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Wally Schnalle: The Suit
by Stephen Latessa
"The Suit," drummer Wally Schnalle writes in the liner notes to his new album of the same name, “is simply a metaphor for a myriad of musical constraints such as: idiom, genre, common practice, expectations, bag, style, and convention. Each of these, and more, I find can impose severe limitations on creativity. And so the straight ...
Howard Leshaw: Shadow Song
by Stephen Latessa
Shadow Song is by and large a mellow, reflective album. Yet there are moments when a more searching, restive sound emerges, transporting Howard Leshaw's quartet to another level of intensity and interplay. Tenor saxophonist Leshaw, who also happens to be a world-class klezmer clarinet player, composed the album's seven songs. The opening track, “Sayief, ...
Richard Underhill: Tales From The Blue Lounge
by Stephen Latessa
Tales From The Blue Lounge is Canadian alto saxophonist Richard Underhill's debut solo album and the winner of the 2003 Juno Award for Jazz Album of the Year. After a long and winding career that has included membership in the eclectic Shuffle Demons and the electronica-based Astrogroove, this disc of ten original compositions finds Underhill exploring ...
Uptown 5: Uptown Swing
by Stephen Latessa
In the press materials accompanying Uptown Swing, trombonist Jeff Williams describes the Uptown 5 as “a swing quintet playing mainly Basie and Basie influenced music utilizing the enormous and under-used sound of the trombone and tenor saxophone. The description is certainly true, as far as it goes, but it leaves out the palpable sense of joy ...
Bob Marbach: Out At Night
by Stephen Latessa
Keyboardist Bob Marbach's debut EP release, Out At Night, is a trio set featuring Jon Mele on drums and Toshi Someya on bass. The program features four original compositions by Marbach along with a cover of Sonny Rollins' “Pent Up House. The album finds the trio locked in series of dark, soulful grooves. Marbach ...
Luis Munoz: Vida
by Stephen Latessa
Vida is the latest offering from Costa Rican percussionist and composer Luis Muñoz. The music within is lush and inviting, gliding gracefully over an almost constantly moving stream of bubbling percussion. Throughout, Muñoz impresses as much with his arrangements and orchestrations as he does with his instrumental prowess and compositions. With a tight, multi-part ...
Sam Arlen: Arlen Plays Arlen
by Stephen Latessa
Arlen Plays Arlen is a celebration of the music of Harold Arlen recorded by his son, tenor saxophonist Sam Arlen, released during the centennial year of the legendary composer's birth. Comprised of performances by two big bands and one smaller, more intimate ensemble, the record is brassy, exuberant, and then unexpectedly tender--much like Arlen's songs.
Devere Pride Trio: ...As In A Morning Sunrise
by Stephen Latessa
...As In A Morning Sunrise is a relaxed set of easy and melodic tunes that lightly swing. The Devere Pride Trio, which consists of Pride on bass, Steve Ellington on drums, and Jean-Yves Jung on piano, plays with an easygoing casual rapport that comforts the listener even as the band delves into some truly challenging material ...
Jeff Baker: Monologue
by Stephen Latessa
Monologue is not the most appropriate title for vocalist Jeff Baker's followup to Baker Sings Chet. To his credit, Baker cedes plenty of the spotlight to his band. The result is far more conversational than its title would lead one to believe. Singers seem to fall into one of two categories. The first is ...
Chris Winters: Impressions
by Stephen Latessa
The Blujazz web site categorizes guitarist Chris Winter as a “hybrid improvisational artist, and indeed, there are strains of blues, soul, and funk to be found alongside the jazz elements on Impressions. The music, composed by Winters, is smooth, assured, and flowing. Throughout, Winters proves to be a more than able technician. He plays ...
