Michael League: So Many Me (GroundUp)
So Many Me makes an inspired title for Michael League’s first solo project, in part because it’s so on the nose: He’s responsible for every … Read More “Michael League: So Many Me (GroundUp)”
Philip Booth
Philip Booth is a longtime arts journalist and bass player based in Florida. Formerly the pop music critic for the Tampa Tribune, he has contributed to many national publications, recently including the Washington Post, Jazziz, and Relix. His byline also has appeared in DownBeat, Bass Player, Billboard, Variety, Spin, Rolling Stone, and several academic journals. The debut CD from his band, Acme Jazz Garage, gained airplay on about 35 radio stations across the US.
Philip Booth on social media
Joel Frahm: The Bright Side (Anzic)
Heading a group without chordal instruments can be risky. Will the horn player or players provide the melodic leadership and improvisational verve necessary to keep … Read More “Joel Frahm: The Bright Side (Anzic)”
Alex Sipiagin: Upstream (Posi-Tone)
After nearly 20 albums as a leader, Alex Sipiagin takes what might be called a no-concept approach for his Posi-Tone debut. Backed by a sturdy … Read More “Alex Sipiagin: Upstream (Posi-Tone)”
Steven Feifke Big Band: Kinetic (Outside In)
There’s nothing like a regular residency to hone the playing of a big band and give such an ensemble—always a challenge just to keep gigging—a … Read More “Steven Feifke Big Band: Kinetic (Outside In)”
Harold Danko: Spring Garden (SteepleChase)
Igor Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring has been an obsession for Harold Danko for more than a half-century, as the pianist relates in the liner … Read More “Harold Danko: Spring Garden (SteepleChase)”
Roni Ben-Hur: Stories (Dot Time)
There’s something refreshingly unhurried about how the program of music unfolds on Stories, the latest collection of original compositions and creative arrangements of others’ tunes … Read More “Roni Ben-Hur: Stories (Dot Time)”
Brian Bromberg Continues his Journey into the Eclectic
With 25 albums to his credit as a leader since his mid-’80s debut, Brian Bromberg is nothing if not prolific. The veteran of countless sessions … Read More “Brian Bromberg Continues his Journey into the Eclectic”
Hendrik Meurkens: Manhattan Samba (Height Advantage)
Brazilian melodies frequently are imbued with a certain yearning. Jazz harmonica master Hendrik Meurkens might call it Sehnsucht in his native German. Or maybe it’s … Read More “Hendrik Meurkens: Manhattan Samba (Height Advantage)”
John Patitucci/Vinnie Colaiuta/Bill Cunliffe: Trio (Le Coq)
Standards trios, even those featuring revered players, aren’t exactly rare. But few offer the degree of creativity and intuitive interplay demonstrated by pianist Bill Cunliffe, … Read More “John Patitucci/Vinnie Colaiuta/Bill Cunliffe: Trio (Le Coq)”
Lawrence Sieberth Creates His Own European Quartet
Performing with others, for in-the-flesh listeners in real time, requires one to think like an architect, and like a psychologist too. That, at least, is … Read More “Lawrence Sieberth Creates His Own European Quartet”
Monty Alexander: Love You Madly: Live at Bubba’s (Resonance)
“His music is always very, very joyful,” Kenny Barron says about fellow piano master Monty Alexander in the notes accompanying Love You Madly, documenting a … Read More “Monty Alexander: Love You Madly: Live at Bubba’s (Resonance)”
Brandi Disterheft Trio with George Coleman: Surfboard (Justin Time)
It’s probably no coincidence that Brandi Disterheft’s prowess as a bassist, on her fifth album as a leader, shines particularly bright on “The Pendulum at … Read More “Brandi Disterheft Trio with George Coleman: Surfboard (Justin Time)”
The Claire Daly Band: Rah! Rah! (Ride Symbol)
The rambunctious spirit of multi-instrumentalist and composer Rahsaan Roland Kirk is reflected in the Kirk interpretations and originals played by baritone saxophonist Claire Daly on … Read More “The Claire Daly Band: Rah! Rah! (Ride Symbol)”
Max Bessesen: Trouble (Ropeadope)
Often restless, hyperintense and urgent, sometimes relaxed, always probing: The music on Max Bessesen’s debut album is nothing if not evocative. He offers sonic portraits … Read More “Max Bessesen: Trouble (Ropeadope)”
Leni Stern: 4 (Leni Stern)
A New Yorker born in Munich, Leni Stern has been digging into West African rhythms and textures for years, studying in Mali and Senegal, performing … Read More “Leni Stern: 4 (Leni Stern)”
Jimmy Heath: Love Letter (Verve)
“Elegance in Action” would make an apropos alternate title for Love Letter, the final album released by saxophone great Jimmy Heath, who died at 93 … Read More “Jimmy Heath: Love Letter (Verve)”
Redman Mehldau McBride Blade: RoundAgain (Nonesuch)
Remember when Joshua Redman, Brad Mehldau, Christian McBride, and Brian Blade, fast-rising talents relatively new to New York, played together for about 18 months in … Read More “Redman Mehldau McBride Blade: RoundAgain (Nonesuch)”
Gary Smuylan: Our Contrafacts (SteepleChase)
Last time Gary Smulyan led a trio on a set of contrafacts (the name for new melodies built on chord progressions of well-known compositions), the … Read More “Gary Smuylan: Our Contrafacts (SteepleChase)”
Chris McCarthy: Still Time to Quit (Ropeadope)
