Here are a couple releases that display the polar opposites of what a large jazz band can accomplish. Pianist/conductor/composer Frank Carlberg leads this mini-big band through seven outside of left field originals. The material consists of songs that have meandering…
Author: George W. Harris
Candy Dulfer: Crazy, Citizen Rhythm: Of The People, By The People, For The People
How do jazz artists try to make the music more accessible? Here are a couple of attempts. What do you emphasize? What do you give up? Is this compromise, simply audio entertainment, or is it still an artistic vision? Alto…
Josh Ginsburg: Zembla Variations, Alex Goodman: Bridges
Here are a couple of releases by younger artists that show a bright future for jazz. Both artists have an exceptional compositional quality to themselves, and are able to mix harmony, melody and space for improvisation in clever and intriguing…
Hendrik Meurkens: Live at Bird’s Eye
This guy Hendrik Meurkens puts out some of the best Brazilian music these days. I’ve heard about 5 releases from the vibe/harmonica player, and not one of them is less than exemplary. This is the first I know of that…
Andrea Marcelli Trio featuring Thomas Clausen: Sundance
Sometimes, when listening to a record for the first time, I like to play a simple game. Without checking the liner notes, and just by listening to the music, I try to figure out who the leader in the band…
OH YEAH!!! Charles Mingus: The Complete Columbia & RCA Albums Collection
Before hearing of Charles Mingus, the only jazz I had been exposed to was Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington and Count Basie. One Saturday morning, I go visit my friend Bob, who was slowly educating me on the finer points of…
Natalie Cressman & Secret Garden: Unfolding
Lesson #1: Don’t judge a book by its cover. She looks like someone who’s going to be doing Janice Ian covers, and the name of the group (Secret Garden) just oozes of doe-eyed female “feelings” and “relationships.” Well, pop in…
Julie Andrews and Carol Burnett: The CBS Television Specials, Stephanie Nakasian with The Harris Simon Trio: Show Me The Way, Susan Arioli featuring Jordan Officer: All The Way
Singers from the past and present… At one time, Julie Andrews was the queen of the movie screen, with iconic performances in musicals like “Mary Poppins” and “The Sound of Music.” Not to mention, she was the star of the…
Jeremy Long: In Suspension, John Yao Quintet: In The Now
Minnesota Jazz? You betcha! Ya gotta do something to hide from the frozen tundra for 6 months out of the year besides eating Lutefisk. Saxist Jeremy Long fronts a trio with Hammond hammerer Steven Snyder and drummer Jason Tiemann through…
NY Jazz Initiative: Mad About Thad
Trumpeter Thad Jones’ career can easily be divided into 3 major stages: 1) Charles Mingus discovery of a post bopping trumpeter par excellence who put out a handful of very snazzy small group sessions, 2) big band trumpeter for Count…