Guitartistry
July/August 2007 By Bill Milkowski
Vignola Plays Gershwin
Mel Bay Records
Frank Vignola brings his considerable chops to bear on a set of Gershwin classics, accompanied by spirited brushmeister Joe Ascione (his drumming partner in the Frank & Joe Show), bassist Tom Kennedy and rhythm guitarist Corey Christiansen. A fluid player...
May 2007 By Bill Milkowski
The Calling: Volumes One and Two
Strong Brew
Alameda, Calif., fingerstyle jazz guitarist Terrence Brewer launched his own independent record label with two separate self-produced CDs, each with a different rhythm section. A naturally gifted player with a beautiful, warm tone and a melodic penchant...
May 2007 By Bill Milkowski
3 Spirits
Bella Fierenzi
For the past few years, postbop guitarist Giglio has been presiding over a regular Friday night series of duets at 107 West restaurant on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Aside from fellow guitarists like Jack Wilkins, Paul Bollenback and Vic Juris, his duet...
May 2007 By Bill Milkowski
Action: Reaction
Reach
On this superb outing, seven-string jazz guitarist Steve Herberman exhibits a vast harmonic palette involving uncommon stretches on the fretboard along with a real capacity to burn on fluent single note lines. Alternating between a deft fingerstyle approach...
May 2007 By Bill Milkowski
It’s About the Music
Frozen Sky
Milwaukee guitarist Jack Grassel may be the best-kept secret in the jazz guitar community (although aspiring players may know him from an instructional column he contributed to Guitar Player magazine for many years). An astounding technician with remarkable...
May 2007 By Bill Milkowski
Gentle Rain
Sea Breeze
The veteran West Coast guitarist exhibits a warm, inviting tone, remarkably fluid technique and sure-footed sense of swing on this effortlessly swinging session with bassist Harvey Newmark, drummer Jack Le Compte and the late, great pianist Ross Tompkins...
May 2007 By Bill Milkowski
The Messenger
CAP
This Brooklyn-based organ trio outing is distinguished by Ed Withrington’s agile B3 lines and grooving left hand bass lines along with the supple, shifting, swinging undercurrent provided by seasoned drummer Andy Watson, a former sideman to Jim Hall. Moran...
May 2007 By Bill Milkowski
Lost World
Gemini Rising
Bay Area native and Berklee grad Eddie Reyes seamlessly melds authentic-sounding Spanish flamenco with Cuban bata and touches of Brazilian, Argentinian, Puerto Rican and Caribbean styles on his second outing as a leader. An accomplished player-composer-arranger...
May 2007 By Bill Milkowski
Brilliance: Live at the 55 Bar NYC
ArtistShare
First of all, kudos to Queva Lutz, proprietor of New York’s 55 Bar, for creating a haven for recent Berklee College grads and other emerging young jazz musicians from all over the globe to hang, absorb the scene and occasionally showcase their talents. Her...
December 2006 By David R. Adler
Unified Presence
David Gilmore may record infrequently as a leader, but this hasn’t diminished his significance on the cutting edge of the New York scene. His long-awaited sophomore release, Unified Presence, features Christian McBride on acoustic and electric bass and Jeff...
