Here’s a delightful cd/dvd of famed bassist Ron Carter demonstrating his other skill, that of a composer. Arranged by Rich DeRosa, these 10 pieces (eight on the dvd) are performed by Carter and the famed WDR Band, which includes an…
Month: October 2015
Richard Nelson Aardvark Jazz Orchestra: Deep River
Composer and arranger Richard Nelson does some clever work here with a jazz orchestra. He takes his Gil Evans-influenced mix of muted brass and reeds and teams them up with folk music form vintage Pre-WWII songs. So, a pice like…
JOHN MCLAUGHLIN’S BLACK LIGHT STILL SHINING
ONE OF THE WONDERFUL THINGS ABOUT JAZZ IS THAT WE ARE ABLE TO SEE ARTISTS PERFORMS THAT ACTUALLY CREATED A CERTAIN GENRE OF MUSIC. WITH BACH OR BEETHOVEN, WE ONLY HAVE SOMEONE ELSE’S INTERPRETATION OF WHAT THEY ACTUALLY SOUNDED LIKE.…
MARIA SCHNEIDER: A WALK IN THE FIELDS
THE OLD SAYING GOES, “YOU CAN TAKE THE GIRL OUT OF THE FARM, BUT YOU CAN NEVER TAKE THE FARM OUT OF THE GIRL.” WHILE MAKING A NAME FOR HERSELF, AND WINNING A FEW GRAMMY’S AND OTHER AWARDS ALONG THE…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Charlie Haden & Gonzalo Rubalcaba: Tokyo Adagio
The late Charlie Haden is still able to speak to us through his recordings. This is the second posthumous release of a duet session. Last year’s album with Jim Hall was a quiet knockout, and this one with pianist Gonzalo…
Buffa Battaglia Bodrao Mazzucco: Pow-Bee
The team of Andrea Buffa/ts-as, Stefano Battaglia/p, Firoenzo Bodrato/b and Dario Mazzucco/dr delivers subtle and swinging jazz a la the best of ECM with this tasty release. Buffa’s serene and moody tenor breathes wistfully over Battaglia’s gentle piano on “Corale”…
Arrigo Cappellitti/Furio Di Castri/Bruce Ditmas: Homage To Paul Bley
The title of this album by Arrigo Cappelletti/p, Furio Di Castri/b and Bruce Ditmas/dr is going to throw you off. While the title signifies a verbal salute to the famed Paul Bley, what comes across musically is a tip of…
Yelena Eckemoff Quartet: Everblue
Yelena Eckemoff spotlights her gentle and gracious touch as she leads a team of “Arild Anderson/b, Jon Christensen/dr and Tore Brunborg/ts through a collection of subtle originals. Brunborg’s tenor blows soft and fluffy along with Christensen’s brushes on material like…
Nick Finzer: The Chase
Trombonist Nick Finzer leads a sublimely swinging sextet through a collection of well crafted originals here. He teams up with Lucas PIno/reeds, Alex Wintz/g, Glenn Zaleski/p, Dave Baron/b and Jimmy McBride/dr and they glide easily with style and grace on…
Bill Warfield and the Hell’s Kitchen Funk Orchestrea: Mercy, Mercy, Mercy
Trumpeter Bill Warfield leads a fun loving and extroverted 8-9 piece band rotates with members, but never in attitude. You get a straight shooting take of the famed Zawinul title track, with some humming B3 provided by Jakub Zomer, while…