The title of Armen Donelian’s new recording invites some guesswork until you flip the CD jacket and find a short note from the veteran pianist-composer: “Leapfrog is a game with no winners or losers. Everyone is in it for the fun. I like this approach to...
Is it possible to overstate John Basile’s flair for the understated? Odds are fans of melodically alluring jazz guitar will be tempted to do just that after giving Amplitudes a spin. This collection of mostly pop and jazz standards is quiet testimony to...
Sure, the fine print on this double trombone session is helpful. Pan right to hear Jay Ashby in the mix; pan left to hear Steve Davis. But after isolating the principal identities on Mistaken Identity with a little knob-twirling, just sit back and enjoy...
There are solo recordings and then there are solo recordings. On Tenderly , guitarist, arranger, composer and occasional vocalist Kenny Burrell takes care of everything but the catering. This is a casually paced, evocatively arranged tour de force collecting...
Fans of John Scofield’s ’90s recordings should find much to enjoy on Shot Through With Beauty , and not merely because the album features a new quartet led by guitarist John Stowell and saxophonist Michael Zilber personalizing two sharply contrasting Scofield...
With cover art that is bound to amuse fans of cartoonist Gary Larson, Cow Bop’s third release has a lot going for it even before the band kicks up some dust with the help of four special guest riders: pianist Roger Kellaway, saxophonist Allen Mezquida, trombonist...
Colorful and percussive, this Latin-jazz quintet session, featuring the seasoned pairing of flutist Dave Valentin and pianist Bill O’Connell, goes Hollywood now and then. The first stop is Charlie Chaplin’s “Smile,” with a multifaceted arrangement that sports...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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