If you can’t quite figure out whether clarinetist Gianluigi Trovesi and accordionist Gianni Coscia’s latest is a jazz or classical release, the subtitle offers a … Read More “Gianluigi Trovesi/Gianni Coscia : Frère Jacques—Round About Offenbach”
On Colin Vallon’s MySpace page, you can find a picture of the young pianist and his two youthful bandmates, bassist Patrice Moret and drummer Samuel … Read More “Colin Vallon Trio: Rruga”
Faithful, the third ECM album from the Marcin Wasilewski Trio-sixth if you count the records featuring trumpeter Tomasz Stanko-takes its name from a plaintive ballad … Read More “Marcin Wasilewski Trio: Faithful”
Is Skala a jazz record? The guy who made it, Mathias Eick, is certainly a jazz musician. The Norwegian trumpeter, age 31, improvises all over … Read More “Mathias Eick: Skala”
Stephan Micus, a 57-year-old German vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, has recorded for ECM, his country’s most prominent jazz label, since the late ’70s. Bold as Light, … Read More “Stephan Micus: Bold as Light”
Keefe Jackson, a saxophonist and clarinetist, seems to fit in well in his adopted hometown of Chicago, Ill. He’s even recorded several albums for that … Read More “Keefe Jackson Quartet: Seeing You See”
Tomasz Stanko began his career as an ECM recording artist with 1975’s Balladyna, a post-Ornette outburst that gives little hint of the kind of trumpeter … Read More “Tomasz Stanko Quintet: Dark Eyes”
As if to remind listeners of their downtown past, Human Feel begins its first new album in over a decade with an onslaught of Lower … Read More “Human Feel : Galore”
One look at David Witham’s recording credits and you can tell the guy’s from L.A. The pianist and keyboard player has recorded with everyone from … Read More “David Witham: Spinning the Circle”
In jazz, it seems, it pays to be in your face or achingly sweet. Veteran guitarist John Abercrombie is neither. Though more nimble than most, … Read More “John Abercrombie Quartet: The Third Quartet”
In the press materials for Streaming, his new album with pianist Muhal Richard Abrams and saxophonist Roscoe Mitchell, trombonist and laptopper George Lewis says the … Read More “Muhal Richard Abrams, George Lewis, Roscoe Mitchell : Streaming”
For most who have heard of him, Dave Burrell is inextricably linked to a time when chaos was king. The 66-year-old pianist plays on some … Read More “Dave Burrell : Momentum”
Despite being 17 albums into a career as leader, bassist Mario Pavone is perhaps best known for his stint with the Thomas Chapin trio, a … Read More “Mario Pavone Sextet: Deez to Blues”
You probably know Ray Russell’s playing even if you’ve never heard the guy’s name. The British guitarist, a pro since 1963, has added licks to … Read More “Ray Russell: Goodbye Svengali”
Vossabrygg, the latest from Norwegian guitarist Terje Rypdal, recorded live at the Vossa Jazz festival, is something of a tribute to one of jazz-rock’s most … Read More “Terje Rypdal: Vossabrygg”
Pavement is not the most obvious choice for an instrumental-jazz tribute. The ’90s-era indie rock outfit is known for many things–its lit-grad lyrics, its slack … Read More “James Carter, Cyrus Chestnut, Ali Jackson, Reginald Veal: Gold Sounds”
Like Dave Holland and Dave Douglas, two alt-jazz heavies who recently started their own labels, New York-based trumpeter Cuong Vu opts for the D.I.Y. route … Read More “Cuong Vu: It’s Mostly Residual”
Ah, the Bad Plus, subject of many a heated debate. Dozens of jazz fans want to know: Is the “controversy” over this New York-based piano … Read More “The Bad Plus: Suspicious Activity?”
The four Germans in self-described “horror jazz” outfit Bohren & Der Club of Gore aren’t so much jazz musicians influenced by rock as they are … Read More “Bohren & Der Club of Gore: Geisterfaust”
