Breaking ground as both a performer and a jazz historian of sorts, pianist Marcus Roberts follows 1996’s Portraits In Blue (music by Gershwin and James … Read More “Marcus Roberts: Blues For The New Millennium”
Richly melodic but bold, Farmer’s influential, distinctive approach is facilitated by his full-toned instrument-the flumpet, a cross between the trumpet and the fluegelhorn. Throughout this … Read More “Art Farmer: Silk Road”
This guitarist swings mightily and has incredible technique, but it’s his lyrical approach-a kind of cross between Grant Green and Jim Hall-that sets him apart … Read More “Peter Bernstein: Brain Dance”
Powered by Wes Montgomery’s organist of choice, Melvin Rhyne, and rounded out by guitarist Bobby Broom and drummer Joe Farnsworth, this group is led by … Read More “Eric Alexander: In Europe”
Conceived as a tribute to Wes Montgomery, this album was originally issued as The Visit in 1975. At the time, jazz guitar was experiencing a … Read More “Pat Martino: Footprints”
Possessing fluid technique and warm tone, this Swedish guitarist swings hard while being firmly rooted in the bop tradition. Rounding out his grooving, internationally manned … Read More “Ulf Wakenius: Dig In”
Recorded live, this bottom-dwelling album features the talents of three of the bass’ best. (Pianist Benny Green and drummer Gregory Hutchinson support on selected tracks.) … Read More “Ray Brown, John Clayton, Christian McBride : Super Bass”
Primarily known for his guitar-related endeavors-both as a player and composer-Gismonti unveils his capabilities as a creator of symphonic works for the first time. Performed … Read More “Egberto Gismonti: Meeting Point”
Backed by pianist Bill Cunliffe and drummer Herlin Riley, John and Jeff Clayton travel a rich musical path that covers everything from down-home blues to … Read More “The Clayton Brothers: Expressions”
How does a young guitarist establish himself when the competition is as thick as fleas on a stray dog? Hang tough and keep playing and … Read More “Dave Stryker: Blue To The Bone”
That Jim Hall has always been a composer practically goes without saying. After all, compositional concepts are at the core of his approach to improvisation, … Read More “Jim Hall: Textures”
Woodwind wizard Paquito D’Rivera, steel pan perfectionist Andy Narell and vibes viscount Dave Samuels form the Project’s core, while pianist Dario Eskenazi, drummer Mark Walker, … Read More “The Caribbean Jazz Project: Island Stories”
Here, the tune-oriented music of Alec Wilder, in the tradition of the great songsmiths with a fair share of surprising twists, receives worthy, artful treatment … Read More “Vic Juris: Music of Alec Wilder”
Recorded in 1989, this project, led by Panamanian bassist Debriano, features the multi-dimensional talents of guitarist Dave Fiuczynski, keyboardist Kenny Werner, vibraphonist Joe Locke, reed … Read More “Santi Debriano: Soldiers of Fortune”
Azimuth is pianist John Taylor, vocalist Norma Winstone, and trumpeter Kenny Wheeler, and their music-earthy yet ethereal, minimalist yet often complex-is as inventive as their … Read More “Azimuth: How It Was Then… Never Again”
Especially inspired by guitarist Bill Jennings and organist Wild Bill Davis, Flory swings relentlessly, often serving up a generous blues helping. On this recording he … Read More “Chris Flory: Word On The Street”
Listeners who still think of Al Di Meola merely as a fusion shredder haven’t closely followed the more adventurous paths his career has taken-reflected by … Read More “Al Di Meola: Di Meola Plays Piazzolla”
Featuring Copland, John Abercrombie, Drew Gress, and Billy Hart, this album, the group’s second Savoy release, finds its four participants perfectly matched in terms of … Read More “Mark Copeland Quartet: Second Look”
Herb Ellis just about wrote the book on swinging blues-based jazz guitar. And while he’s chalked up a few miles since the ’50s, when he … Read More “Joey Baron: Down Home”
Will jazz become a thing of the past once all the greats are dead and gone? These recordings strongly suggest that won’t be the case … Read More “Eric Reed: Musicale”