Pianist Danny Green leads a trio with Justin Grinnell/b and Julien Cantelm/dr that explores the sounds, rhythms and grooves of Brazilian music. He’s got a confident yet not cocky sound of his own; on most of the pieces saxist Tripp…
Author: George W. Harris
Baptiste Trotignon: Song Song Song
Here’s an interesting little disc from a French pianist that might pique your attention. Baptiste Trotignon mixes and matches his ivory talents between a regular trio (with Thomas Bramerie/b and Dre’ Pallemaerts/dr and duets & trios with various sympathetic vocalists.…
FRESH IDEAS WITH A MELODY: Torben Waldorff: Wah-Wah, Dave Phillips & Freedance: Confluence
One of the unstated problems about jazz per se is that it’s so much easier to get into jazz by listening to older, more established stars (and their older material) than it is to try someone a bit newer on…
Severson Jazz Quartet: Jumpin’ Java-Smooth Bebop Blend
Here’s a tasty little treat for guitar fans. Guitarist Rich Severson has a nice warm tone on his 6 stringer, and along with a warmly brewed team of Roy Carlson/b, Darrell Devaurs/key and Gary Newmark/dr, he fills a disc with…
Allen Vizzutti: Ritzville
Here’s a guy who shows what a wide variety of styles and sounds can come from one guy with a horn. Allen Vizzutti plays trumpet, flugelhorn and piccolo trumpet on this self produced collection of originals. As he says in…
Project Trio: When Will Then Be Now
These kind of albums that try to mix jazz and classical seem always to be a big risk, with the dangers seeming to outweigh the benefits. One good sign on this one is that the instrumentation of bass (Peter Seymour),…
Rita: My Joys
Israeli vocalist Rita (not sure of any last name) puts out a ton of popular music in the Middle East, and this recent release mixes Persian melodies with modern sounding instruments and arrangements to create an exciting blend of tunes.…
JOSHUA REDMAN’S COMPASS
In many ways, the life of a jazz musician is similar to the rest of us working stiffs. We start our careers ready to change the world, and somewhere along the path, we look back and wonder if the world…
MUHAL RICHARD ABRAMS: JUST FRIENDS
It’s almost impossible to imagine what the free jazz movement would have been like without the guiding hands of pianist/composer Muhal Abrams, who started the still active AACM which has been the breeding ground for such innovators as the Art…
Marquis Hill: The Poet
I like this guy! Marquis Hill plays trumpet, flugelhorn and writes the material as well. He leads a hip and hip hopping team of Christopher McBride/as, Justin Thomas/vib, Josh Moshier/p, Joshua Ramos/b, Makaya McCraven/dr and Juan Pastor/perc through some sleek…