Harvey Pekar

Some of the laudable artists who appear on bassist Jeff Berlin’s In Harmony’s Way were prominent in the fusion movement, but this CD is an … Read More “Jeff Berlin: In Harmony’s Way”

Difficult to say whom the title is aimed at: artist or listener. Of the more than 300 recordings guitarist Kenny Burrell has played on, this … Read More “Kenny Burrell: Lucky So and So”

Fixations (14) features material recorded live from 1997 to 2000 on which John Butcher plays soprano and tenor saxes unaccompanied. Some of the pieces on … Read More “John Butcher: Fixations (14)”

Butcher’s duo album with percussionist Dylan van der Schyff, Points, Snags and Windings, shows that two men can produce a greater variety of colors and … Read More “John Butcher/Dylan van der Schyff: Points, Snags and Windings”

The main story here, for me anyway, is that this CD, recorded in 1968, contains at least one track with the kind of playing that … Read More “Al Cohn/Zoot Sims: Easy as Pie”

This is the second set of Johnny Hodges Verve reissues on Mosaic, the first covering his 1951 to 1955 work when he was not playing … Read More “Johnny Hodges: The Complete Verve Johnny Hodges: Small Group Sessions ’56-’61”

The outstanding young trumpeter Cuong Vu draws ideas from a wide variety of sources, so that from CD to CD you’re never sure what aspect … Read More “Cuong Vu: Pure”

Over the years the instrument most identified with jazz has been the trumpet, yet in recent decades few original trumpeters aside from Dave Douglas have … Read More “Dave Ballou: Volition”

On The Floating World, Ballou works with pianist George Colligan, bassist Doug Weiss and drummer Darren Beckett. The disc contains some pretty familiar material: three … Read More “Dave Ballou: The Floating World”

This eight-CD set was cut at San Francisco’s Keystone Korner from August 31 to September 8, 1980, by Evans, bassist Marc Johnson and drummer Joe … Read More “Bill Evans: The Last Waltz”

Though lauded throughout his career as a great technician who could swing his tail off, Sonny Stitt has not gotten the recognition he deserves as … Read More “Sonny Stitt: Just the Way It Was”

My Foolish Heart, recorded in 1975, features the Stan Getz quartet, with pianist Richie Beirach, bassist Dave Holland and drummer Jack DeJohnette. Though not Getz’s … Read More “Stan Getz: My Foolish Heart”

Trombonist/composer Roswell Rudd has performed in both Dixieland and free-jazz groups. He’s taught ethnomusicology and has more than a passing knowledge of classical music. And … Read More “Roswell Rudd: Broad Strokes”

Some 1960s free-jazz players had the technique and harmonic knowledge to play post-bop music well; others didn’t, not knowing enough about harmony and, while they … Read More “Fred Anderson: The Milwaukee Tapes Vol. 1”

Not only did trumpeters Tony Fruscella and Chet Baker play similarly, they died as a result of drug abuse after leading tragic lives. Fruscella, who … Read More “Tony Fruscella: A Night at the Open Door”

The Sandole brothers, pianist Adolphe, who died some years ago, and guitarist Dennis, who still works in Philadelphia, were legendary teachers. Among those who studied … Read More “Dennis Sandole: Dennis Sandole Project”

Eisenbeil’s very impressive on Mural, his second CIMP CD, and is one of the most unique jazz guitarists to emerge in decades. He uses a … Read More “Bruce Eisenbeil: Mural”

Garbarek plays soprano and tenor sax, synthesizers, samplers and percussion here, and is joined on this two CD set by Bugge Wesseltoft, synthesizer and electronic … Read More “Jan Garbarek: Rites”

Five of the six tracks on this CD are by a quintet including Al Kiger, flugelhorn; Paul Plummer, tenor sax; Charlie Wilson, piano; Lou Lausche, … Read More “Ron Enyard/Paul Plummer: Driving Music Vol. 2”

Those who view Wynton Marsalis and the young lions as mainstream jazzmen rather than the reactionaries they are will probably consider Osby some kind of … Read More “Greg Osby: Banned in New York”

In the ’70s Liebman established himself as a top saxophonist but he’s also been a provocative composer for some time. This CD and three others … Read More “David Liebman: The Elements: Water, Giver of Life”

Members of guitarist Morris’ quartet here include violinist Mat Maneri, bassist Chris Lightcap and drummer Jerome Deupree. They play free jazz with passion and discipline. … Read More “Joe Morris: A Cloud of Blackbirds”

Here Bates, on keyboards and peckhorn, appears with his band Human Chain, including sax, lipo sax and bass harmonica player Iain Ballamy, bass gui-tarist Michael … Read More “Django Bates: Quiet Nights”

Burton Greene made his first impact on the jazz scene as a free player recording for ESP. He’s been an expatriate for years, based in … Read More “Burton Greene: Shades of Greene”

It’s scary to think that reedman and pianist Maneri, one of the most innovative improvisers to emerge in decades, almost slipped by us unnoticed. He’d … Read More “Joe Maneri: In Full Cry”

Qu’a: Live at the Tridium Volume 1 contains one long performance during which Taylor plays unaccompanied as well as improvising collectively with his 1998 quartet, … Read More “Cecil Taylor: Qu’a: Live at the Irridium Vol. 1”

The Tree of Life dates from a 1991 Berlin concert during which Cecil plays unaccompanied. Tree consists of five sections, ranging from 1:08 to 44:28 … Read More “Cecil Taylor: The Tree of Life”

Recorded live at Jazz Festival Willisau in 1982, the Charles/Bang duo performs Ornette Coleman’s “Lonely Woman,” and Thelonious Monk’ s “Thelonious” is a feature for … Read More “Billy Bang/Dennis Charles: Bangception Willisau 1982”

Among the major saxophonists to emerge in the past 25 years, Hamiet Bluiett’s also becoming one of the most ubiquitous, as these four recently re-leased … Read More “Hamiet Bluiett: Saying Something For All”

Essential stuff, including Gillespie’s small group work with Charlie Parker, Al Haig, Milt Jackson, Don Byas, Lucky Thompson and Bill DeArango, originally recorded on Guild, … Read More “Dizzy Gillespie: Dizzy Gillespie 1945-6”