15 Feb
The New Young Lions of Jazz by Various Artists
Thursday, 15 February 2001
Published in
Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
Here is another compilation by a relatively new label that's intended not only to draw attention to the label's artists but uses established young stars to do so. As much a…
14 Feb
Sultry Serenade by James Chirillo
Wednesday, 14 February 2001
Published in
Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
Veteran guitarist James Chirillo's first record as a leader is impressive, if not just for Chirillo's virtuosity, for the diversity put forth in this 13 song set. Having wo…
14 Feb
Live at Yoshis by Pat Martino
Wednesday, 14 February 2001
Published in
Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
Pat Martino has never ceased to amaze, and his 20th album as a leader, recorded live from world-famous Yoshi's, is no less amazing than you would expect. After all, the pri…
13 Feb
Evidence by Mark Boling Trio
Tuesday, 13 February 2001
Published in
Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
A guitar-based trio is never easy; trust me, I head one up, and know how important it is to be in control of the moment and in the front. Simply put, I enjoyed Mark Boling’…
I have to start off by saying this had a fun factor built in right from the cover artwork down to the music itself. I spent a good couple of minutes grinning at the cover, …
13 Feb
Works For Me by John Scofield
Tuesday, 13 February 2001
Published in
Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
There is no mystery behind why this new John Scofield record is a sure thing. For one, Scofield has successfully weaved in and out of the most extreme variations of jazz, f…
12 Feb
Sometimes The Magic by Jane Ira Bloom
Monday, 12 February 2001
Published in
Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
Saxophonist/composer Jane Ira Bloom is one of the few (well-known, at least) established players to focus exclusively on the soprano - and she hasn't been shy about bringin…
ATRIA and Atria, two as one, sound invention plus intriguing solo performances. Recorded live during November of 2000 at Cerritos, California, this group puts together a ni…
09 Feb
April Shower by Satoko Fujii
Friday, 09 February 2001
Published in
Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
What impressed me deeply about APRIL SHOWER was its open, heartfelt melodic adventures, reflecting the ever-developing talents of composer/pianist Satoko Fujii. On this col…
08 Feb
Havent We All...? by Joel Brandon
Thursday, 08 February 2001
Published in
Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
Joel Brandon is one of the finest world whistlers, and he is a master whistler deluxe as revealed on this new Southport release, the CD titled HAVEN'T WE ALL...? In additio…
08 Feb
Pomegranate by Steuart Liebig
Thursday, 08 February 2001
Published in
Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
POMEGRANATE is a contemporary jazz masterpiece, a set of four jazz concerti, composed by composer/bassist Steuart Liebig. What makes this an unusual standout CD and a remar…
07 Feb
The Extension by Uli Geissendoerfer
Wednesday, 07 February 2001
Published in
Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
It is good to discover great new talent, and please allow me to introduce you to the jazz sounds of pianist/synthesist/composer, Uli Geissendoerfer in THE EXTENSION. This i…
Regular readers of this here fine online 'zine -- and those familiar with the U.K. jazz scene -- will know the name of sax/multi-reed fellow Elton Dean. Dean was a member o…
04 Feb
Live At The Fillmore East - Its About That Time by Miles Davis
Sunday, 04 February 2001
Published in
Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
Fans of electric Miles rejoice! (That is to say, electric Miles 1969-75.) It’s About That Time chronicles two sets of Miles Davis’ sextet opening for (of all people) Steve …
03 Feb
50/50 Band by John E. Magnan
Saturday, 03 February 2001
Published in
Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
50/50 BAND featuring the music of bassist and vocalist John E. Magnan is the surprise hit of the winter months, a lively collection of great Chicago performing artists whic…
03 Feb
Before My Life by Tim O'Dell
Saturday, 03 February 2001
Published in
Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
A young, new master of the saxophone has arrived, and his name is Tim O'Dell. Contemporary jazz fused with touches of blues and classic motifs highlight the new CD titled B…
30 Jan
Momentum by Sebastian Weiss
Tuesday, 30 January 2001
Published in
Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
Youth and wisdom are often not used in the same sentence. Ah, it’s good to break old clichés. This new century brings promise in the form of Sebastian Weiss and his fellow …
26 Jan
Space and Time Ensemble by Eric Schultz
Friday, 26 January 2001
Published in
Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
Out of France comes a recording by Eric Schultz and his full-bodied quintet that is pleasing, solid, educated. The Space and Time Ensemble has configured a traditionally or…
25 Jan
Melange by Lonnie Plaxico
Thursday, 25 January 2001
Published in
Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
