Ron Wynn
Ron’s Contributions
06/17/12 Albums
Nocturnal
Chris Taylor
Guitarist Chris Taylor’s debut release as a leader won’t endear him to purists. Not only does it feature electronic instrumentation, but many pieces include synthesized snippets and sampled beats or vocalized chants. There’s also no working band. Instead...
05/14/12 Albums
Trip the Light Fantastic
Hal Galper Trio
Pianist Hal Galper’s latest release incorporates influences and approaches from multiple camps, a reflection of the versatility he displayed during lengthy stints with Chet Baker and Phil Woods. But it’s a sign of his growth as a player that he does it in...
May 2011 Albums
Sides, Colors
Roberta Piket
Thematic diversity is the most intriguing aspect of pianist, bandleader, composer and arranger Roberta Piket’s latest release, Sides, Colors . She alternates between trio and large-group settings, and blends cuts that accent her acoustic piano playing with...
May 2011 Albums
The Dancing Monk
Eric Reed
Pianist Eric Reed has a striking, identifiable style that is expressive and swinging yet can also be lyrical or introspective. Whether part of Wynton Marsalis’ band or working with great singers (Cassandra Wilson, Dianne Reeves) and jazz giants (Benny Carter...
May 2011 Albums
Cerulean Landscape
Jason Robinson and Anthony Davis
Before multi-instrumentalist Jason Robinson became one of the most respected soloists and bandleaders in jazz’s experimental wing, one of his professors was Anthony Davis, the composer and pianist who has established himself in jazz, classical and avant...
May 2011 Albums
To Hear From There
Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet
As we’ve come to expect from trombonist/bandleader Wayne Wallace, the 11 selections on To Hear From There spotlight multiple rhythms, styles and eras within the framework of Latin jazz. Interestingly, Wallace’s compositions tend to be more exciting than...
April 2011 Albums
Love Stories
Bill Easley
Though the word “virtuoso” is almost as overused as “genius” when applied to musicians, Bill Easley’s abilities on multiple saxophones and clarinets, in styles extending from swing and hard bop to R&B and pop, have proven that designation accurate. But on...
April 2011 Albums
Lou’s Idea
Louis Hayes Jazz Communicators
The first version of the marvelous drummer Louis Hayes’ Jazz Communicators was only together a short time (1967-68), but that unit included two legendary players in tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson and trumpeter Freddie Hubbard. The latest edition’s pedigree...
April 2011 Albums
The Talented Mr. Pelt
Jeremy Pelt
There hasn’t been any orchestrated campaign boosting the profile of trumpeter Jeremy Pelt, but in little more than a decade after his arrival in New York he’s generated considerable excitement. His group’s latest recording comprehensively demonstrates why...
12/10/10 Albums
East-West Trumpet Summit
Ray Vega & Thomas Marriott
This Ray Vega/Thomas Marriott dual trumpet release emphasizes collective interaction, cohesive ensemble presentation and the spirit of teamwork embodied in the title, though there are also plenty of times during the eight songs where differences in style...
11/29/10 Albums
Alive and Kicking
Organissimo
Recorded live last year at WKAR-TV's Studio A at Michigan State before a very supportive crowd, the trio Organissmo's new disc pays homage to the tradition of bluesy, funky soul jazz without becoming a strict retro or tribute project. Organist Jim Alfredson...
September 2010 Albums
Roman Nights
Tom Harrell
Trumpeter Tom Harrell’s often beautiful, always rigorous solos and outstanding writing are the main strengths of his latest release on HighNote, Roman Nights . The album also displays the various influences that have been integrated into his work, from Latin...
September 2010 Albums
For the Love of You
Joe Locke
Vibraphonist Joe Locke has done many intriguing and robust mainstream jazz dates during his career, discs with plenty of swinging, decisive solos, intense pieces and inventive, intricate arrangements. But his latest release, For the Love of You , hearkens...
April 2010 Albums
The Way Of The World
Mose Allison
Since the late ’50s, Mose Allison’s distinctive approach has combined the vocal passion of a blues musician with a bop pianist’s harmonic flair and a country performer’s storytelling acumen. But until equally idiosyncratic producer Joe Henry lured him back...
April 2010 Albums
A Quiet Time
Ahmad Jamal
Throughout six decades on the jazz scene, pianist Ahmad Jamal has proven it’s possible to be a precise, restrained soloist without sacrificing soul or artistry. Perhaps the lone negative when it comes to his music is familiarity, since anyone remotely knowledgeable...
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