Scott Albin
Scott’s Contributions
01/29/13 Albums
Thoughts on God
Eric Person
No matter one's religious inclinations, the music of saxophonist Eric Person's 12-part Thoughts on God suite will warm the soul and spark the spirit. Person's fifth release on his Distinction Records label, and his first orchestral work, this is probably...
01/25/13 Albums
Wah-Wah-- Torben Waldorff
Danish guitarist Torben Waldorff goes it alone on this his sixth CD, after sharing the front line in stirring fashion on his previous three releases with saxophonist Donny McCaslin. As Waldorff puts it, "For this album, I felt that I needed to take the other...
01/15/13 Albums
Chicago, Barcelona Connections-- Greg Duncan
The Chicago-based trumpeter Greg Duncan spent 2009 and 2010 in Spain, where he immersed himself in all things flamenco, and Flamenco Jazz in particular, a combination that has been explored by the likes of Chick Corea, Michel Camilo, Jerry Gonzalez, Chano...
01/08/13 Albums
Of One's Own-- Jeff Holmes Quartet
This is surprisingly the first small group release from Jeff Holmes, a very talented pianist, trumpeter, composer, arranger, and educator. Holmes' performing credits include Billy Taylor, the Paul Winter Consort, the New York Latin All-Stars, the New England...
01/02/13 Albums
Rewind-- Elizabeth Shepherd
Vibraphonist Peter Appleyard's 2012 Sophisticated Ladies CD showcased 10 talented Canadian female jazz singers, none of whom are named Diana Krall. One of the best is Elizabeth Shepherd, the two-time JUNO Award nominee who emerged on the Toronto jazz scene...
12/26/12 Albums
The L.A. Sessions-- Accidental Tourists
There have been a number of outstanding jazz piano trio releases in 2012, with some from familiar names like Chick Corea, Fred Hersch, and Steve Kuhn, and others from lesser-known pianists such as Markus Burger. The L.A. Sessions is the first of what Burger...
12/18/12 Albums
Deceiving Eyes-- RJ and The Assignment
The debut CD from RJ (aka Reginald Johnson) reveals a very talented pianist, composer, and arranger who bears close watching in the future. RJ grew up on Chicago's South Side, where his earliest musical schooling came in the church, before he went on to...
12/13/12 Albums
A Tribute to Benny Goodman-- The Julian Bliss Septet
Great Britain's Julian Bliss is a renowned classical clarinetist who even has his own line of "Bliss" clarinets available from Conn Selmer. At the age of seven, however, he became enamored with the music of Benny Goodman, and 14 years later in 2010 decided...
12/11/12 Albums
Eleven Stories-- Samo Salamon Trio
The eleven pieces that make up guitarist Salamon's Eleven Stories CD are best seen as the interconnected chapters of a novel, rather than a series of unrelated short stories. There's a similar ebb and flow, whether grounded or elusive, that runs through...
12/09/12 Community Articles
50 of the Top Jazz CDs for 2012
Here's this writer's list of 50 of his favorite CDs for 2012, in alphabetical order. There is not enough room for every worthy new jazz release heard during the year, not to mention those yet to be heard or those that, unfortunately, will never be heard...
12/04/12 Albums
Takin' It There-- Graham Dechter
It's apparent that the so-called sophomore jinx does not apply to Graham Dechter, for his second CD is one of the best releases by a jazz guitarist in 2012. Dechter replaced the talented Anthony Wilson in the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra at the age of...
11/27/12 Albums
The Greg Abate Quintet Featuring Phil Woods
Greg Abate is that rare multi-instrumentalist in jazz who is equally proficient on all his instruments, in this case being alto, tenor, soprano, and baritone saxophones, as well as flute. Although he's very active as both a performer and an educator, the...
11/20/12 Albums
Lady of the Island-- Andrea Brachfeld
Jazz flute aficionados should not overlook this CD, for Andrea Brachfeld is currently one of the best players of jazz on the instrument. Brachfeld has been best known as a Latin jazz musician since the '70's, when she became the first female flutist to play...
11/13/12 Albums
'Round Midnight-- Harry Allen & Scott Hamilton
Tenor saxophonists Harry Allen and Scott Hamilton have been prominent keepers of the mainstream/swing flame for decades now, Allen since the mid-'80's and the older Hamilton from the mid-'70's. Although both have recorded frequently and performed together...
11/07/12 Albums
116th & Park-- Greg Skaff
Skaff is no stranger to the guitar-organ-drums format, having previously recorded with Mike LeDonne and Joe Farnsworth (Ellington Boulevard, Blues for Mr. T). and George Colligan and E.J. Strickland (East Harlem Skyline). This time around guitarist Skaff...
10/30/12 Albums
Ellington Saxophone Encounters-- Mark Masters Ensemble
Having already recorded tributes to Gil Evans, Jimmy Knepper, Clifford Brown, Lee Konitz, Gary McFarland, and Dewey Redman, bandleader and arranger Mark Masters now takes on Duke Ellington from a unique perspective. The focus is on the Ellington Orchestra...
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ReportAbout Scott Albin
Scott Albin has been a contributing writer to Jazz Times and jazz.com, and has also written for Down Beat as well as such long-forgotten publications as Changes, Zygote, and The Herald. He was an active member of the old New York City promotional organization Jazz Interactions, and worked for many years in publishing in New York, where he haunted the many jazz clubs and lofts. Now he resides in South Florida, where opportunities to hear live jazz are to be cherished, not yawned at.