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Article: Album Review

Keith Karns Big Band: An Eye on the Future

Read "An Eye on the Future" reviewed by Jack Bowers

by Jack Bowers
September 24, 2017

It's hard to know in advance exactly what to expect from a big-band album whose title is An Eye on the Future. Luckily, the horizon as leader Keith Karns sees it is rhythmically persuasive, harmonically alluring, acknowledges an indispensable bond to the past and swings like crazy. On this album, it's a tomorrow that also sets ...

Song of the Day

Don't Blink

September 22, 2017

Album: Don't Blink
By Unhinged Sextet
Label: OA2 Records
Released: 2017
Duration: 5:14

Article: Album Review

Unhinged Sextet: Don't Blink

Read "Don't Blink" reviewed by Mark Sullivan

by Mark Sullivan
September 4, 2017

When the members of the collective Unhinged Sextet gathered to record their first album Clarity (OA2 Records, 2015) it was the first time they had played together, despite long-standing mutual associations. Don't Blink continues to demonstrate the chemistry that characterized their first meeting. Once again the music is all original, with contributions from five of the ...

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I Remember Every Day

June 29, 2017

Album: Bicoastal Collective: Chapter Five
By Paul Tynan
Label: OA2 Records
Released: 2017
Duration: 8:11

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Riverbed

June 21, 2017

Album: Quartet Plus, Volume 2
By Mason Razavi
Label: OA2 Records
Released: 2017
Duration: 6:35

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Odd Times

June 20, 2017

Album: Distant Dreams
By Errol Rackipov
Label: OA2 Records
Released: 2017
Duration: 7:00

Article: Album Review

Paul Tynan & Aaron Lington Bicoastal Collective: Chapter Five

Read "Chapter Five" reviewed by Jack Bowers

by Jack Bowers
May 28, 2017

Chapter Five is the fifth recording by Paul Tynan / Aaron Lington's Bicoastal Collective, which derives its name from the fact that trumpeter Tynan lives in Nova Scotia, saxophonist Lington in San Jose, CA. What sets this CD apart from the others is that the Collective has morphed from a smaller version to a full-fledged eighteen- ...

Article: Album Review

Mason Razavi: Quartet Plus, Volume 2

Read "Quartet Plus, Volume 2" reviewed by Jack Bowers

by Jack Bowers
May 21, 2017

The “plus" in San Francisco Bay area-based guitarist Mason Razavi's CD Quartet Plus, Volume 2 is a front line consisting of trumpet, trombone and three reeds, which on the second half of the album more than doubles the size of Razavi's quartet. There are many ways that could be done. For example, the nonet tracks might ...

Article: Album Review

Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra: Invitation

Read "Invitation" reviewed by Jack Bowers

by Jack Bowers
April 8, 2017

Here's how to make sure a five-star big-band album receives a four-star review: assemble a group of the finest musicians within a stone's throw or two of the chosen locale, place them in a recording studio, hand them superlative charts to read --then add vocals. In this case three of same, pretty much undermining what is ...

Article: Album Review

Ben Markley Big Band, featuring Terell Stafford: Clockwise: The Music Of Cedar Walton

Read "Clockwise: The Music Of Cedar Walton" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan

by Dan McClenaghan
March 19, 2017

Pianist Cedar Walton (1934-2013) is one of the giants, as well known for his compositions and arranging as he is for his piano chair stints in Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, his steering vocalist Etta James to an Emmy Award for Mystery Lady: The Songs Of Billie Holiday, (RCA, 1994), and his prolific recording career, beginning with ...