For his sixth album as leader, the current four being on Jazzed Media, Bob Lark has seriously spread his producer’s wings and succeeded beyond his … Read More “Bob Lark & Friends: Cathy’s Song”
Pick a club in the Big Apple and chances are John Lang has played there. The busy New York bassist-arranger-composer and occasional singer has released … Read More “John Lang: Lend Me Your Ears”
In classical music, how you develop material is more important than its source. Simply put, “variations” always trump “themes.” Example: any of Elgar’s elaborately constructed … Read More “Dave Anderson Quartet: Clarity”
In a recent interview, composer Frank Glover complained about “a giant gap between improvisation and contemporary classical composition…we don’t even have the words to describe … Read More “Frank Glover: Abacus”
It’s so easy to get carried away with a debut; tempting to announce that so-and-so has “burst on the scene.” Well color me “carried away:” … Read More “Adam Schroeder: A Handful of Stars”
Solo piano is the ultimate challenge: you’re all alone, excerpt for those 88 keys flashing their ivories. No other horn waiting to pick up the … Read More “Marius Nordal: Boomer Jazz”
During the year or so that Alan Douglas was head honcho of United Artists’ jazz division, he made a significant contribution to its recorded literature. … Read More “Various Artists: Douglas on Blue Note”
Whenever a new genre manifests itself, the occasion is significant. In the person of Nelda Swiggett, we have what can be accurately labeled “Polite Jazz.” … Read More “Nelda Swiggett: This Time”
Not every singer can easily achieve intimacy; Gail Marten has thoroughly mastered the art. Ms Marten is still endeavoring to attain a similar level of … Read More “Gail Marten: In Love…Again”
Fred Hess has never met a re-harmonized chord, or a free exploration, or a wide-open dissonant voicing he didn’t like. On his 14th album as … Read More “Fred Hess Big Band: Hold On”
“If you can feel your pancreas dancing, the music is swinging.” The quote comes from Bob Leary, banjoist/guitarist on this session. The visceral aspect is … Read More “Lew Green & Joe Muranyi: Together”
If you could somehow pour the stylings of Frank Sinatra and Jack Jones into a blender, out would flow the crooning of Jack Wood: not … Read More “Jack Wood: Jazz and the Movies”
Six years and five CDs ago, Mark Buselli and Brent Wallarab decided to pool their charts and chops and function on either side of a … Read More “Mark Buselli: An Old Soul”
Six years have elapsed since Rosana Eckert released her ensemble debut, At the End of the Day. Seems like an eternity if you can’t get … Read More “Rosana Eckert: Small Hotel”