Have yourself a special treat and purchase the new release, MORRIS CODE, for it is a dandy of a nice CD packed full of sweet contemporary jazz! All songs written by Peggy M…
06 Jul
Extra Pressure by Eric Person and Meta-Four
Tuesday, 06 July 1999
Published in
Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
A good, solid CD of contemporary jazz, each of the selections telling a story with a set mood, imaginative pattern, and unique lyricism. All selections composed by Eric Per…
05 Jul
Looking Through by The Nat Janoff Group
Monday, 05 July 1999
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Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
The Nat Janoff Group gives the listening audience fine examples of contemporary jazz with their guitar, bass, and drums. Such songs as "Looking Through," "Room With A View,…
04 Jul
I've Traveled so far by Tim Lyddon Trio
Sunday, 04 July 1999
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Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
I'VE TRAVELED SO FAR is a wonderful example of a trio enjoying what they are performing, and sharing that vision with the listening audience. With many compositions by lead…
03 Jul
The Long Way Home by Tom Alonso
Saturday, 03 July 1999
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Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
When I listened to Tom Alonso's jazz musings on THE LONG WAY HOME, I was reminded of an intricate Gershwinesque feel to the music in this outstanding collection of 7 select…
01 Jul
Both Kinds of Music by Misha Feigin
Thursday, 01 July 1999
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Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
For those who enjoy dobro and balalaika instrumentation, this jazz CD of 69:56 minutes will both intrigue and delight. That Misha Feigin is a master of his instrument is ve…
01 Jul
Wake Up Call by Pago Libre
Thursday, 01 July 1999
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Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
The jazz group, Pago Libre, consists of the following performers who are each a skilled musician in each's own way: Tscho Theissing on violin and voice, Arkady Shilkioper o…
30 Jun
Zonda by Conosur (Hernan Romero & Tony Viscardo)
Wednesday, 30 June 1999
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Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
Zonda is one of those little gems of perfect music that oftentimes slips by unnoticed! Hopefully, this one will be notice by many jazz fans! Guitarists/composers, Hernan Ro…
29 Jun
The Better Half by Jae Sinnett Trio with guest Chris Potter
Tuesday, 29 June 1999
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Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
Truly a man for all seasons, Jae Sinnett is a fine drummer, composer, producer/announcer for National Public Radio as well as a lecturer/clinician for Sonor drums and Sabia…
29 Jun
Sal Salvador Quintet & Quartet/Kenton Presents Sal Salvador by Sal Salvador
Tuesday, 29 June 1999
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Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
One of the best things about Blue Note's 10-inch reissue series is that it has exposed to modern ears some of the more obscure, but not less talented, jazz musicians of the…
27 Jun
Green Street by John Stein Trio featuring Dave Fathead Newman
Sunday, 27 June 1999
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Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
The name of John Stein may be unfamiliar to many. The guitarist has been teaching at Berklee for many years and I had the pleasure of reviewing his debut CD "Hustle Up" a c…
27 Jun
Beauty and the Bloodsucker by Eugene Chadbourne
Sunday, 27 June 1999
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Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
This strange CD deals with themes of butterflies, and there are 15 pieces recorded and spliced together by Dr. Eugene Chadbourne! Many of these unusual jazz tracks seque di…
26 Jun
Ouverture Facile by Chamaeleo Vulgaris
Saturday, 26 June 1999
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Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
With a total running time of 62:04 minutes, there is a little something for everybody on this CD to discover! Chamaeleo Vulgaris is a jazz group found during 1991 by Freder…
25 Jun
A Few Short Notes From The End Run by Kip Hanrahan
Friday, 25 June 1999
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Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
Kip Hanrahan isn't really a singer or a player per se, but a composer, arranger & organizer of musicians from varied & disparate backgrounds. For his albums, he has assembl…
23 Jun
Blood Lines by Arturo O'Farrill
Wednesday, 23 June 1999
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Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
This CD is 55:49 minutes of intoxicating jazz! Arturo O'Farrill plays with the lyrical gracefulness of a combination of Peter Nero and Bill Evans touched with the stylistic…
23 Jun
Between 2 Worlds by George Gamez
Wednesday, 23 June 1999
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Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
George Gamez is a gifted flamenco/latin/pop guitarist, and his talents are aptly served and found on this CD which features George Gamez on guitar, lead vocals, palmas; oth…
