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Emil Viklicky: Patriarch of Czech Jazz Piano
by Victor Verney
When most American jazz buffs think of the Czech Republic, they probably think of bassists George Mraz and Miroslav Vitous or keyboardist Jan Hammer. However, Europeans knowledgeable about the same topic probably think of Emil Vicklický, the acknowledged “Patriarch of Czech Jazz Piano." Known for combining the melodism and tonalities of Moravian folk music with modern ...
Baltimore Jazz Alliance: Baltimore Jazzscapes
by Victor Verney
Asked to name America's jazz hotbeds, most fans would mention New York, New Orleans, and perhaps Boston or Philadelphia. Midwesterners might insist on Chicago and Kansas City, while Left Coasters could be expected to lobby for LA and San Francisco. If this CD is any indication, Baltimoreans may be said to have a strong case for ...
Emil Viklicky: Cookin' In Bonn
by Victor Verney
Mention the Czech Republic to American jazz fans and most would likely think of George Mraz, Miroslav Vitous or Jan Hammer. However, these three musicians would almost certainly agree that pianist Emil Vicklický is the “Patriarch of Czech jazz," a title bestowed on him by general consensus. Without question, there remain lingering pockets of Americans who ...
Dave Liebman & Bobby Avey: Vienna Dialogues
by Victor Verney
Prominent jazz musicians from Bill Evans to Christian Howes have begun their musical careers with formal training in classical music. Others, like Duke Ellington and Dave Brubeck, have explored classical compositional form during the latter part of their careers. But few have taken on the challenge with the passion and commitment shown by Dave Liebman, as ...
Montgomery / Okada / Smith Trio: Bill Evans Songbook Vol. 1
by Victor Verney
In jazz, tribute performances like this one by the Montgomery/Okada/Smith Trio are considerably trickier propositions than those of rock 'n' roll tribute bands. The latter merely call for slavish imitation and are judged by how well they clone the original. In jazz, however, they are judged instead by how successfully an artist brings his or her ...
Mose Allison: Mose Allison Sings
by Victor Verney
At first glance, Mose Allison Sings might seem to be just another reissued jazz recording from the 1950s. Like most CDs of this ilk, it has been digitally remastered and has additional “bonus" tracks now possible without the space limitations of vinyl records. A cynic might use the term “old wine in new bottles" to characterize ...
Caribbean Jazz Project featuring Dave Samuels: Mosaic
by Victor Verney
Mosaic is the first studio album since 2003 by the Carribean Jazz Project, led by vibes/marimba specialist Dave Samuels. Drawing on a variety of Afro-Cuban, Venezuelan, Peruvian, Jamaican and other North American rhythms, this release features three different bands. On four tracks, Samuels leads a quintet with keyboardist Alain Mallet, bassist Boris Kozlov, drummer Dafnis Prieto ...
Pt. 1 - Grade School
by Victor Verney
“Perhaps it is a peculiarity of mine that... I have always preferred playing without an audience." --Bill Evans (1929-1980) I used to play the piano. Quite a bit, in fact--and I even got paid for it, sometimes. I started taking lessons when I was 11 years old, and ended up playing in rock 'n' ...
David Bixler: Call It A Good Deal
by Victor Verney
With his third album as a bandleader, David Bixler, a veteran New York sideman, consolidates his growing reputation as an accomplished, urbane band leader and composer in his own right. Since 1999, Bixler has been the lead alto saxophonist of the Chico O'Farrill Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra. (However, little of this element is detectable here.) After O'Farrill ...
88 Keys: The Making of a Steinway Piano
by Victor Verney
88 Keys: The Making of a Steinway Piano Miles Chapin Hardcover & Paperback; 144 pages ISBN: 1574671529 Random House 1997 Here's an intriguing trivia question: what's the most complex piece of handmade machinery in the world? Answer: a Steinway grand piano. This is the core premise ...
