Briefs
April 2000 By Christopher Porter
Zenhouse
Bardo
Do you want to know how Zen Zenhouse is? Percussionist Jeff "Apt. Q-258" Sipe plays water on the trance-inducing "Departure." The four droning tracks that comprise the latest from bassist Jonas Hellborg and his partners in the sublime are heavily flavored...
April 2000 By Doug Ramsey
Wiggin' Out
HiFiJazz
Wiggins is at a Hammond B-3 organ rather than his customary piano in this reissue of a 1960 session. His companions are tenor saxophonist Harold Land and drummer Jackie Mills. Much of the time, Wiggins all but bursts with effusions of joy at volumes that...
April 2000 By Duck Baker
Sofia's Butterfly
TCB
Ben-Hur is a true student of bebop, as reflected in his exemplary choice of material by Gillespie, Monk, Powell and Barry Harris, and even more by what he does with it. He sounds like someone who has not only studied the language, but also listened hard...
January/February 2000 By Sid Gribetz
Exotic Places
Carpet Cat Records
Kobayashi leads a trio on piano and electric keyboards, with the strong presence of Baba Elefante on electric fretted and fretless basses. There's an imposing backbeat on drums and percussion by Steve Dixon. The group streams through a program of light-hearted...
January/February 2000 By Nancy Ann Lee
The Old Country
MA Recordings
After a catchy start on "Invocation," the world-influenced music from former Flecktone Levy (diatonic harmonicas, jew's harp, clavichord), Tadic (guitars, bass guitar), and Nauseef (percussion, drums) deteriorates into performances that are rudderless, timid...
January/February 2000 By Duck Baker
Psalm 122
Bvhaast Records
Breuker's music has certainly changed from his early days as a flipped-out reed-biter. For this project, the ten-member Willem Breuker Kollektief is joined by the eight-piece Trytten Strings and a huge choir for an effort that's much more in keeping with...
January/February 2000 By Patricia Myers
A Little More Than the Blues
J.A.Z.
Alto saxophonist Jeff Zelnick delivers a lot more than the blues via inventive changes and expressive solos. The seven-track debut CD features six originals and an upbeat treatment of "C'est Si Bon." Zelnick takes "Ten" into a deep groove to trade bop riffs...
January/February 2000 By Duck Baker
Spirits
Milestone
Some people just don't dig Konitz and some just do, but for the many who like his early work and pick and choose from the rest, this reissue is a must. Recorded in 1971, it's dedicated to Lennie Tristano, featuring several of the master's deliciously convoluted...
January/February 2000 By Patricia Myers
Plugged In
John Moriarty Productions
Clairdee is a classy singer with a supple voice and sophisticated style reminiscent of the late great ladies of jazz. On her debut album, the San Francisco-based vocalist delivers dynamic renditions of jazz evergreens including "Body and Soul," "Autumn Leaves...
January/February 2000 By Duck Baker
Osie's Oasis
Original Jazz Classics
Johnson is not only the leader and superb drummer on these two obscure dates recorded for Period in 1955, he also did the excellent arranging and much of the writing. Sidemen include Thad Jones, Benny Powell, Frank Wess, Ernie Wilkins, Dick Katz, and Milt...