22 Jun
For The Ears by Sir Charles Thompson and The Hawk
Tuesday, 22 June 1999
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Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
Originally recorded in the 1950s, this reissue is worth the time to listen to and learn about some of the jazz musicians of that era. A well-respected pianist and composer,…
22 Jun
Oh Love by Jimmy Rushing & Friends
Tuesday, 22 June 1999
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Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
Originally recorded in the 1950s, this reissue features the jazz stylings of vocalist Jimmy Rushing, whose warm voice touched both blues and jazz. Some of these selections …
20 Jun
Swing This! by Kermit Ruffins
Sunday, 20 June 1999
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Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
Kermit Ruffins on trumpet and vocals, accompanied by Corey Henry on trombone, Kevin Morris on bass, Emile Vinette on piano, Jerry Anderson on drums, and Roderick Paulin on …
Claire Daly's lips blow sweetly and the jazz comes forth sweet and low! She is a great talent that is hard to define. Her expertise on the baritone saxophone is truly remar…
19 Jun
From Q With Love by Quincy Jones
Saturday, 19 June 1999
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Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
This two CD collection showcases the enduring talents of Quincy Jones. For a reference and introduction to Quincy Jones, it is a must for the collector! Some of the songs a…
18 Jun
Sweet n Jazzy by Sweet 'N Jazzy
Friday, 18 June 1999
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Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
I'm a big fan of "standards" and whenever I receive a CD dedicated to the old time honored songs, I check first to see if a tune is included by my favorite composer, Walter…
From Rochester, NY emerges a fine small group under the leadership of bassist Bob Stata. I'm really impressed by this solid little band featuring Justin Flynn-saxes, David …
17 Jun
Footprints Of Your Life by Bill Collins
Thursday, 17 June 1999
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Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
Although not a jazz presentation in every sense of the term, the Bill Collins release, Footprints Of Your Life, is reminiscent of the vocal jazz stylings of George Benson a…
17 Jun
Utonian Automatic by Isotope 217
Thursday, 17 June 1999
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Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
Isotope 217 is a spin-off of sorts of the Chicago-based "post-rock" band Tortoise. (You jazz snobs please bear with me a moment here.) Over the past view years there's been…
16 Jun
Blues Party by Chris Whiteley
Wednesday, 16 June 1999
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Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
I've been a fan of Chris Whiteley since he and his brother Ken were members of the Original Sloth Band in the 1970s. To my delight, Drink Muddy Water, a tune that appears i…
15 Jun
The Red Quartets by Jane Ira Bloom
Tuesday, 15 June 1999
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Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
The highly respected Jane Ira Bloom appears here with her quartet from sessions recorded in May 1997 and January 1999 in Brooklyn, NY. Jane Ira Bloom: Soprano Saxophone; Fr…
15 Jun
Milonga Triste by Ole Amund Gjersvik
Tuesday, 15 June 1999
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Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
This is clearly a case of "love at first listen". Norwegian bassist, Ole Amund Gjersvik, has delivered a really smooth session including some original compositions. He also…
13 Jun
Kabalogy by Hasidic New Wave
Sunday, 13 June 1999
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Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
The Hasidic New Wave is a NYC-based group that puts its own spin on the ancient/modern folk-based urban Jewish music known as klezmer. They merge ancient Hebrew melodies wi…
12 Jun
In the Bush by Electric Breakwater
Saturday, 12 June 1999
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Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
This is a band that is on the move. This being their second CD, and featuring a cleaner, and yet more melodic sound than their previous offering."Happy Song" an original…
11 Jun
The Modern Jazz Sextet by The Modern Jazz Sextet
Friday, 11 June 1999
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Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
Although short in quantity,this CD scores very highly in quality. Recorded by Norman Granz in 1956, the little session has only 5 tracks and one is a medley.As most fans…
11 Jun
Above The Clouds by Above The Clouds
Friday, 11 June 1999
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Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
Recorded at Irvine, California in February 1999 and recently released, this is a powerhouse CD of California cool jazz, so mellow and imaginative it will lift you right off…
10 Jun
Hear in the Now by Ed Hamilton
Thursday, 10 June 1999
