Brass Tracks
July/August 2005 By Mike Shanley
You Brought a New Kind of Love
By 2001, Ruby Braff was not in the best of health, suffering from ailments that made it difficult for the 74-year-old cornetist to see, breathe or even move. Despite his physical limitations, and a tragedy that ripped apart the psyche of the country two...
July/August 2005 By Mike Shanley
Groove Station
Short Notice
Trumpeter Jim Cifelli has previously recorded straightahead jazz with his New York Nonet, so a title like Groove Station might make his latest seem like an attempt to cash in on some airplay with something a little, shall we say, lite. Don't believe it...
July/August 2005 By Mike Shanley
In the Cross
Criss Cross Jazz
It didn't convert this fallen Catholic, and at 72 minutes it could have been a little shorter, but there are moments during In the Cross that seem to channel some strong spirit-be it holy or rhythmic. Trombonist Wycliffe Gordon bridged the gap between gospel...
July/August 2005 By Mike Shanley
Que Viva Coltrane
Criss Cross Jazz
By casting the music of John Coltrane into a Latin-jazz context, Conrad Herwig (trombone) and Brian Lynch (trumpet) deserve credit for what they don't do as much as what they accomplish. For starters, there's no "Giant Steps," "Impressions," "My Favorite...
July/August 2005 By Mike Shanley
24/7
Nagel-Heyer
Brian Lynch recorded 24/7 following a three-week European tour, by which time the trumpeter's quintet was a well-oiled machine. The theme of "210 Centre St." contains some clipped rhythm changes, and all five players chew them up and create something thoughtful...
July/August 2005 By Mike Shanley
Throwback
Basin Street Records
Not to give props to us music critics, but when artists write their own liner notes the results can come off as vague, obtuse or just plain hyperbolic. In his notes for Throwback, trumpeter Kermit Ruffins takes four pages to explain how he and tuba man Philip...
July/August 2005 By Mike Shanley
Live: Volume Four
HighNote Records
As much as I love box sets, especially those with historical liner notes and essays, sometimes they can seem like too much of a good thing. This occurred to me while poring over Live: Volume Four, a 1981 recording of Woody Shaw's quintet at San Francisco...
July/August 2005 By Mike Shanley
Equilibrium
Criss Cross Jazz
It's high time more people start taking notice of Alex Sipiagin. With all the understandable buzz surrounding the Dave Holland Big Band, perhaps listeners will remember the name of the Russian-born guy in the trumpet section. Maybe the more adventurous types...
July/August 2005 By Mike Shanley
Live at Birdland NYC
Jazzed Media
Although the disc credits leadership to both Marvin Stamm (trumpet) and Ed Soph (drums), the opening stage announcement introduces the "Marvin Stamm Quartet." Maybe that's why Soph sounds so aggressive in his opening solo during track two, "Samba du Nancy...
July/August 2005 By Mike Shanley
What Now?
CAM Jazz
Kenny Wheeler's flugelhorn tone sounds so rich and warm that it could sustain interest without any accompaniment. Which means that the lack of a drummer on What Now? is only noticed by stepping outside of the textures of the music-and what's the point of...
