This is about the 3rd album I’ve heard by guitarist Greg Skaff, and I’ve loved every one. He’s got a great mix of earthy blues and lithe jazz, and serves it up well in digestible portions. This latest release has…
Month: July 2017
Chris Washburne: Rags and Roots
Trombonist Chris Washburne takes music from the nascent days of jazz and brings it up to the 21st Century in this intriguing mix of new wine in old wineskins. The team of Washburne with Alphonso Horne/tp, Christopher/cl, Andre Mehmari/p, Hans…
Jorn Swart: Malnoia
The unorthodox trio of pianist Jorn Swart, violist Benjamin Von Gutzeit and bass clarinetist Lucas Pino deliver equally unorthodox sounds on this Decalogue of originals from the pianist. Eerie bowings akin to a Haunted Mansion permeate pieces like “ Elefante…
Michael Morreale: Love and Influence
Michael Morreale plays mostly trumpet, but also the flugelhorn on this 2 disc collection of wonderful mainstream bop along with Jon Gordon/as-ss, John Allred/tb, Rony Regusis/p, Bill Moring/b and Tim Horner/dr. Linda Soria loans her voice on. the lovely “Just…
Quentin Tolimieri: Prepared Piano
The first time I heard the term “prepared piano” was on a Brian Eno album back in the mid 70s. I know that it’s been around for over a century, and John Cage did a lot of work with it.…
Larry Ham & Woody Witt: Presence
Woody Witt’s molasses thick tenor melds with Larry Ham’s soulful piano as the two lead a quartet with Lee Hudson/b and Tom Melito/dr through a collection of mostly originals. Of the covers, the team is relaxed and warm as Witt…
Anne Mette Iversen: Quartet +1-Round Trip, Ternion Quartet
Bassist Anne Mette Iverson leads two different bands with similar moods on these releases. The “Quartet +1” is made up of Iversen with John Ellis/ts, Peter Dahlgren/tb, Danny Grissett/p and Otis Brown III/dr. Material features Ellis’ fluffy tenor on the…
Andrew Hartman: Compass
Guitarist Andrew Hartman creates a pastoral album of impressionistic moods on this rich album with Chris Cheek/ts-ss, Ike Sturm/b and Zach Harmon/dr. The leader has a spacious and cool quality to his approach, working well with Cheek’s palpably rich tenor…
Jentsch Group Quartet: Fractured Pop
This cd-dvd contains guitarist and composer Chris Jentsch with his team of Matt Renzi/ts-cl-fl, Jim Whitney/b and John Mettam/dr in a studio and concert setting from 2009. At times, the band comes across as a jazz version of John Mayer,…
CHICO FREEMAN: STILL IN EXISTENCE AND SPEAKING, PART 2
WE CONTINUE OUR INTERVIEW WITH CHICO FREEMAN WITH A DISCUSSION OF THE CHANGE IN THE RECORD INDUSTRY THAT AFFECTED THE CAREERS OF MANY JAZZ ARTISTS. IN THE LATE 70s AND EARLY 80s YOU AND GUYS LIKE DAVID MURRAY PUT OUT…