Lonnie Plaxico's 2000 release "Emergence" (Savant) was an apropos title. The album saw Plaxico truly rise from the considerable shadow and weight of his duties as musical d…
23 Jan
Kickin It by Jeff Lorber
Tuesday, 23 January 2001
Published in
Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
Lorber combined some soulful favorites with musicians who understood the mission. Participants such as Gerald Albright, Dave Koz, Siedah Garrett (vocals), Lenny Castro and …
22 Jan
Come Play With Me by Cuong Vu
Monday, 22 January 2001
Published in
Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
Cuong Vu is a trumpeter whose established in NYC’s eclectic "downtown"/Knitting Factory/Tonic/friends of John Zorn scene, and is a member of Chris Speed’s fine freebop band…
22 Jan
Dancing on The Water by Bob James
Monday, 22 January 2001
Published in
Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
In Ike & Tina Turner's "Proud Mary," Tina used to talk about "doing something nice & easy." Well, every now and then, I like to hear music that's nice and easy. Even if it …
21 Jan
Gypsy Cry by Attila Zoller
Sunday, 21 January 2001
Published in
Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
When you say "jazz guitar" to most people, I’d be willing to bet a week’s lunch money that the first name to spring to mind would not be the fine Hungarian player Attila Zo…
18 Jan
To Be or not To B-3 by Gerald Gibbs
Thursday, 18 January 2001
Published in
Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
TO BE OR NOT TO B-3 is a fast-paced, entertaining and enjoyable jazz organ trio featuring organist Gerard Gibbs and his group, Organized Crime. Hearing is believing, and on…
17 Jan
...poi nella serena luce... by Roberto Bonati
Wednesday, 17 January 2001
Published in
Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
Roberto Bonati scores big with this contemporary jazz entry titled POI NELLA SERENA LUCE. It is contemporary jazz from Italy and it has a world music approach with its inno…
New York native Boney James is one of the most versatile instrumentalists on the contemporary jazz scene. After his 2000 collaboration "Shake It Up" with Rick Braun comes h…
Mike Stern has amassed an almost cult-like following during the course of his 2-decade plus career, and his latest release for Atlantic Jazz, Voices, shows th…
16 Jan
Music For The Movies Of Clint Eastwood by Lennie Niehaus Jerry Fielding and Guests Artists
Tuesday, 16 January 2001
Published in
Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
MUSIC FOR THE MOVIES OF CLINT EASTWOOD is a memorable journey through the music of Eastwood movies, and a pleasure to listen to. The endearing love of jazz which Eastwood h…
14 Jan
Heartstrings by Russell Malone
Sunday, 14 January 2001
Published in
Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
Born November 8th 1963 in Albany, Georgia, Malone began playing guitar at the age of four. Malone, has worked as a sideman for Jimmy Smith, backed Harry Connick, Jr. and sp…
14 Jan
Sometimes The Magic by Jane Ira Bloom
Sunday, 14 January 2001
Published in
Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
Saxophonist/composer Jane Ira Bloom is one of the few (well-known, at least) established players to focus exclusively on the soprano - and she hasn't been shy about bringin…
13 Jan
Chicago Trio/New York Tenor by Jerry Steinhilber Trio with George Garzone
Saturday, 13 January 2001
Published in
Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
This aptly titled urban joy is rich, straight-ahead, but somewhat mysterious at the same time. Drummer Jerry Steinhilber and his comrades deliver some powerful music on thi…
12 Jan
17 (seventeen) by Mark Soskin
Friday, 12 January 2001
Published in
Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
Pianist/composer Soskin has assembled a tight ensemble for his latest recording. Right from the opening "17," the music comes out swinging. The two horn line up blends well…
I love compilation CD's because you get to hear a lot of artists. Some you may have never heard of before. But this CD was great * from Chris Potter's "Gratitude" to Flora …
08 Jan
The Future of Jazz is Now! by Various Artists
Monday, 08 January 2001
Published in
Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
The cliché goes that a musician has more creative freedom with a small label. To an extent that saying does hold some water. Small labels have small budgets and time constr…
07 Jan
Distance by Loescher Trio
Sunday, 07 January 2001
Published in
Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
This CD is special. On first hearing it the word that came to mind was "emotion". I can understand why a reviewer in 1997 was so moved that he couldn't write a review but s…
07 Jan
Tuckahoe by Stephan Crump
Sunday, 07 January 2001
Published in
Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
It’s no surprise Stephan Crump spices his newest release, "Tuckahoe," with layers of multiple genres, given his resume includes stints with such a wide swath of musical per…
03 Jan
Flux Aeterna by Ted Killian
Wednesday, 03 January 2001
Published in
Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
Ted Killian's FLUX AETERNA will grab your attention quickly with the incisive, lively guitar expressions of Ted Killian. This is 70:40 minutes of contemporary jazz guitar.
