Archives

Marcos Varela: San Ygnacio

Houston keeps churning out stellar jazz artists. One of the latest, and brightest, is bassist Marcos Varela, who is talented enough to have been mentored by Ron Carter and employed by Billy Hart and Clifton Anderson during his dozen years in New York, smart enough to enlist drummer Hart, trombonist Anderson and pianist George Cables … Read More

To access this content, you must purchase JazzTimes Membership.

The Stanley Clarke Band: Up

On UP, bassist Stanley Clarke recruits collaborators from his recent past (and some not so recent) and plays both acoustic upright-his forte during the second half of his career-and the electric bass that helped make him a star. UP opens with the decidedly electric “Pop Virgil,” a funk instrumental that blatantly borrows the guitar figure … Read More

To access this content, you must purchase JazzTimes Membership.

John Lang: Lend Me Your Ears

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 — with lots of help from his friends — his second album: a compilation of nine originals for two quintets and one octet (three tracks by each ) boasting no … Read More

To access this content, you must purchase JazzTimes Membership.

Damian Erskine: So To Speak

Portland-based six-string electric bassist Damian Erskine, a nephew of drumming great Peter Erskine, showcases his compositional side on his second outing as a leader. From Latin-flavored originals like “Inside Out” and “Cabrerina” to the hard-hitting groover “American Gyro,” Erskine puts a premium on group sound, choosing to bubble underneath almost subliminally rather than wail over … Read More

To access this content, you must purchase JazzTimes Membership.

Dan Dean: 251

The Seattle counterpart of Steve Swallow, bassist Dan Dean is able to swing persuasively, comp authoritatively and improvise melodically on electric bass. On this series of intimate duets he is showcased walking, chording and soloing freely in the company of four decidedly different keyboard stylists. With Larry Goldings on Hammond B3 organ, Dean explores Thelonious … Read More

To access this content, you must purchase JazzTimes Membership.

Kristian Lind Trio: Wintergames

Since this is the debut recording of the Stockholm based double bassist Lind it is highly unlikely that most people reading this article will have any knowledge of him; I had none when I received this recording. This saxophone trio recording is not only excellent for a debut; it is outstanding by any standard. Lind … Read More

To access this content, you must purchase JazzTimes Membership.

Joe Morris Quartet: Today on Earth

To say that Boston-based electric guitarist/upright bassist Joe Morris is prolific would be an obvious understatement. In 2009 alone he released six albums, including this quartet disc. But what’s truly astonishing is the stylistic spectrum he traverses: one lineup and an hour of music simply do not cover the multitude of ideas this man possesses. … Read More

To access this content, you must purchase JazzTimes Membership.

Gabriel Espinosa: From Yucatan To Rio

Espinosa is from Yucatan and has been drawn artistically to Brazil. The results are generally an update of the Sergio Mendes pre hip hop sound with relatively static (as opposed to interactive) rhythm arrangements, and female vocals on five of the ten tracks. Bassist Espinosa has added trumpeter Claudio Roditi and alto saxophonist George Robert … Read More

To access this content, you must purchase JazzTimes Membership.