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Trio Nueva Finlandia: Ha! - What's Going On?
by Robert Spencer
The members of the Trio Nueva Finlandia call their music “unique music" rather than “improvised music," for they note that “the word 'improvised' in general use has a taste of being something easy and cheap compared to composing." This is fine, for there's nothing easy or cheap about the music on Ha! - What's Going On?, ...
Ramon Lopez: Eleven Drums Songs
by Robert Spencer
Since Anthony Braxton recorded his groundbreaking For Alto in the late Sixties, all the instruments of the standard jazz ensemble have been the focus of solo albums. Peter Kowald has even recorded an acclaimed album of solo bass, and it is not alone as a solo bass recording. But rarest of all are all-percussion albums. The ...
John Allred: Focused
by Robert Spencer
The back of this disc carries a quote from Don Sebesky: “John Allred is a MONSTER! Very scary. I haven't been so impressed with a trombone player since Carl Fontana. John plays the way I always wanted to, but didn't have the chops. He can be in my band anytime." Sebesky is right. Allred has the ...
Les McCann: How's Your Mother?
by Robert Spencer
“How's Your Mother?" is a live date from 1967 that has lain in the can from then to now---not because there is anything lacking about it (quite the contrary!) but as a testament to the cornucopia of great music that was lying around everywhere in 1967, so that Trane's Interstellar Space (and around a hundred others) ...
Jon Mayer Trio: Do It Like This
by Robert Spencer
From the first note of this fine CD it's clear that as a pianist Jon Mayer's technique and sensibilities were forged within the great tradition of his acknowledged influences - chiefly, Wynton Kelly, Red Garland, and Kenny Barron. At the same time Mayer cannot be pigeonholed easily. He can show the drive of Kelly and the ...
Rahsaan Roland Kirk: A Standing Eight
by Robert Spencer
These two CD's include the last three albums recorded by this most extraordinary of extraordinary musicians: The Return of the 5000 lb. Man, Kirkatron, and Boogie-Woogie String Along for Real. They're particularly poignant because of the circumstances in which they appeared: 5000 lb. Man landed in the can only a short time before Kirk's debilitating stroke; ...
Michael Jefry Stevens & Mark Whitecage: Short Stories
by Robert Spencer
Many of the tracks on Short Stories start in a tone of regretful tenderness befitting the title of the first track, “Bittersweet." But there is a piquancy to the playing of both members of this duo, pianist Michael Jefry Stevens and multi-talented reedman (alto & soprano sax, plus alto clarinet) Mark Whitecage, that makes this more ...
Various Artists: Jazz a Saint Germain
by Robert Spencer
Jazz A Saint-Germain is designed to evoke the Bohemian atmosphere of Paris during the German occupation. A series of vocalists (including Angelique Kidjo, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Dee Dee's daughter China, Deborah Harry, and many more) turn in a series of highly original takes on standard English and French fare; most achieve a smoky, highly-charged feel, but ...
Marc Antoine: Madrid
by Robert Spencer
Marc Antoine is a gypsy guitarist, and this disc is evidence of his travels. “Sunland" sounds like a funky instrumental version of that old song, “If I Were a Carpenter, and You Were a Lady." Much more funk-based is the title track, “Madrid." “Dreamsicle" builds on a dreamy shimmer of synthesizer and Harmon-muted trumpet (courtesy of ...
The Joel Futterman / "Kidd" Jordan Trio with Alvin Fielder: Southern Extreme
by Robert Spencer
Drimala is a new label whose recordings can only be obtained at http:www.drimala.com. Futterman, who plays mainly piano, has recorded with the genre-bending Hal Russell; Kidd Jordan played contrabass clarinet for Hamiet Bluiett, but sticks to tenor sax here. Alvin Fielder is a sensitive and daring percussionist a la Sunny Murray. After a minute-long recitation of ...
