In their previous book, Out of Sight, Abbott and Seroff presented an overview of African-American musical development from 1889 to 1895 that was based on … Read More “Ragged But Right by Lynn Abbott and Doug Seroff”
When this magazine polled its writers for a feature on underrated guitarists a couple of years ago, many of us forgot about Gene Bertoncini, probably … Read More “Gene Bertoncini: Quiet Now”
In April of 1964 multi-instrumentalist supreme Eric Dolphy rejoined Charles Mingus for a European tour, his plan being to stay on and look for a … Read More “Charles Mingus: The Great Concert of Charles Mingus”
Paul Bley has made records at such a pace that only the most determined of fans can keep up, so it’s usually difficult for a … Read More “Paul Bley: Nothing to Declare”
This is the second CD-and-DVD set to be released is this nicely priced series, and it’s just as exciting as its predecessor. The CD consists … Read More “Thelonious Monk: Monk ‘Round the World”
As one might suppose from the band name and record title, Sirota and his cohorts believe that artists should keep their audience’s attention on the … Read More “Ted Sirota Rebel Souls: Breeding Resistance”
Here is a very impressive debut recording by a young pianist based in Portland, Ore., a town that has developed a reasonably lively scene in … Read More “Ezra Weiss: The Five A.M. Strut”
This attractive, four-CD box set brings together recordings from the beginning of the MJQ’s career with others made immediately after their seven-year breather that began … Read More “Modern Jazz Quartet: The Complete Modern Jazz Quartet Prestige and Pablo Recordings”
It’s getting more and more common to package CDs and DVDs together, not that anyone is likely to complain, since it remains hard to find … Read More “Thelonious Monk: Monk in Paris: Live at the Olympia”
Violinist Giuseppe “Joe” Venuti may not have been born on the boat that brought his family from Italy, as he liked to claim in later … Read More “Joe Venuti/Eddie Lang: The Classic Columbia and Okeh Joe Venuti and Eddie Lang”
Williams has gotten a lot of praise recently, and much of it is exaggerated. While nothing is served by the contention that only her gender … Read More “John Hicks: Impressions of Mary Lou”
Even though Horace Silver has always shown a predilection for somewhat unusual structures, his pieces are generally designed as blowing vehicles and it would be … Read More “Ran Blake: Horace Is Blue: A Silver Noir”
As Breakstone points out in his notes, Bud Powell is severely underrated as a composer. What credit he does get (and it is nowhere near … Read More “Joshua Breakstone: The Music of Bud Powell”
John Eaton is not a familiar name, at least outside of the D.C. area, where his contributions to the trad scene have been appreciated for … Read More “John Eaton: Live at Steinway Hall”
Ian Bargh, a Scotsman transplanted to Toronto, has made a name for himself as pianist of choice for many visiting musicians. It’s easy to see … Read More “Ian Bargh: Only Trust Your Heart”
A mainstream stylist that not everyone will know is Joe Utterback, whose Night Train is actually his fifth release for Connoisseur Society. The program here … Read More “Joe Utterback: Night Train”
One CD that probably won’t get many more plays at my place is Armen Donelian’s Wave, even though it contains some really outstanding moments, like … Read More “Armen Donelian: Wave”
Misha Mengelberg is an important enough figure that even his lesser efforts reward serious listeners. Of course, his approach often makes the question of what’s … Read More “Misha Mengelberg: Solo”
Wellstood’s Live at Hanratty’s was originally released on two LPs, and as much as one hates to agree with William F. Buckley (whose opinion was … Read More “Dick Wellstood: Live at Hanratty’s”
Malachi Thompson comes across so smart and direct in Timeline’s liner notes that one would hesitate to say anything negative. Actually, Thompson saves those so … Read More “Malachi Thompson: Timeline”
I have often found the work of Muhal Richard Abrams uneven. The best of it floors me and some of it goes right by, but … Read More “Muhal Richard Abrams: Things to Come From Those Now Gone”
To speak of singers not wearing well, most listeners will have heard enough of the chanting style of George Hines after one track on Humility … Read More “Kalaparush Maurice McIntyre : Humility In the Light of the Creator”
The UMO record with Kenny Wheeler & Norma Winstone is elaborately arranged and flawlessly played, but it leaves me underwhelmed. Certainly listeners who pick up … Read More “UMO Jazz Orchestra/Kenny Wheeler/Norma Winstone: One More Time”
It would appear that Abrams enjoyed the opportunity to work with this tight Finnish ensemble, and it’s fun to hear him tip his hat to … Read More “UMO Jazz Orchestra: Plays the Music of Muhal Richard Abrams”
The nonet on saxophonist George Coleman’s Danger High Voltage features such names as Harold Mabern and Ray Drummond, and the group has obviously had lots … Read More “George Coleman featuring Ned Otter: Danger High Voltage”
Most of the attention given to Monk’s records goes to the volumes of great work done for Riverside and Columbia, or to the trail-blazing Blue … Read More “Thelonious Monk: The Complete Prestige Recordings”
Sonny Simmons was one of the best free jazz musicians on the San Francisco scene in the ’60s and ’70s. He often worked with Prince … Read More “Sonny Simmons: Manhattan Egos”
Steve Lacy and Derek Bailey have radically different approaches to improvisation. Bailey deals primarily with pure sound, and it often seems that the only reason … Read More “Derek Bailey/Steve Lacy: Outcome”
Pizzarelli is the son of tasty guitarist Bucky and his professed interest is in building on the sound of the old Nat Cole Trio, so … Read More “John Pizzarelli: Kisses in the Rain”
When Sonny Rollins’ contract with Prestige expired in late 1956, he went through a period of recording for several labels before beginning a three-year sabbatical … Read More “Sonny Rollins: The Freelance Years: The Complete Riverside and Contemporary Recordings”
