28 Mar
Speaking in Tongues by Michael Kocour
Wednesday, 28 March 2007
Published in
Progressive - CD Reviews
Depth of understanding with regard to the historical lineage of one’s instrument is a vital component in a jazz musician’s development. On Speaking in Tongues, Ar…
Bruce Hornsby has assembled a trio of significant merit for his first jazz effort. The rhythm section consists of bassist Christian McBride and drummer Jack Dejohnette. …
27 Mar
The Zoo is Far by Christian Wallumrød Ensemble
Tuesday, 27 March 2007
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Progressive - CD Reviews
Pianist Christian Wallumrød’s fourth outing for this record label reaffirms his penchant for breaking down genres and reformulating them into a distinct voice. Here, the…
In what seems like an endless sea of young jazz stalwarts vying for attention, New York-based saxophonist Dave Noland stands out with a sound brimming with warmth and ex…
Somehow it doesn’t seem possible, but it has now been 20 years since multi-Grammy winner rock/pop pianist Bruce Hornsby burst upon the music world. His highly infectious…
This band has managed to become one of the darlings of the progressive jazz stratum. With its fourth release, the unit’s mark of distinction moves forward, where strong …
12 Mar
Jazz Cycles by Manhattan New Music Project
Monday, 12 March 2007
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Progressive - CD Reviews
Guitarist and composer Paul Nash passed away in 2006 from complications due to brain cancer. Before he passed away he organized a two-CD project meant to represent the d…
10 Mar
Dreams and False Alarms by Andy Milne
Saturday, 10 March 2007
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Progressive - CD Reviews
Hailing from Toronto, Canada pianist Andy Milne earned an Honors degree in music from York University, where he studied with, among others, Oscar Peterson. Encouraged by…
10 Mar
Limparfait des Langues by Louis Sclavis
Saturday, 10 March 2007
Published in
Progressive - CD Reviews
French clarinetist/saxophonist Louis Sclavis has emerged into the spectrum of the great progressive-jazz musical minds. He defies rigid categorization, since he often em…
10 Mar
First Live In Japan by Arti & Mestieri
Saturday, 10 March 2007
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Progressive - CD Reviews
They’re somewhat of a legendary Italian jazz-rock band, emanating from its ‘70s issued LPs "Tilt" and Giro Di Valzer Per Domani" as this powerhouse unit t…
09 Mar
At Night by Theo Bleckmann & Ben Monder
Friday, 09 March 2007
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Progressive - CD Reviews
These musicians convey a noticeable sense of friendship and mutual respect during their periodic duo and ensemble based performances. As a follow-up to their 1997 gem ti…
06 Mar
Room to Grow by Omer Avital Group
Tuesday, 06 March 2007
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Progressive - CD Reviews
Bassist/composer Omer Avital has always been something of a free-spirit; exploring the full sonic terrain of his bass and encouraging a vibrant, communal approach throug…
Nordic Connect brings together the inventive and like-minded musical personalities of trumpeter Ingrid Jensen, saxophonist Christine Jensen and pianist Maggi Olin in a c…
28 Feb
Universal Syncopations II by Miroslav Vitous
Wednesday, 28 February 2007
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Progressive - CD Reviews
A pivotal figure during the ‘70s and ‘80s progressive-jazz and fusion realm, eminent Czech bassist Miroslav Vitous’ solo career waned down to a snail’s pace during the p…
28 Feb
Borrowed Time - Tiempo Prestado by Steve Khan
Wednesday, 28 February 2007
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Progressive - CD Reviews
Guitar great Steve Khan’s latest offering is a Latin-jazz centric extension of his previous effort, The Green Field. Percussionist Manolo Badrena; bassist John Pa…
28 Feb
Land of Dreams by Charles Davis
Wednesday, 28 February 2007
Published in
Progressive - CD Reviews
Having made his mark on classic recordings by Sun Ra and Kenny Dorham, Chicago-bred saxophonist Charles Davis possesses a wealth of varied jazz experiences, from free-fo…
22 Feb
