David Franklin

Tenor saxophonist Harry Allen can evoke Lester Young disciples like Stan Getz or Zoot Sims one minute and the heavier swing-era tenorists the next. On … Read More “Harry Allen: Hits by Brits”

When veteran trumpeter-bandleader Maynard Fergu-son entered the recording studio in July 2006 with a stellar group of Big Bop Nouveau Band alumni, he had no … Read More “Maynard Ferguson and His Big Bop Nouveau Band : The One and Only Maynard Ferguson”

Eleven out of the 16 musicians on this live recording by the Taylor/Fidyk Big Band are members of the U.S. Army Blues, including co-leader and … Read More “The Taylor/Fidyk Big Band: Live at Blues Alley”

Any aficionado of muscular big-band music should be thrilled by this two-CD set, but Stan Kenton fans will be overjoyed. The 15 tracks, most previously … Read More “Various Artists: Kenton Portraits: A Loving Salute”

Longtime Chicago trumpeter-flugelhornist Bobby Lewis enjoys a well-deserved reputation as a lyrical and swinging soloist, and his eighth CD reinforces that assessment. With a third … Read More “Bobby Lewis: Instant Groove”

Old School, New Lessons presents live performances by saxophonist Bob Mintzer’s large ensemble of top-flight New York musicians augmented by his bandmates the Yellowjackets on … Read More “Bob Mintzer Big Band: Old School, New Lessons”

Listening to Nick Bisesi’s second recording as a leader, one would hardly suspect that the saxophonist recently switched to tenor after years as an altoist. … Read More “Nick Bisesi: Gemini”

Saxophonist Dave Liebman and pianist Phil Markowitz have recorded 10 CDs together, and they’ve worked as a duo since the late 1990s. Since they are … Read More “David Liebman and Phil Markowitz: Manhattan Dialogues”

Rosario Giuliani’s third CD for Dreyfus packs every bit as much punch as the previous two, both of which showcased the Italian altoist/sopranoist’s prodigious ability … Read More “Rosario Giuliani: More than Ever”

Long an exponent of electronics, soprano saxophonist Jane Ira Bloom has produced yet another imaginative program, this one consisting of her own compositions (plus one … Read More “Jane Ira Bloom: Like Silver, Like Song”

Since graduating from the Berklee College of Music, Israeli-born multi-reedist Anat Cohen has impressed listeners throughout the world in numerous and varied contexts, including New … Read More “Anat Cohen: Place & Time”

Scott Hamilton’s latest effort, Back in New York, teams him with the Bill Charlap Trio, a match that brings out the best in everyone involved. … Read More “Scott Hamilton: Back in New York”

After taking the West Coast jazz scene by storm in the mid-’50s, altoist Frank Morgan was out of the studios for some 30 years, after … Read More “Frank Morgan: City Nights”

Vincent Herring’s third album for HighNote demonstrates once again the altoist/sopranoist’s prodigious skill as an improviser in the hard bop/modal tradition. A follower of Cannonball … Read More “Vincent Herring: Mr. Wizard”

Dancing in the Sky is about as close to old-time New Orleans jazz and its closely related forms as you can get these days. Dr. … Read More “Dr. Michael White: Dancing in the Sky”

The stylistically eclectic tenor saxophonist Scott Hamilton, whose playing reflects the inspiration of such swing tenorists as Ben Webster and Illinois Jacquet as well as … Read More “Scott Hamilton Quartet: Live in London”

Beginning with Voyage in 1986 and ending with 1991’s People Time, Stan Getz recorded some of his finest music with pianist Kenny Barron, whom he … Read More “Stan Getz: Bossas and Ballads: The Lost Sessions”

It’s evident that the masterful saxophonist Ralph Bowen spends a lot of time practicing and dealing with the basics of the instrument. His full, focused … Read More “Ralph Bowen Quartet: A Morning View”

December of 1999 was a busy month for pianist David Kikoski. He recorded as leader of his own trio, as a member of a trio … Read More “David Kikoski with John Patitucci and Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts: Almost Twilight”

Armenian by birth, Bostonian by choice, this 47-year-old pianist/composer offers music that is pleasingly challenging while remaining grounded in the modern mainstream tradition. Although the … Read More “David Azarian: Hope”

Rhapsody is filled with straightahead, post-Coltrane tenor playing with hints of Joe Henderson. Kendall is at his best on the up-tempo tracks, where he sails … Read More “Paul Kendall Quartet: Rhapsody”

The six members of the Whales orchestra play soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxes, augmented by the tiny sopranino, the bass, and the massive contrabass. … Read More “Nuclear Whales Saxophone Orchestra: Fathom This”

The Hard Bop Quartet of soprano, alto, tenor, and bari perfectly executes intense, no-nonsense jazz charts (complemented by a bit of prodigious chamber-style wizardry) written … Read More “Hard-Bop Saxophone Quartet: Don’t Step on Your Neck”

How nice to hear the practiced, fertile imaginations of such seasoned musicians at work on a set of familiar standards. Although vibraphonist Burton, pianist Fred … Read More “Gary and Friends Burton: Departure”