Briefs
May 2000 By Patricia Myers
Now Is the Time
Stet
The debut recording of San Francisco singer Barbara Morrison conveys the passionate intensity of long-experienced vocalists. Backed by pianist Marshall Otwell, bassist Stan Poplin and drummer Steve Robertson, plus guest horn players, she opens with brief...
May 2000 By Bill Bennett
A World for Her
Criss Cross Jazz
This is straightahead salve for the soul. Pianist Hazeltine and bassist Peter Washington form the core of these sessions; they are joined by drummer Joe Farnsworth on three tracks, one of them featuring vibist Steve Nelson, and on the remaining five tracks...
May 2000 By Harvey Siders
Gigs: Reminiscing in Music
The ghost of Bix Beiderbecke looms large over these sessions-and rightly so. Ecklund's latest book is devoted to Bix's solos, accounting for Peter's explosive cornet entrances on most of the tracks. Like Bix, Ecklund makes a rhythm section come alive. He...
May 2000 By Peter Margasak
Actual Proof
CIMP Recordings
Few contemporary trumpeters have reconciled strong melodic leanings with extended experimental impulses as convincingly as Sun Ra alum Ahmed Abdullah. His playing always retains a razor-sharp focus and a keen sense of scale; even at his most explosive, Abdullah...
May 2000 By Owen Cordle
Homecoming
Ticee
Jensen, retired lead trombonist with the U.S. Navy Commodores, has chops to burn, but he also has good taste and great feeling for the music. This is a boppish session with bassist Steve Gilmore (swinging and superb) and pianist Hod O'Brien (ditto). Drummer...
May 2000 By Harvey Siders
Just One of Those Things
A Records
Forget the Sinatra tribute; he sang these tunes, but there's no musical link, no legacy of phrasing. If Sudduth, an excellent tenor saxophonist from San Francisco, owes a debt, it's emotional, and comes through on haunting ballads, such as "Goodbye" and...
May 2000 By Nancy Ann Lee
Volume 1: The Book of Norman
A to Z
Berklee professors Norman Zocher and Abigail Aronson generate an attention-grabbing debut showcasing Zocher's provocative compositions. Phrasing smoothly and intelligently in the tradition of John Scofield, Pat Metheny and John Abercrombie, guitarist Zocher...
April 2000 By Harvey Siders
Seems Like Old Times
Fresh Sound Records
No wonder jazz-loving Clint Eastwood chooses Lennie Niehaus to score his major films. Small wonder Doug Ramsey's accompanying insightful essay focuses on the ESP among Niehaus and his fellow sax fiends, Bill Perkins and Jack Nimitz, all three alumni of Kenton...
April 2000 By Bill Shoemaker
Wake Up Call
Leo Records
Comprised of four extremely talented musicians-pianist John Wolf Brennan, bassist Daniele Patumi, violinist Tscho Theissing and French horn player Arkady Shilkloper-Pago Libre plays music that's close enough for chamber jazz. Theissing and Shilkloper especially...
April 2000 By David Franklin
Entropy
Amosaya
The annotator's tongue-in-cheek put-down announces up front that this recording will be different. Its distinctiveness becomes evident as one progressively notices that the entire CD, regardless of the tune being played, seems to be a series of improvised...
