Carlo Wolff
Carlo’s Contributions
05/18/12 Albums
Discoveries
Josh Nelson
Pianist Josh Nelson seems the type who, as a boy, gazed at the stars, wondering what kind of life exists out there; his fifth album, with its evocations of early sci-fi and fantasy, bubbles with that sort of wonder and curiosity. It’s a supple disc spanning...
05/13/12 Albums
Floratone II
Floratone
A delightfully creative work, Floratone’s second effort presents soundscapes that trigger wonder and a drive to spot the allusion. Guitarist Bill Frisell and drummer-percussionist Matt Chamberlain turn Chinese in “The Bloom Is On” (don’t miss Jon Brion’s...
05/09/12 Albums
Oddyssey of Nostalgia
Mac Gollehon
The one original on this curiously fresh collection is the title track, a brisk, upbeat workout for brass ensemble sparked by bandleader Mac Gollehon’s cutting trumpet and Warren Smith’s driving yet airy drumming. The easy-breathing arrangement and the tune’s...
05/03/12 Concerts
Concert review: Cleveland's Tri-C JazzFest
Spirit and joy mark the 33rd annual event
04/13/12 Concerts
2012 Cape Town International Jazz Festival
Jazz and plenty of pop at this sold-out South African fest
04/12/12 Albums
Soul
Jeremy Pelt
This intimate, confident disc worms its way into your head. Trumpeter Jeremy Pelt’s sixth album is an understated affair showcasing supple songwriting, a persuasive way with a phrase and the expert interplay of the band he has led over his past four albums...
03/27/12 Albums
Per Sempre
Eddie Gomez Quintet
Bass player Eddie Gomez weaves a centered, pensive tapestry on this intimate, personal album. An exercise in empathy and implication, Per Sempre is deeply romantic and warm. The tunes, all melodic if not all equally memorable, span Gomez’s “Pops and Alma”...
03/20/12 Albums
All Ya Needs That Negrocity
Burnt Sugar
You have to stretch your vocabulary to parse All Ya Needs That Negrocity , the pointedly titled 12th album from Burnt Sugar the Arkestra Chamber. Burnt Sugar is the sprawling, tribal band Village Voice writer Greg Tate (on guitar, lyrics and laptop) and...
02/26/12 Albums
Route De Frères
Andrew Cyrille & Haitian Fascination
The core of this lucid, invigorating disc is the title triptych, a musical walk along the brotherhood road of Haiti, drummer Andrew Cyrille’s spiritual homeland. Paced by the burly baritone sax of Hamiet Bluiett and spiced by the pointillistic acoustic guitar...
01/10/12 Albums
Hearts Wide Open
Gilad Hekselman
Carlo Wolff reviews the Israeli guitarist's new release
01/10/12 Albums
Celestial Circle
Marilyn Mazur
Paced by the gallant, round piano of John Taylor, the austere mezzo-soprano of Josefine Cronholm and Anders Jormin’s space-carving bass, percussionist-composer Marilyn Mazur explores diverse territory on these pellucid 14 tracks. Each member of the band—also...
01/03/12 Albums
Goldberg Variations/ Variations (J.S. Bach/Tepfer)
Dan Tepfer
Carlo Wolff reviews Dan Tepfer's ambitious 'Goldberg Variations'
12/26/11 Albums
The Common Thread
Chuck Redd
Chuck Redd is a deft, subtle vibraphonist who surrounds himself with equally talented and experienced musicians. He’s the equivalent of a midlist author: no blockbuster but dependable and reassuring. The Common Thread is enjoyable for its skillful blend...
12/12/11 Albums
Labyrinth: Live Solo Piano
Denny Zeitlin
Carlo Wolff reviews Denny Zeitlin's solo piano release, 'Labyrinth'
11/17/11 Albums
Big Gurl (Smell My Dream)
Darius Jones Trio
Sibilance, onomatopoeia, drawing a fine if sometimes smeared line between the serrated and the silken—all figure into Big Gurl , the equally earthy and avant-garde sophomore effort from the Darius Jones Trio. Sparked by the sonically unpredictable alto saxophone...
11/14/11 Albums
Nights on Earth
Vince Mendoza
Vince Mendoza’s freshly textured Nights on Earth testifies to this Renaissance man’s ability to meld different musical cultures. “Everything Is You” is a Latin roundelay; “Lullaby” is grave chamber music; the brooding “Otono” is scalloped, Alan Pasqua’s...
E-mail
Share
RSS
Report