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Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
A new CD from jazz guitarist Ed Hamilton with him performing many of his own selections has just been released, and it is a welcome addition to any jazz guitarist collectio…
10 Jun
Linger Awhile by Ruby Braff
Thursday, 10 June 1999
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Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
Ruby Braff was born in 1927 at Boston and developed early as a gifted player of the trumpet and cornet. A contemporary of the cool jazz and hard bop musicians of the 1950s …
09 Jun
Heart of a Legend by Chico O'Farrill
Wednesday, 09 June 1999
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Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
Heart of a Legend is 60:53 minutes of pure enjoyment from a major master of Afro-Cuban jazz, Chico O'Farrill. Everything that Chico O'Farrill does so well is once again sha…
Ron Affif is an American original, and there are very few who can handle a love ballad on guitar as well as he does. Born on December 30, 1965, he came into contact with th…
08 Jun
Now You Know by Todd Harrold Band
Tuesday, 08 June 1999
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Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
This lively CD will appeal to different people for different reasons with its four selections: "Now You Know" (radio edit) 3:59, "Riders on the Storm" 5:07, "Now You Know" …
Vaughn Nark on trumpet with The Airmen of Note has created a wild, wonderfully brassy sound in this special collection which includes such selections as "Lorraine," "Tidal …
07 Jun
In A New York Minute by Ian Shaw and Cedar Walton
Monday, 07 June 1999
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Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
Vocalist Ian Shaw and pianist Cedar Walton team up in a classic recording that touches all aspects of the jazz listening experience with twelve selections encompassing exce…
06 Jun
Peak Moments by Jeff Hellmer Trio with Rick Margitza
Sunday, 06 June 1999
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Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
Peak Moments is a new CD from the Jeff Hellmer Trio with Rick Margitza, and it gets up and moves nicely with its upbeat feel and tight performances of saxophone and piano l…
06 Jun
Third Trio From The Sun by Gerry Gibbs Trio
Sunday, 06 June 1999
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Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
A new release from the Gerry Gibbs Trio, filled to the maximum with good jazz and a lively performance on each selection! There are 14 selections on this CD. Some of the se…
05 Jun
Left Hook, Right Cross by Rahsaan Roland Kirk
Saturday, 05 June 1999
Published in
Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
In the relatively short history of jazz there have been quite a few uniquely memorable personalities. However, Roland Kirk comes close to the top of the list when surveying…
04 Jun
Three Deuces: Jazz Duets For Flute and Guitars by Mark Weinstein
Friday, 04 June 1999
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Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
Mark Weinstein is one of the most versatile jazz flute performers around today, and he creates some of the best flute jazz in contemporary jazz. THREE DEUCES: JAZZ DUETS FO…
02 Jun
Mood Swings by J.C. Doo-Kingue Band
Wednesday, 02 June 1999
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Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
Doo-Kingué's positive sounding guitar style dominates this recording in such an uplifting way. His style reminds me in some ways of the Nigerian guitarist, King Sunny Adé.
31 May
World Wide by Tina Marsh and CO2
Monday, 31 May 1999
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Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
The history of CO2, The Creative Opportunity Orchestra, began in 1980 when founded by a group of professional artists in Austin, Texas. The original group of 20 musicians i…
30 May
Balade du 10 Mars by Martial Solal Trio
Sunday, 30 May 1999
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Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
For the last 40 years, a landmark has been ignored in this country. A fixture in Europe, over here Martial Solal is best known for his brushes with America: a ’63 concert a…
29 May
Grand Tour Alignment by Solar Wind
Saturday, 29 May 1999
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Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
The cover is grandiose: the title refers to a rare occurrence, when all planets are in the same corner of sky. You expect something cosmic; for the first minute (all synths…
27 May
First Steps by Bobby Selvaggio
Thursday, 27 May 1999
Published in
Contemporary Jazz - CD Reviews
Listening to FIRST STEPS reminded me of some the fine jazz of the late 1950s, with emphasis on solo performance balanced with input from fellow musicians. Bobby Selvaggio o…
This is a powerhouse cd of Afro-Cuban jazz laced with touches of Arabic influences, and a magnificent showcase for pianist (and pipe organist) Kathy Kidd. She is accompanie…
Each member of this ensemble comes to the table with various rich musical experiences. It is perhaps this element that is conducive to the many themes and textures on this …