Tipping Point by Jason Smith
Thursday, 22 February 2007
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Progressive - CD Reviews
As a drummer Jason Smith hearkens back to the days of Buddy Rich via his darting snare shots and poetically-inclined polyrhythmic fills - all performed on a small kit. W…
Plurality is a self-produced and self-released CD by guitarist Chris Vazquez. Currently a student at the Berklee School of Music in Boston, his previous schooling…
12 Feb
Le Flirt de Satie by The Gerard Kleijn Group
Monday, 12 February 2007
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Progressive - CD Reviews
Le Flirt de Satie is the fourth album of Dutch trumpeter and flugelhorn player Gerard Kleijn with his international band pianist Franck Amsallem of France, double…
06 Feb
The Unbelievable Truth by Elton Dean & The Wrong Object
Tuesday, 06 February 2007
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Progressive - CD Reviews
During his lifetime, British saxophone great Elton Dean made a huge impact, hearkening back to those historic days with Soft Machine and his contributions to British …
Twenty-years after his inaugural and groundbreaking release "Cloud About Mercury," for ECM Records, guitar and electronics wizard David Torn’s career has spiraled into v…
03 Feb
Afternoon In Paris by Anthony Ortega
Saturday, 03 February 2007
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Progressive - CD Reviews
Interestingly enough, West Coast saxophonist Anthony Ortega’s previously unreleased 1966 take on Bird’s "Ornithology," with bassist Chuck Domanico is inserted among thes…
01 Feb
Truth and Reconciliation by Darrell Grant
Thursday, 01 February 2007
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Progressive - CD Reviews
Other than the jazz-superstar accompaniment he receives, pianist/composer and educator Darrell Grant injects a personalized spin, rooted with a distinct musical aura tha…
Spanning material originally recorded between 1982-86 for one LP and two twelve-inch EP’s, this band came to fruition subsequent to the disbanding of "This Heat." Drumme…
Cited with possessing a "chamber/classical-rock" stylistic slant, this Wisconsin-based unit interlaces an austere element with a sassy, bold and thrusting modus operandi…
22 Jan
The Third Quartet by John Abercrombie
Monday, 22 January 2007
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Progressive - CD Reviews
This is the third installment of guitar hero John Abercrombie’s quartet; hence the album title. And with thirty-three years as an ECM recording artist, this album catalogue…
Composer Matthew Herbert wears a hodgepodge of musical hats spanning DJ fare, remixes, electronica, arranging and film scoring. Armed with a vast imagination and the tec…
18 Jan
Certain Undiscoveries by Taylor's Universe
Thursday, 18 January 2007
Published in
Progressive - CD Reviews
Never thought I’d see the day, when an entity in Russia would start a progressive-rock record label. Or perhaps I haven’t been searching too long and hard. More importan…
17 Jan
DVD: Live at Montreux 2003 by YES
Wednesday, 17 January 2007
Published in
Progressive - CD Reviews
This 2003 performance culled from the Montreux Jazz Festival is regarded by members of YES to be its finest gig ever to be captured on film. And after witnessing two hou…
14 Jan
Cerebral Flow by Logan Richardson
Sunday, 14 January 2007
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Progressive - CD Reviews
Logan Richardson’s music is a breath of fresh air. The young saxophonist composes and improvises with an undeniable spirit of musical renewal. The music on Cerebral F…
14 Jan
Surviving Death/Alive Why? by Bill Brovold and Larval
Sunday, 14 January 2007
Published in
Progressive - CD Reviews
This two-CD gala provides an all-encompassing snapshot of this very unique, Michigan based progressive-rock unit. Led by guitarist/composer Bill Brovold, the aggregation…
08 Jan
DVD; Live in Baden-Baden Germany March 1990 by The Steve Morse Band
Monday, 08 January 2007
Published in
Progressive - CD Reviews
Perennial poll winner, guitarist Steve Morse is captured with his trio on German TV during this 1990 performance. At this time, "The Dixie Dregs," were taking a siesta, …
06 Jan
