Straight-Ahead / Classic - CD Reviews (1959)
It’s good to hear a rising, young, straight-ahead, tenor performer such as Yaron Elyashiv. His soloing and improvisational skills bring to mind legendary greats Dexter Gord…
Read more...
Pushing the envelope of creativity has always been a by-product of jazz music; but unfortunately, some artists have maintained a less than enthusiastic attitude about el…
Read more...
Saxophonist Bruce Eskovitz makes jumping jazz sound modern on his latest release, One For Newk II. Accompanied by pianist Billy Mays, vibraphonist Charlie Shoemak…
Read more...
Phenomenal musicianship and improvisation by two fantastic jazz veterans produced an outing so simpatico, so delightful in nature; you’d be hard pressed to find another …
Read more...
Certain jazz artists will never - no matter how tastefully they approach their instrument, no matter how accomplished their technique, no matter how insightful and well-…
Read more...
There are some artists who pass through the turnstiles of concert halls and never return, and then there is American Songbook connoisseur/classic jazz performer, Michael…
Read more...
Pianist David Leonhardt and his respective band-mates have performed and recorded with some of the finest jazz musicians in the business, and it’s no wonder that they wo…
Read more...
Harry Warren wrote his first hit, "Rose of the Rio Grande" in 1922, earned an Oscar nomination for "An Affair to Remember" in 1957, and composed more than 500 songs for mov…
Read more...
West Coast jazz pianist Larry Vukovich is an admitted ‘30s through ‘50s era film buff, as iterated within the liner notes. In turn, he chose the title of this CD from th…
Read more...
The Harry Allen - Joe Cohn Quartet 2004 Arbors release Hey, Look Me Over had me absolutely convinced that I had heard the ultimate in small group swing. Swing and in…
Read more...
The late John Patton (1935-2002), better known as Big John Patton, was among the number of the 1960s Sultans of the Hammond B-3 organ. While he didn’t a…
Read more...
The Welcoming is a live recording from jazz guitarist Tony do Rosario and his band, which was taped at The First Presbyterian Church of Cape May on August 13, 200…
Read more...
As a wee lad in the '70s, at my local library, one could check out records for a week. The selection was mostly classical music (got me hip to Aaron Copeland, Harry Part…
Read more...
Roy Hargrove hasn’t defined the term "Earfood" explicitly as far as I know, but his new CD by the same name, provides a 67-minute-long musical demonstration of the concept.…
Read more...
Too often, jazz musicians leave us too soon. Sadly, the list is unfortunately, relatively long. It includes Michel Petrucciani, who passed from a pulmonary infection at the…
Read more...
Rush Life is jazz pianist Antonio Ciacca’s fourth studio album that also exercises his role as a bandleader. It features his New York City based quintet of Kengo …
Read more...
No stranger to Grammy nominations with four to his credit, saxman David Sanchez also received the Latin Grammy for Best Instrumental Album in 2005 with his last release,…
Read more...
Country music shows pride in the angelic choir-like resonance of Alison Krauss, but jazz acquired the dulcet airwaves of Stevie Holland whose fourth CD, Before Love H…
Read more...
Just in Jazz - Sharel Cassity - Just For You Alto supremacy is the working title of this spin today! Just For You is cunningly complex, yet seemingl…
Read more...
Pure, unpretentious yet cerebral, and full of body. That pretty much sums up this effort by clarinetist/saxophonist Steve Treseler and his competent band on this album, …
Read more...