Carlo Wolff
Carlo’s Contributions
05/25/11 Albums
Johnny Mandel: The Man and His Music
Johnny Mandel
How fitting that Johnny Mandel, 84 when he squired this set recorded at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, showcases drummer Sherrie Maricle and her 15-piece, all-female DIVA Jazz Orchestra. This is an informal, delightfully live retrospective spanning Mandel’s work...
May 2011 Albums
Rockets on the Balcony
Omer Klein
Dread and beauty coexist on Israeli-born pianist Omer Klein’s third disc, a musical voyage replete with both Weltschmerz and chutzpah. The haunting cover image—“Rockets,” by Israeli artist Dafna Ilan—merges glimpses of Berlin in the 1930s and a contemporary...
April 2011 Albums
As You Like It
BANN
While BANN is decidedly a jazz group, it’s also one that flirts with fusion and occasionally hints at rock. Tenor saxophonist Seamus Blake, bassist Jay Anderson, guitarist Oz Noy and drummer Adam Nussbaum—“BANN” combines their surname initials—know their...
April 2011 Albums
Perpetual Motion
Donny McCaslin
The protean tenor saxophonist Donny McCaslin touches down on numerous musical platforms on this bristling disc. There’s his probing, modernist “Five Hands Down,” the squirmy space-funk of “Memphis Redux,” and “Firefly,” a deep, pensive cut that begins as...
April 2011 Albums
European Quartet Live
Toots Thielemans
The terminally cool, helplessly passionate harmonica icon Toots Thielemans makes beautiful music on this collage of European performances from 2006, 2007 and 2008. The tunes span a ravishing update of Gershwin’s “Summertime,” a haunting version of Monk’s...
March 2011 Albums
The Man With the Hat
Grace Kelly/Phil Woods
A Boston-based prodigy on alto saxophone, Grace Kelly plays just fine with the best, holding her own and then some. In 2008 she teamed up with alto saxophonist Lee Konitz on GRACEfulLEE . Her current soulmate is Phil Woods, the legendary alto man who will...
March 2011 Albums
Convergence
Lynne Arriale
Lynne Arriale is a powerful pianist with a strong melodic sense and a taste for well-built pop tunes. Sparked by remarkable bass and oud player Omer Avital, tensile, tasteful drummer Anthony Pinciotti and Bill McHenry, a tenor saxophonist who can be broad...
March 2011 Albums
Power Play
Ralph Bowen
Ralph Bowen is an assured saxophonist and versatile composer who clearly enjoys spontaneous conversation with his mates. Hear such chatter on “The Good Shepherd,” as Bowen and bassist Kenny Davis race one another, Bowen elongating the melody as Davis furiously...
March 2011 Albums
50 Miniatures for Improvising Quintet
Erik Friedlander
Jewish philosophy, religious belief and mathematics buttress this startling CD, a collection spanning tune, snippet, melody and outburst. Inspired by the 14th letter of the Hebrew alphabet, it consists of seven groups of seven pieces, capped by a standalone...
March 2011 Albums
Live at the Dirty Dog
Ernie Krivda and the Detroit Connection
A big fish in the small jazz pond that is Cleveland, Ernie Krivda is a fiery proponent of accessible, bop-heavy jazz. The latest CD from the prolific tenor sax master finds Krivda in illustrious Detroit company: the legendary minimalist pianist Claude Black...
March 2011 Albums
The Strongest Love
Gregory Tardy
On this, his first CD after a three-year sabbatical from performing, Gregory Tardy offers up a set of devotional pieces along with one secular standard, Billy Strayhorn’s “A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing.” Unlike the music of, say, latter-day Coltrane, these...
January/February 2011 Albums
Silver Pony
Cassandra Wilson
Carlo Wolff reviews new album from singer Cassandra Wilson
January/February 2011 Albums
Grace
MIchael Dease
The buttery, assured trombonist Michael Dease is at home with everything from classic jazz to frantic bop to Brazilian samba. His fourth album as a leader finds him in fine company, with a rhythm section of pianist Cyrus Chestnut, bassist Rufus Reid and...
12/10/10 Albums
Reunion
Hadley Caliman & Pete Christlieb
This was Hadley Caliman’s last recording before his death of liver cancer in September. Recorded with his old friend and fellow tenor saxophonist Pete Christlieb in November 2009, it finds Caliman in high spirits and full energy. It’s a very good, mainstream...
12/10/10 Albums
Check the Box
Rebecca Coupe Franks
A moderately engaging blend of instrumentals and vocals, Coupe Franks’ vocal debut works best when the leader goes Latinate and uptempo. “Exposure” and “Exposure Duo,” which bracket this well-meaning disk, demonstrate how Coupe Franks’ trumpet prowess exceeds...
12/10/10 Albums
The Two Faces of Janus
Jason Robinson
Tenor saxophonist Jason Robinson marries intellect to sweat, brains to bawdiness, narrative to sidetrack, straight line to detour, familiarity to surprise—the dualities peppering this long, exciting disk go on. The tunes shift meter, texture, and voice...
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