Greg Robinson
Greg’s Contributions
02/04/03 Concerts
Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra and Maria Schneider Orchestra: As of Now
This Jazz at Lincoln Center event, subtitled "As of Now," showcased two of the most popular jazz big bands, both led by talented composer-arrangers. Schneider band opened with "The Worldly Master," and its dense harmonies spread across the entire band, moving...
September 2002 Overdue Ovation
Eddie Bert
Looking wiry and fit, 80-year-old trombonist Eddie Bert opened his own May 16 tribute/birthday concert at New York’s historic Town Hall, the site of his legendary gigs with Thelonious Monk (1959) and Charles Mingus (1962). Backed by the George Gee All-Star...
June 2002 Albums
Greenlight
Sarah Morrow
The music scene in New York City may be a shadow of its former self, but at least the jazz trombone scene is alive and well. Trombonist Sarah Morrow is a native of Columbus, Ohio, who lists her favorite trombonists as J.J. Johnson, Curtis Fuller, Slide Hampton...
June 2002 Albums
What's the Deal
Ulu
Ulu is a four-piece funk 'n' fusion outfit from New York City. The group's second album, What's the Deal?, captures it live in concert before a crowd of well-lubricated, college-age fans in Boston. Bassist Justin Wallace stitches minimal parts around David...
03/11/02 Concerts
Abbey Lincoln Live in New York
Jazz at Lincoln Center paid tribute to vocalist Abbey Lincoln by devoting three consecutive nights at Alice Tully Hall to the songs of the 71-year-old reigning jazz diva. For the Saturday-night, March 9 finale, the former Anna Marie Woolridge, looking elegant...
March 2002 Albums
Abundance
Gregory Tardy
On Abundance, his first recording for Palmetto, tenor saxophonist Gregory Tardy, a New Orleans native who has worked extensively with trumpeters Tom Harrell and Dave Douglas, strips away all frills from his playing, to focus on the music's inner core. From...
December 2001 Albums
Don't Shave the Feeling
Ez Pour Spout
The influence of John Zorn and of self-satirizing rock groups such as Cake come through in this set of instrumental covers of fairly pedestrian pop and rock material. Included are versions of Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir," Isaac Hayes' soul classic "Walk on By...
December 2001 Albums
Global Unity
Sam Newsome
Since his debut album, Sam I Am (Criss Cross, 1990), saxophonist Sam Newsome's musical conception has grown far beyond conventional bop to encompass a diversity of world-music styles. That transformation is in full effect on Global Unity. In the early '90s...
November 2001 Albums
Girl Talk
Vanessa Rubin
Cleveland, Ohio, native Rubin reinforces her status as a major jazz artist with her second CD for Telarc. This disc swings from start to finish, with drummer Lewis Nash and bassist David Williams providing the rhythmic pulse, and either pianist Cedar Walton...
October 2001 Albums
The Bopsmith
Louis Smith
This is an enjoyable album of first-class modern bebop. Trumpeter Smith, who, according to Mark Gardner's CD notes, has been recording for SteepleChase for 22 years, is a refined player who combines the jubilant flourish of Clifford Brown with the straightforward...
July/August 2001 Albums
Basics
Paul Bley
Seasoned solo pianist Paul Bley presents a program of 10 original compositions and one standard, Thelonious' "Monk's Mood." Each note rings with calm authority, the by-product of years in the bop and postbop trenches. His two hands, at times, sound as if...
July/August 2001 Albums
Fanfare and Fiesta
Hugh Ragin Trumpet Ensemble
Directing an ensemble comprised of four trumpeters-himself, Dontae Winslow, Omar Kabir and James Zollar-plus rhythm, Ragin offers an enjoyable treatise on the state of the modern jazz trumpet on Fanfare and Fiesta. As an added bonus, flugelhorn great Clark...
June 2001 Albums
Behind Open Doors
Laszlo Gardony
From the evidence of this CD, Gardony-born in Hungary, trained at Berklee and a jazz star in Europe-deserves to be better known here as well. A traditionally based pianist with a bluesy feel that lends a Kirk Lightsey-ish quality to some of his improvisations...
May 2001 Albums
A Fine Intensity
Elliott Levin/Tyrone Hill Quartet
Both Soul-Etude and A Fine Intensity come from an exhaustive two-day recording session held in the spring of 1999. With bassist Howard Cooper and drummer Ed Watkins forming the rhythmic base of this working group, trombonist Hill and tenor and soprano saxophonist...
May 2001 Albums
And Then Everything Started To Look Different
Joel Miller
Although there's nothing too earth-shattering about tenor saxophonist Joel Miller's And Then Everything Started to Look Different, the band sounds well-rehearsed, and it seems like all the participants got a chance to blow and have some fun at the session...
May 2001 Albums
Collage
Christine Jensen
On Jensen's CD, Collage, what might seem at first to be just another run-of-the-mill mainstream album with inept packaging is actually a carefully layered work that reveals new musical vistas with each listening. Jensen's sextet includes Miller and Jannuska...
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