03 Jan
Landskap Live 2001 by Sandro Animini & Claudio Scolari
Wednesday, 03 January 2001
Published in
Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
This CD came to me with no introduction, no titles, no flyers and no promotional material, and thus, was a total surprise when I listened to it. It is charming, it is intri…
03 Jan
Ethnomusicology, Vol. 2 by Russell Gunn
Wednesday, 03 January 2001
Published in
Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
Russell Gunn is an extremely versatile trumpeter, to say the least: aside from leading his own sessions (the stunning Love Requiem, on High Note, for instance) he’s played …
03 Jan
Jazzoretry by The Nouveau Beat
Wednesday, 03 January 2001
Published in
Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
JAZZORETRY is the work of The Nouveau Beat, the duo consisting of Robert Finley and Victor Uriz, and it is a unique entry in the area of contemporary jazz. If you are into …
Bill Ware has the freshest voice I've heard on the vibraphone in years, picking up where Gary Burton left off in making the vibes an instrument as cutting edge as saxophone…
01 Jan
TNT: Trombone-N-Tenor by Steve Turre
Monday, 01 January 2001
Published in
Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
Steve Turre and a heavy collection of friends come through with a highly enjoyable and diverse collection on TNT. Turre, the veteran trombonist, hooks up with three …
Rick Margitza, as is often mentioned in discussions of the young tenor man, was with Miles Davis for a number of the trumpeter’s last few disjointed years. Widely disparage…
18 Nov
Urban Groove by Marcus Johnson
Saturday, 18 November 2000
Published in
Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
Marcus Johnson is an extraordinary artist. I bought his latest album, "Just Doing What I Do" and ended up buying Urban Groove and Chocolate City Groovin. Urban Groove is an…
28 Oct
North by Northwest by North by Northwest Quartet
Saturday, 28 October 2000
Published in
Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
Film Noir has had a momentous impact on the North by Northwest Quartet. The liner notes of their latest CD state that "each composition attempts to create a mood in which t…
28 Oct
The Music of Eric von Essen Volume II by Various Artists
Saturday, 28 October 2000
Published in
Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
Sometimes it really pays off to revisit an artist’s music. In the case of Eric von Essen, the West Coast bassist/multi-instrumentalist/composer who passed away prematurely …
26 Oct
The Music of Eric von Essen Volume I by Various Artists
Thursday, 26 October 2000
Published in
Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
With the premature death of bassist/multi-instrumentalist/composer Eric von Essen, Los Angeles lost one of the main proponents of its burgeoning improvising scene. Fortunat…
25 Oct
Dreamhouse by Fred Simon
Wednesday, 25 October 2000
Published in
Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
Live to two-track recordings are always a challenge. There are no opportunities to "fix" things; what you hear is pretty much what you get. While pianist Fred Simon profess…
25 Oct
Secrets Of Three by The Mark Kleinhaut Trio
Wednesday, 25 October 2000
Published in
Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
Secrets Of Three is a trio recording featuring the always creative guitar playing of Mark Kleinhaut. There are many gems on this recording that not only feature Klei…
Guitar, bass and reeds is an unusual lineup for a jazz trio, and GSU achieves some unexpected results within that framework. Whether it's free improvisational interplay, th…