Bones
April 2003 By Harvey Siders
United Soul Experience
Criss Cross Jazz
Humor, warmth and vocal simulation are the essential elements of Wycliffe Gordon, and it takes three recent albums to show his breadth. The first, We (Nagel-Heyer), is a duo with pianist Eric Reed. Gordon is totally exposed, but he gets backing from Reed...
April 2003 By Harvey Siders
No Nonsense
Reservoir
John Fedchock, a former chief arranger for Woody Herman, has 16 of New York's finest sidemen, many of whom have recorded as leaders, and the way they respond to his charts for No Nonsense (Reservoir), they obviously relish his writing. The way Fedchock digs...
April 2003 By Harvey Siders
Thank You, Ted
Justin Time Records
The only way Rob McConnell knows how to play his valve trombone and write his arrangements is to saturate both with a sense of sardonic humor, a devil-may-care attitude that seems to say he doesn't take himself too seriously. Truth is, no one is more meticulous...
April 2003 By Harvey Siders
Chain Reaction
Pablo
All eight, previously unreleased selections on Chain Reaction (Pablo), provide a nostalgic snapshot of J. J. Johnson and Nat Adderley during their 1977 Yokohama concert and showcases the unique timbre of trombone with trumpet or cornet. The Japanese tour...
April 2003 By Harvey Siders
Shades of Light
SteepleChase
For Shades of Light (SteepleChase) the duo of trombonist Conrad Herwig and pianist Andy LaVerne chose some great tunes by great writers-the likes of Corea, Coltrane, Jobim, Ellington and Brubeck-but the results are not great. LaVerne's overactive left hand...
April 2003 By Harvey Siders
Harlem 2000
Nagel-Heyer
The most consistent aspect about Dan Barrett's Harlem 2000 (Nagel-Heyer) is the relaxed, Dixieland-tinged, John Kirby-type combo atmosphere. It's safe to say the sextet had a ball, and they obviously dig jamming with one another, sticking mainly to old chestnuts...
April 2003 By Harvey Siders
Systems Blue
Criss Cross Jazz
You can hear the influence of Carl Fontana on Steve Davis' fifth album for Criss Cross, Systems Blue. Uptempo tracks such as "Surrey With the Fringe on Top," "If I Love Again" and particularly the jet-propelled "My Old Flame" reveal a thinking man's trombonist...