The Free Zen Society by The Free Zen Society
Saturday, 06 January 2007
Published in
Progressive - CD Reviews
It is never too late to write about a recording that is beautiful enough to defy time. So it can be said of The Free Zen Society on Thirsty Ear, which came out in…
16 Aug
First Choice - Piano Solo KKL Luzern by Irene Schweizer
Wednesday, 16 August 2006
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Progressive - CD Reviews
Eminent Swiss pianist Irene Schweizer performed these heavily improvised works at a Lucerne - classical concert hall. Alternatively, Schweizer invokes the history of mod…
14 Aug
When Last We Met by Mace Hibbard
Monday, 14 August 2006
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Progressive - CD Reviews
No "huff and puff" warning here, just pure " blow your house down" playing by the entire ensemble. Mace Hibbard explodes into the treasured "Hello world, deal with me" s…
A jazz trio’s canvas is the absence of sound in an empty space. The trio’s challenge is to become a "team of one" and use this space to foster an individual and collecti…
13 Aug
Celebrate Diversity by Luca Niggli Big Zoom
Sunday, 13 August 2006
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Progressive - CD Reviews
Fans of European jazz take notice. Drummer and percussionist Luca Niggli's Big Zoom is a quintet of unusual proportions. On Celebrate Diversity, Niggli is joine…
Bandleader Goh Kurosawa describes Sharp Three’s style as "Global Fusion," with influences spanning jazz, rock, Western classical music and Balkan rhythms. His main inspi…
01 Aug
Mangfoldighed by Jakob Davidsen
Tuesday, 01 August 2006
Published in
Progressive - CD Reviews
Danish pianist/composer Jakob Davidsen’s latest offering, Mangfoldighed, refers to the diversity of life, art, society and nature. The varied musical scheme of th…
31 Jul
Just Beyond by Ed Breazeale Quintet
Monday, 31 July 2006
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Progressive - CD Reviews
Drummer Ed Breazeale is that creative artist who wants to get it just right. In the notes on his new CD, Just Beyond, Breazeale says that after he arranged each piec…
31 Jul
This Is My House by Anne Mette Iversen
Monday, 31 July 2006
Published in
Progressive - CD Reviews
With This Is My House, Brooklyn-based bassist/composer Anne Mette Iversen delivers a stunning collection of original progressive jazz, bursting with lively melodi…
29 Jul
State of the Union by Frank Carlberg
Saturday, 29 July 2006
Published in
Progressive - CD Reviews
On State of the Union pianist/composer Frank Carlberg continues his mission to merge modern jazz composition with off-beat poetry as he did on In the Land of A…
There can be no dispute individually clarinetist/bass clarinetist Andy Biskin and his accompanying duo are all musical artists of the highest caliber. Texas raised Biski…
The brainchild of Belgian drummer, percussionist, and composer Daniel Denis, Univers Zero is one of the most important and consistently interesting progressive bands aro…
08 Jul
Red Dragonfly by Taeko Kunishima
Saturday, 08 July 2006
Published in
Progressive - CD Reviews
Japanese pianist/composer Taeko Kunishima brings forth a musical melding of Asian exoticism, European romanticism, and American swing on her latest release for 33 Jazz, …
07 Jul
Goverment Cheese by Samo Salamon NYC Quintet
Friday, 07 July 2006
Published in
Progressive - CD Reviews
Featuring a powerhouse New York City band, Slovenian progressive jazz guitarist Samo Salamon pursues disparate angles and levels of intensity here. Consequently, his blo…
Based in Wisconsin, Kopecky consists of three brothers who have forged a distinctive and convincing alloy of metal, instrumental progressive rock, and any number of sub-…
Karcius is a young Canadian band whose music straddles the wide chasm between two misunderstood and marginal sub-genres: progressive rock and fusion. Despite their super…
If this outing was released in the ‘70s, it more than likely would have raised a few eyebrows. With Steve Rush’s use of a Fender Rhodes and analog moog synths, the trio …
Katahdin's Edge takes its name from Mount Katahdin (ka TAH din) in the state of Maine, and the foot trail that runs along its top called The Knife's Edge. It is a perfect m…