Starting with a zig-zagging trumpet’s blare to match the onscreen action of a canvas stroked repeatedly with colorful acrylics, John Scheinfeld’s documentary Herb Alpert Is… immediately … Read More “Herb Alpert Is… (Abramorama)”
In the two decades since the release of 1999’s Mambo Italiano, Milan-born pianist Stefano Bollani has become a sort of Renato-Carosone-meets-Ryuichi-Sakamoto figure, an all-purpose oddball … Read More “Stefano Bollani: Piano Variations on Jesus Christ Superstar (Alobar/MVD)”
It almost sounds like the setup to an old comedy routine: A jazz/rock keyboardist walks into a bar with an eclectic Grammy-winning producer and comes … Read More “Ben Sidran: The Ballad of Tommy LiPuma (Nardis)”
It hardly seems fair to lump two female vocalist/pianists whose work touches on jazz into one review. Norah Jones and Diane Schuur come from different … Read More “Norah Jones: Pick Me Up Off the Floor (Blue Note)/ Diane Schuur: Running on Faith (Jazzheads)”
Drawing nigh on 80, saxophonist/composer Roscoe Mitchell—an axe man who can blow high, hard flames or find blowsy elegance in the understated and the meditative—is showing … Read More “Roscoe Mitchell with Ostravská Banda: Distant Radio Transmission (Wide Hive)”
In his most recently acquired role as the keyboard-playing third of the Bad Plus, Philadelphia-based Orrin Evans put on his thinking cap and added large … Read More “Orrin Evans and the Captain Black Big Band: The Intangible Between (Smoke Sessions)”
The word “survival,” signaling viability tinged with ferocity for the fittest, is a perfect name for the label founded by Rashied Ali in 1973, operated until … Read More “Rashied Ali/Frank Lowe: Duo Exchange: Complete Sessions (Survival)”
At 78, Brazilian-born pianist, composer, and arranger Sérgio Mendes just might be ready for his closeup. Don’t get me wrong; Mendes has been a face for the breezily … Read More “Sérgio Mendes: In the Key of Joy (Concord)”
During his two years on the Riverside label (1958-59), smooth-faced, square-jawed son of the heartland Chet Baker was an end-of-the-Eisenhower-era dreamboat, and as soft-spoken a … Read More “Chet Baker: The Legendary Riverside Albums (Craft)”
There is rich history to the pairing of Norwegian saxophonist Jan Garbarek and British early-music vocal team the Hilliard Ensemble, history that resonates in every … Read More “Jan Garbarek/Hilliard Ensemble: Remember me, my dear (ECM)”
Drummer Dave King and bassist Reid Anderson have had an uproarious last 24 months. They lost their partner of 17 years in the Bad Plus, … Read More “The Bad Plus: Activate Infinity (Edition)/ Reid Anderson/Dave King/Craig Taborn: Golden Valley Is Now (Intakt)”
It took a while for the good Doctor to get his groove back. The turban-wearing Hammond organist with an ear for rubbery soul-jazz lent his … Read More “Dr. Lonnie Smith: Rise Up!”
A mystical collaboration with singer David Sylvian
Mostly Other People Do the Killing loves Pennsylvania, loves Ornette Coleman and loves poking fun at itself and the entirety of jazz. Maybe not necessarily … Read More “Mostly Other People Do the Killing: This is Our Moosic”
After covering the waterfront of jazz classicists George Shearing, Tadd Dameron and George Gershwin on his first record and conjuring energetic originals with the hard … Read More “Chris Byars: Jazz Pictures at an Exhibition of Himalayan Art”
At 38, Lillehammer, Norway’s Jacob Young is set to take on the loose-fitting crown of strum ‘n’ thrum king held throughout jazz history by Jim … Read More “Jacob Young : Sideways”
Once upon a deep, dark mood-Miles’ Kind of Blue, for example-an alto ax-man came calling. His name was Cannonball Adderley, a saxophonist whose exuberant zeal … Read More “Various Artists: Cannon Re-Loaded: An All-Star Celebration of Cannonball Adderley”
There’s the back story of Melody Gardot, the Philadelphia jazz folkie disabled in a car accident: she uses specialized seating, dark glasses and other distractions … Read More “Melody Gardot: Worrisome Heart”
It was as if a skylark had swallowed a bassoon that first moment singer/pianist Patricia Barber opened her mouth: a blues-hooting, nervously flitting bird with … Read More “Patricia Barber: The Premonition Years: 1994-2002”
