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Luca Aquino: Lunaria
by Nicholas F. Mondello
Not very long ago, there was an interesting best-selling fiction book entitled Einstein's Dreams (Random House, 1992). In it, author Alan Lightman depicted what might have been the unusual dreams of a young Albert Einstein as he developed his Relativity Theories. Each short chapter covered time/relativity-related dreams of places where time went in reverse, stood still, ...
Jeff Rupert: From Memphis to Mobile
by Nicholas F. Mondello
Sound and swing. It seems that these two elements of the very DNA of jazz are sadly absent from much of what is offered up in some of today's recorded music. It might be smooth or contrived, but much that's heard doesn't seem in synch with the very essence of the art form. Happily, with From ...
Herb Alpert / Lani Hall: Anything Goes
by Nicholas F. Mondello
There is a very unique characteristic that permeates this CD from beat one throughout its entirety. And, given that this effort was recorded across a series of live performances, it makes trumpeter/vocalist Herb Alpert and vocalist Lani Hall's Anything Goes all the more special. That characteristic is intimate, and the result of that intimacy is joyous ...
Jeff Lashway: Reunion
by Nicholas F. Mondello
Throughout the decades, the bands of trumpet legend Maynard Ferguson were, by very nature, heavily brass and ensemble section oriented. Occasionally, Ferguson's pianists were given the opportunity to shine, launching into extended solo tune introductions or brief solos. Some of those pianists were (or would become) stars or leaders in their own right. They included Mike ...
Joey Pero: Resonance
by Nicholas F. Mondello
Citius, Altius, Fortius--faster, higher, stronger. That is the Olympic motto representing the philosophical and performance goals of its participating athletes. Incredible, fascinating, and tremendous are not the only the goals, but the results of phenom trumpeter Joey Pero's Resonance. This is a bravura musical performance of incredible musicianship, “virtu-artistry" and superior production values. ...
Etienne Charles: Folklore
by Nicholas F. Mondello
There appears to be a trend developing--and a positive one, whereby young jazz artists drive the future of their--and ultimately our--music by reviving the musical heritage of the past. And, by exploring and leveraging the fundamental power and beauty of that music, they create new and vibrant musical art. Certainly the most widely known of these ...
The Mike Vax Big Band Featuring Alumni of the Stan Kenton Orchestra: Sounds from the Road
by Nicholas F. Mondello
The traveling autobus--the road to the road--has frequently been used as a symbolic metaphor in movies, books, commercials and, of course, songs of all kinds. Bus travel seems to have an oddly romantic element. In the halcyon days of the barnstorming big bands, bus and car travel were the only direct ways to get to the ...
John Blount Featuring Dave Tucker and the New Big Band: Better Days Ahead
by Nicholas F. Mondello
The cover art on trumpeter John Blount's Better Days Ahead depicts glorious sunshine. Visually beautiful, it is most appropriate for this CD--which will probably help propel Blount, Dave Tucker and the New Big Band to great things and better days ahead. Blount spent decades as lead trumpeter and featured soloist with the U.S. ...
Brian Patneaude: Riverview
by Nicholas F. Mondello
Tenor saxophone players have a dilemma that may be seemingly unique to that instrument: a dilemma of sound. While every artist will strive for their unique, personal voice, the tenor saxophonist has to be haunted by the “you-know-it's-them" sounds of greats such as Lester Young, John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon, Stan Getz, and Michael Brecker. ...
The West Point Band's Jazz Knights: At First Light
by Nicholas F. Mondello
Decades ago, the great bandleader Stan Kenton created a spoken prologue to an album recording. It was entitled “This Is an Orchestra." In that brief monologue, which was interspersed with brief performance examples, Kenton detailed the individual and ensemble components, integration, and overall creative mix that “made" the Kenton Jazz Orchestra what it was.
