10 June 2008
Dave Allen
Real and Imagined
2007, Fresh Sound / New Talent
From the March 2008 issue of JazzTimes…
With a bright, crisply articulated guitar tone and a slippery attack, Dave Allen takes an exceptional quartet on a spin through nine original tunes, showcasing both his own subtle compositional style and the seamless interplay of his band. Saxophonist Seamus Blake projects a smoothly undulating linearity against Allen’s more circular solo approach, while bassist Drew Gress and drummer Mark Ferber provide gentle yet irresistible force. Melodious and buoyant throughout, this set is easily approached but yields a rich listening experience.
Get it | Artist's website | Label's website
26 April 2008
Grupa Janke Randalu
Live
2008, Jazz 'n' Arts
Originally hailing from Eastern Europe, the dynamic pianist Kristjan Randalu and mercurial percussionist Bodek Janke are all but unknown to American jazz fans. But the pair belong among the top rank of modern jazz innovators, as evidenced by this thrilling live session recorded in Germany in May 2007. The visceral excitement and engrossing interplay captured on this disc almost defy description: each player sounds like an extension of the other, as Randalu’s outstanding rhythmic instincts mesh seamlessly with Janke’s constantly shifting blend of drums, mouth percussion and assorted sounds. The brilliant, acrobatic “Confidance” blasts off like a lost collaboration between Chick Corea and McCoy Tyner. Standards are playfully warped and refracted as if by funhouse mirrors, while “Hinken” and the traditional Estonian tune “Igaühel oma pill” are carried off to some unnameable, exotic land. In all, it’s a remarkable journey that calls for repeated listenings, and demands greater recognition for Janke and Randalu on these shores.
Get it | Artist's website | Label's website
22 April 2008
Richard Underhill
Moment in Time
2005, Stubby Records
Recorded in 2005 but only recently released in the U.S., the second CD by Canadian saxophonist Richard Underhill is a hard-swinging modern jazz romp that just seems to get better as it goes along. Underhill’s melodies are relatively simple, giving his tunes a fresh yet classic sound that’s both welcoming and galvanizing. Pianist Luis Huerra adds a strong harmonic boost, bouncing hip, energetic phrases against Underhill’s joyous alto sax lines. The ten original compositions make for a fun ride from start to finish, but “Morse Code” goes above and beyond as Underhill and Huerra each threaten to overheat above a thrilling rhythmic drive from bassist Mike Milligan and drummer Joe Poole.
20 April 2008
Arturo O'Farrill and the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra
Song for Chico
2008, Zoho Music
This second CD by Arturo O’Farrill’s mighty 18-piece band carries all the craftsmanship and style of the ensemble’s former sponsor, Jazz at Lincoln Center. It’s a study in precision, with bold, intricate arrangements and beautifully rendered performances, recalling the glory days of mambos and cha-chas but also thrusting forward with an eye towards advancing the art form. O’Farrill’s deft leadership and majestic piano guide the group through eight tricky charts, from the classic “Caravan” and “Picadillo” through a few numbers by his illustrious father Chico O’Farrill, and culminating in daring postmodern compositions from Dafnis Prieto and Tom Harrell. But while the emphasis here is more on structure and ensemble than individual pyrotechnics, there’s plenty of that, too: trumpeters Michael Rodriguez and Jim Seeley consistently push the music higher, while veteran saxophonist Bobby Porcelli takes time out for a brilliant soliloquy in the title cut.
Get it | Artist's website | Label's website
19 April 2008
Paul Carr
Musically Yours
2008, PCJ
This loving tribute to the late Joe Henderson finds Washington, DC saxophonist Paul Carr at the head of a powerhouse band, well suited to the hard-hitting swing and burning themes of Henderson’s uptempo numbers but also subtle enough to bring out the uplifting quality of his slower tunes. Focusing on some of Henderson’s lesser-known compositions, Carr charges ahead with a burly tone, full of honks, squeals and other expressions of exuberance. Terell Stafford flies high with some hot, sassy trumpet solos while Mulgrew Miller chugs, tumbles and riffs on piano. A tireless rhythm tandem of bassist Michael Bowie and drummer Lewis Nash keeps things grooving, while Carr digs in and spreads the joy around. A sprinkling of original and classic tunes in a Hendersonian vein change things up while maintaining the overall vibe. It’s a wonderful record.
RSS
Atom