A rising star on the New York scene, pianist Chris McCarthy has made his name playing and/or recording with trumpeter Jason Palmer, saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi, … Read More “Chris McCarthy: Still Time to Quit (Ropeadope)”
Jason Miles/Kind of New: Black Magic (Ropeadope)
Like his first album under the Kind of New moniker, a 2015 collaboration with trumpeter Ingrid Jensen, Jason Miles’ Black Magic is all about steep, … Read More “Jason Miles/Kind of New: Black Magic (Ropeadope)”
Andrea Brachfeld: Brazilian Whispers (Origin)
For Brazilian Whispers, veteran flutist Andrea Brachfeld dives deep into the Jobim book, turning out fresh interpretations of familiar gems. Best known for her affiliations … Read More “Andrea Brachfeld: Brazilian Whispers (Origin)”
Vincent Herring/Bobby Watson/Gary Bartz: Bird at 100 (Smoke Sessions)
His recorded body of work the holy scripture of bebop saxophone, alto giant Charlie Parker has been the subject of hundreds of tribute albums since … Read More “Vincent Herring/Bobby Watson/Gary Bartz: Bird at 100 (Smoke Sessions)”
Nicholas Payton: Relaxin’ with Nick (Smoke Sessions)
Per its title, Relaxin’ with Nick captures Nicholas Payton fully laidback, on music culled from a weekend of performances at NYC’s Smoke earlier this year. Payton unfurls oft-brilliant trumpet and piano/keyboard lines and textures, sometimes simultaneously, over the hand-in-glove grooves of bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington, the regular rhythm section for Bill Charlap, … Read More “Nicholas Payton: Relaxin’ with Nick (Smoke Sessions)”
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The Scene: Brigadoon by the Beach
The long-running Suncoast Jazz Festival, its 29th edition slated for this November on Clearwater Beach in Clearwater, Fla., might best be defined by the kind of festival that it isn’t. Unlike the area’s well-known big jazz festival, it’s not a single-venue outdoors affair dominated by non-jazz acts. Nor is it a fairgrounds-style event with multiple … Read More “The Scene: Brigadoon by the Beach”
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Amendola vs. Blades: Everybody Wins (Royal Potato Family)
Having first collaborated for a 2006 performance of Duke Ellington’s Far East Suite, organist/keyboardist Wil Blades and drummer Scott Amendola stepped out as a recording duo with 2017’s cheekily titled Greatest Hits album. For their second release, journeymen musicians Amendola (Nels Cline Singers, T.J. Kirk, Bill Frisell) and Blades (Billy Martin, Stanton Moore, Charlie Hunter) … Read More “Amendola vs. Blades: Everybody Wins (Royal Potato Family)”
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Monty Alexander: Wareika Hill (RastaMonk Vibrations) (MACD)
“Like a Rastafarian in Jamaica, he was different,” Jamaican-born pianist Monty Alexander says of Thelonious Monk, whom he first heard in person at New York City’s legendary Five Spot in 1963. Monk soon became a major influence on Alexander’s music, which was rooted in the reggae and ska of his native country as well as … Read More “Monty Alexander: Wareika Hill (RastaMonk Vibrations) (MACD)”
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Jimmy Cobb: This I Dig of You (Smoke Sessions)
Is there a ride cymbal more integral to solid groove-making on more jazz recordings and performances than the one(s) played by drummer Jimmy Cobb, the last surviving musician from the sessions for Miles’ Kind of Blue? Cobb, also heard with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughan, John Coltrane, and Cannonball Adderley over … Read More “Jimmy Cobb: This I Dig of You (Smoke Sessions)”
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Bob Sheppard: The Fine Line (Challenge)
As a first-call L.A. saxophonist, Bob Sheppard has famously toured with Steely Dan, played with loads of notable jazzers and marquee-name pop stars, and has appeared on—by one count—more than 100 movie and TV soundtracks. Between supporting others and teaching, Sheppard has only been able to record a handful of albums as a leader in … Read More “Bob Sheppard: The Fine Line (Challenge)”
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Al Foster: Inspirations & Dedications (Smoke Sessions)
Only 16 when he started playing trio gigs with the likes of Larry Willis and Eddie Gomez, drummer Al Foster has spent six decades as a not-so-secret special groove ingredient enlivening performances and sessions by a long list of heavy hitters. For Inspirations & Dedications, a rare outing as a leader, Foster deploys his working … Read More “Al Foster: Inspirations & Dedications (Smoke Sessions)”
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Gerry Gibbs & Thrasher People: Our People (Whaling City Sound)
Five musicians, 40 instruments, 19 interrelated compositions, five consecutive days in a Queens home studio, 66 minutes of music: By the numbers alone, Gerry Gibbs’ latest batch of original tunes is quite a feat. The sprawling disc, something of a followup to the drummer/composer’s 2017 salute to Weather Report, has Gibbs and Alex Collins, the … Read More “Gerry Gibbs & Thrasher People: Our People (Whaling City Sound)”
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