredibly difficult). Complicating matters, there are always the ghosts of Maynard Ferguson, Bill Chase and others ...
Lorraine Feather: Tales of the Unusual
by Nicholas F. Mondello
Be aware and beware from the get-go: Tales of the Unusual, from Grammy nominee Lorraine Feather, is indeed deep, dark and different. The Anne Rice-like black and white cover shot parlayed with the spooky title augur that what is to follow is a foray into a song-world of stories told inside-out and upside-down. ...
Jim Ketch: A Distant View
by Nicholas F. Mondello
A Distant View delivers intelligent music performed by highly involved players across a dozen diverse selections ranging from straight-ahead hard bop, calypso, an obligatory standard and a Chuck Mangione-esque soft rock tidbit thrown in for dessert. Incorporating a classic Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers quintet formula, these outstanding players share a common interest here in ...
B3 Conspiracy: Sleeping Lions
by Nicholas F. Mondello
There's something magnificently earthy and earth-moving about the sounds emanating from a Hammond B3 organ, especially when it's in great hands. Marvelous players such as Jimmy Smith, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Richard “Groove" Holmes and Joey DeFrancesco lead the B3 parade. B3 Conspiracy's Sleeping Lions is a doubly delicious dose of organ-driven jazz: not only is there ...
Superbrass: Under the Spell of Spain
by Nicholas F. Mondello
Duke Ellington is quoted anecdotally as saying there are only two kinds of music--good and bad. It's quite possible that, after experiencing Under the Spell of Spain, there might be yet another category--music magnificently defying description. Rest assured Superbrass' disc is very good; however, while it is not an entirely jazz-focused effort--leaning heavily on the orchestral ...
The Phil Norman Tentet: Encore
by Nicholas F. Mondello
Harkening back and reverently genuflecting to the mid-size ensemble format of the 1950s and '60s--especially those on the West Coast such as the Dave Pell Octet, Miles Davis' Birth of the Cool (Capitol 1957) band and other similar-sized ensembles-- the Phil Norman Tentet's Encore delivers the absolute best of all jazz worlds. This ...
Francesco Cafiso: Moody'n
by Nicholas F. Mondello
"Youth will be served." That is a saying appropriately describing the meteoric rise to success that Sicilian alto saxophonist Francesco Cafiso has achieved since he turned “professional" at nine years old. With Moody 'n, Cafiso plunges deeply into the BeBop canon performing a handful of classics and, in doing so demonstrates both the bravado of a ...
Randy Johnston: People Music
by Nicholas F. Mondello
Perhaps more than any other musical instrument, the guitarists of today come drenched in the music of highly diverse musical genres. The instrument has been a fulcrum of expression, from folk, country and blues to jazz and rock--with a smidgen of classical thrown into the mix as well. Thinking about it, the task of developing as ...
Jay Patten: Crystal Nights
by Nicholas F. Mondello
There's an anecdote that surfaces every now and then about the legendary Buddy Rich. The ever hip and irascible drummer/bandleader was once asked, during a hospital stay, if he had any medical allergies. “Country music," he wisecracked. Well, Rich, ever the master showman, might reconsider upon hearing this most enjoyable, highly eclectic release from the incredibly ...
