Last year, he put out a hip little album focusing on flying, but this time around guitarist and composer PJ Rasmussen gives a tribute to the sea on a collection of nine tunes along with a post bop band with…
Author: George W. Harris
Braveheart: Motions
The trio Braveheart consists of Ted Crosby/reeds, James Meger/b and Omar Amlani, and this collection of five tunes consists of fairly free improves with a hint of framework. Crosby’s subtoned tenor gasps on the title track, while most of the…
Norma Winstone: Dance Without Answer
Here is the third release by the quiet and intimate trio of vocalist Norma Winstone and Glauco Venier/p and Klaus Gesing/bcl-ss. The opening instrumental title track sets the tone for deeply ruminating pieces, right up to the closing cover of…
Render unto Caesar…
Yes, it’s that time of the year. If I ruled the world, I would make Election Day April 16th, as people would vote MUCH differently if they had just finished paying their taxes. I’m not a conspiracy theorist, but it…
THE ROOT OF RANDY WESTON
Is he a pianist? Composer? Musical historian? Most likely Randy Weston is a mix of all three. His latest album, a collection of duets with tenor saxist Billy Harper summarizes Weston’s career in its title, The Roots of the Blues.…
JOE LA BARBERA: A PERFECTLY TIMED CAREER
IN ORDER TO BUILD UP APPRECIATION OF THE SURFEIT OF JAZZ TALENT IN THE CITY OF ANGELS, WE AT JAZZWEEKLY.COM ARE DEDICATED TO SPOTLIGHTING VARIOUS LOCAL ARTISTS WHO HAVE STEADILY BUILT UP A CAREER OF PUTTING OUT SOME OF THE BEST…
AAHHH! George Cables: Icons & Influences
Among pianists that were part of the halcyon days of Hard Bop, George Cables is one of the last men standing and carrying the torch. This latest session has him in mostly a trio format, which is what you want,…
Vijay Iyer: Mutations
Vijay Iyer is nothing if he isn’t ambitious. The pianist never seems to sit still, releasing music ranging from traditional trios to background sounds for war veterans’ dreams. This time out, his first for ECM, he brings in a string…
Jeremy Pelt: Face Forward, Jeremy
Trumpeter Jeremy Pelt has had an impressive career straddling the worlds of acoustic and electric jazz. His last few releases have been of the hard bop/modal variety, with “Men of Honor” and “The Talented Mr. Pelt” being high water marks…
The Who: Sensation-The Story of Tommy
Duke Ellington tried, but didn’t complete it; Terence Blanchard did one this year. The rock band The Who did it back in 1969. What was it? Mix opera with another genre, in this case with rock music. This just under…