Sometimes, you forget what true artistry sounds like. This three disc set from Resonance Records has three hours of piano majesty delivered by Art Tatum, who essentially defined swing piano. At times sounding like two and even three players at…
Month: March 2024
MODERN AMBIENCE…Matt Piper & John von Seggern: A Thousand Miles From Nowhere
Back when Brian Eno created arguably the first “ambient” albums, there tended to be a sameness of sounds, with synthetic mixes of electronics and acoustics formed a kind of wallpaper for “chilling out”. Forty years later, there’s been an evolution…
Daggerboard: Escapement
The team of jazz vets Mike Clark/dr, Henry “The Skipper” Franklin/b, Erik Jekabson/tp-fh and Babatunde Lea/cong bring together a wide range of guests on this mix of post bop sounds and ideas on this recent “small big band” release. The…
WHEN NEIL WAS STILL A DIAMOND…Neil Diamond: Thank You Australia-Live 1976
By 1976, Neil Diamond was a few years removed from his classic concert album Hot August Night”, but was still releasing strong material such as Beautiful Noise. This dvd finds him in excellent form Down Under, supported by a stellar…
Geoffrey Dean Quartet: Foundations
Pianist Geoffrey Dean brings together a strong and swinging post bop team of Justin Copeland/tp, Harish Raghaven/b and Eric Binder/dr for some updated versions of classic jazz tunes. Copeland took his Kenny Dorham pills for this outing, gliding on “Cyclic…
Richard Nelson and Makrokosmos Orchestra: Dissolve
Composer Richard Nelson puts together a jazz orchestra to mix modern classical and jazz concepts in a three piece opus. The fifteen minute “Dissolve” is a fragmented kaleidoscope of sounds with reeds and brass fighting for center stage. “Float” includes…
Commodore Trio: Communal
Guitarist Joel Tucker teams up with Brendan Keller-Tuberg/b and Justin Clark/dr for some impressionistic ambience. . There’s a poem read by the seaside on the dreamy “We Are Surprised”, with some delicate pickings on ‘Switzerland”. The pair of “Soundscapes” hover…
Tucker Brothers: Live At Chatterbox
Guitarist Joel Tucker teams with bass brother Nick along wit Sean Imboden/ts and Carrington Clinton/dr for a rollicking concert performance in Indianapolis. They stick to well known tunes as a rule, but put their own modern ideas into the fold,…
Vanisha Gould and Chris McCarthy: Life’s A Gig
Confident and swinging vocals a la Carmen McRae are delivered by Vanisha Gould, teaming with pianist Christ McCarthy on this collection of standards, originals and clever covers. Gould covers the waterfront of genre, ranging from a fragrant take of Dolly…
Ches Smith: Laugh Ash
Playing a wide collection of per4cusion, drums and electronics, Ches Smith creates a surreal sound mix with Sharon Lulnon/voc, Anna Webber/fl, Oscar Noriega/cl, James Brando Lewi/ts, Nate Wooley/tp, Jenifer Choi/vi, Kyle Armbrust/va, Michael Nicolas cel and Shahzad Ismaily/b-key on this…