Mike Joyce
Mike’s Contributions
08/29/11 Albums
Recorded Live April 8, 2008: Koger Hall, University of South Carolina
Walt Weiskopf Quartet
This live set marks tenor saxophonist Walt Weiskopf’s first concert release, which may come as news to some listeners given his long and prolific recording career. But more significantly, the album is dedicated to—and animated by—the late drummer Tony Reedus...
08/14/11 Albums
Back in the Saddle Again
“Buck” Pizzarelli and the West Texas Tumbleweeds
Looks like guitarist “Buck”—better known as “Bucky” to city slickers—Pizzarelli couldn’t be happier out on the range, riding alongside a new sidekick, Jamaican-born jazz keyboardist and, yes, longtime country music fan Monty Alexander. Some matches are made...
08/09/11 Albums
The New York Sessions
Bill Allred
A sunny and swinging mood elevates The New York Sessions , which teams Bill Allred with his son and fellow trombonist John. Of course, you might surmise that joyful feel by glancing at the list of tunes performed by the Allreds and a cozy circle of friends...
07/24/11 Albums
Running Man
Avery Sharpe
Anyone who had the pleasure of hearing Avery Sharpe collaborate with McCoy Tyner in concert during their long association is aware of the bassist’s ability to move from the role of light-fingered accompanist to commanding soloist with great charm and deceptive...
07/15/11 Albums
No Need for Words
Sean Jones
Love is a dynamic and multifaceted force, as trumpeter Sean Jones sees it, so this concept album isn’t exactly one big bouquet of rosy ballads. Near the end of the disc, for example, you’ll encounter “Love’s Fury,” a performance that Jones intended to make...
07/03/11 Overdue Ovation
Gene Bertoncini: The Jazz-Bossa-Classical Connection
Profile of veteran jazz guitarist
06/11/11 Albums
Midnight at Nola’s Penthouse
Scott Hamilton & Rossano Sportiello
Given the extraordinary array of musicians he’s collaborated with over the years, it’s easy to endorse saxophonist Scott Hamilton’s choices when it comes to selecting session mates. This collaboration with pianist Rossano Sportiello represents one more savvy...
05/25/11 Albums
Sign of Life
Bill Frisell
Will Sign of Life generate nearly as much media coverage as guitarist Bill Frisell’s upcoming John Lennon tribute, due out in the fall? Fat chance. Still, Frisell’s second recording with his 858 Quartet deserves surplus recognition and exposure. Like its...
05/21/11 Albums
Underground
Lisa Hilton
There’s a quote in the press materials touting pianist Lisa Hilton’s Underground that’s borne out by the nine performances on the recording. “I don’t aspire to be Miles, Muddy or Monk,” says Hilton, “but I do reference these beloved composers.” And significant...
May 2011 Albums
I Remember Django
Howard Alden
I Remember Django scarcely qualifies as a hard sell. Guitarist Django Reinhardt’s legacy, after all, has long been a sweet spot for Howard Alden, the renowned seven-string disciple with a track record that speaks eloquently for itself. If Woody Allen hadn’t...
May 2011 Albums
Live From New York
Andy LaVerne & John Abercrombie
Just piano and guitar: Can Andy LaVerne and John Abercrombie go on meeting this way? If we’re lucky, they will. Their occasional alliances, in both duo and quartet settings, go back 20 years now and continue to produce quietly compelling programs blending...
May 2011 Albums
A Time for Love
Marcus Printup
On the cover of A Time for Love , Marcus Printup is pictured holding his trumpet in one hand while resting the other on the neck of a harp. Wondering what sets this collection of pop standards apart from innumerable other collections? Look no further. Nothing...
March 2011 Albums
Isolation
George Colligan
If the word “isolation” strikes you as a less than enticing title for a CD devoted to solo piano performances, some of the original pieces George Colligan has chosen for this collection—“Dead of Winter,” “Lonely Wind,” “Regret,” for starters—don’t exactly...
March 2011 Albums
A Beautiful Thing!
Pete Malinverni Trio
It’s hard to imagine someone not being moved in one way or another by the performances captured on A Beautiful Thing! If the rhythmically buoyant arrangements don’t do the trick on a purely physical level, then certainly pianist Pete Malinverni’s spiritual...
October 2010 Albums
El Encuentro
Dino Saluzzi
It’s no surprise that bandoneonist-composer Dino Saluzzi’s latest CD invites and rewards repeat spins. Devoted followers have come to expect nothing less. But the Argentine’s first live recording, El Encuentro (“The Encounter”), is particularly compelling...
July/August 2010 Before & After
Frank Vignola: Guitar Music From the Heart
Mike Joyce plays a variety of string things for guitarist Frank Vignola
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