Guitartistry
September 2006 By David R. Adler
Joe Diorio Trio: Live
Mel Bay Records
Joe Diorio’s stature among musicians is undisputed, but his recordings are notoriously hard to find. Joe Diorio Trio: Live could turn out to be his most widely distributed album to date. It captures the guitarist live in San Diego in 1991, with Bob Magnusson...
September 2006 By David R. Adler
Vertical Clearance
Wide Hive
With sideman credits including Ray Charles and Ahmad Jamal, Calvin Keys of the Bay Area makes a strong showing on Vertical Clearance, his second release for the eclectic Wide Hive label. It’s an enigmatic mix of old- and new-school sounds, produced by Gregory...
September 2006 By David R. Adler
Holding the Center
Invisible Music
Mark Kleinhaut of Maine has four previous discs under his belt, including two with formidable special guests (Tiger Okoshi on Chasing Tales, Bobby Watson on A Balance of Light). This new album features Kleinhaut in a trio setting, playing 13 originals with...
September 2006 By David R. Adler
Dialogues of the Heart
Jazz Compass
In recent years, Larry Koonse of Los Angeles has appeared on fine recordings by Billy Childs, Charlie Haden and Bob Brookmeyer, among others. His father, Dave Koonse, has worked with the likes of George Shearing, Red Norvo and Dick Cary. The Koonses recorded...
September 2006 By David R. Adler
Most Folks
OmniTone
For all Pete McCann’s talent, he records infrequently as a leader. Most Folks is his first outing since You Remind Me of Someone in 2000. Not unlike his two previous discs for Palmetto, Most Folks consists of challenging, wide-ranging original material that...
September 2006 By David R. Adler
Django Reinhardt: Memorial
Empire Music Group
This two-disc collection is a worthwhile study of Django Reinhardt’s later period, focusing on 1947. A number of these 78-rpm sides are also available on the 1992 Verve/PolyGram collection Peche à la Mouche: The Great Blue Star Sessions 1947–1953. But the...
September 2006 By David R. Adler
Groove On Up
Savant
Melvin Sparks’ third album for Savant melds a greasy organ-jazz aesthetic with ’70s-style soul and R&B, although the opening “MyKia’s Dance” sounds like Grant Green sitting in with early Santana. Jerry Z and Paul Wolstencroft share organ billing; their churning...
September 2006 By David R. Adler
Jhaptal
Fresh Sound New Talent
Jamie Stewardson is a striking player affiliated with the New England Conservatory. He fronts an extraordinary quintet on his sophomore outing, with Tony Malaby on tenor, Alexei Tsiganov on vibes, John Hebert on bass and George Schuller on drums. This is...
September 2006 By David R. Adler
Colorfunk
Vinny Valentino
Vinny Valentino recently joined Steve Smith’s Vital Information and has four previous CDs as a leader to his credit. His latest features mostly original music by his Funky Colors Band, with Marshall Keys on sax, Baron Browne on electric bass, Joel Rosenblatt...
July/August 2006 By Mike Shanley
Euroland
Cool Springs
Normally heard as one-third of the David Becker Tribune, that group’s namesake guitarist takes the solo route on Euroland. With only a few exceptions, however, he doesn’t perform in solitude. Drum machines, guitar loops and synthesizers add to the atmosphere...
