Reviews
06/19/13 Albums By Michael J. West
As the Sea
hatOLOGY
Doubt not that As the Sea is a demanding recording. If you do, the eight and a half minutes “Part 1” takes to get anywhere will dispel you of that doubt quickly. There are pleasures to be found on trombonist Samuel Blaser’s four-part work; the finding is...
06/18/13 Albums By Christopher Loudon
Womanchild
Mack Avenue Records
When, nearly three years ago, Cécile McLorin Salvant emerged as the unexpected, and largely unknown, winner of the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocals Competition, her victory ignited the sort of hoopla that was far more common in the thriving jazz...
06/18/13 Albums By Thomas Conrad
Magnetic
Blue Note Records
Magnetic is Terence Blanchard’s return to the Blue Note label after an absence of six years. Its release coincides with the June 2013 premiere in St. Louis of Blanchard’s first opera, Champion . Magnetic is a small-group recording of uncommon richness, complexity...
06/17/13 Concerts By David R. Adler
Vision Festival 18: Milford Graves
A Lifetime Achievement showcase for the drum legend in Brooklyn
06/17/13 Albums By Jeff Tamarkin
Lenny White Live
BFM
The late ’90s was not the most inspired period of Lenny White’s long career. Despite aligning himself with musicians beyond reproach—some of whom join him on this live Japanese set from 1997—White had more or less set aside his authoritative powerhouse drumming...
06/16/13 Albums By Steve Greenlee
Grace
Savant
Tenor saxophonist JD Allen sounds different on Grace —less muscular, more introspective. But while he’s not as aggressive as he has been over his last several albums, he’s playing with just as much confidence. After four records in a sax-bass-drums trio...
06/15/13 Albums By Mike Shanley
Joey Calderazzo Trio Live
Sunnyside
This new document of live-action jazz did not originate at the Village Vanguard, or anywhere near New York City for that matter. Joey Calderazzo’s trio is heard stretching out at Daly Jazz in the relatively remote locale of Missoula, Mont. If this set offers...
06/14/13 Albums By Mike Joyce
From Here I See
MaxJazz
If you were to initially mistake From Here I See for a leaderless small-combo session with strings, chances are Ben Wolfe would be pleased. The bassist-composer isn’t merely in self-effacing form on this outing—he puts into play a group of top-flight musicians...
06/13/13 Albums By Mike Joyce
Uplift2 Higher
JLP
By the time Monty Alexander brings “When the Saints Go Marching In” to a chord-crashing close, it’s clear he won’t have to audition twice to be “in that number.” Other keyboard candidates may want to rethink things. Like Uplift , its chart-topping predecessor...
06/13/13 Concerts By Aidan Levy
Review: Tobago Jazz Experience
Jazz, world music and steel pan in a rum-soaked, boozy and laid-back atmosphere