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”
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”
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”
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”
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”
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”
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”
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”
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”