Listen to Zzaj music while you read the reviews!!!
IMPROVIJAZZATION Nation
Issue # 106 REVIEWS
New! New! New! Zzaj PODCAST!
James
Moody
- "4B": I reviewed James' "4A" in
issue # 98, most
favorably, I might add... this is the kind of jazz that "sticks to your ribs", &
won't soon be pushed to the bottom of your playlists. Just scope out his superb
tenor sax on "Hot
House"; reeds right from the git, very comfortably balanced with Kenny
Barron's piano, bass by Todd Coolman and drums from Lewis Nash - if you've never
listened to much jazz before, this is a perfect tune to start with! The
drum intro on "Speak
Low" moves the track right on into "Coolville", the place to be for jazz
lovers of every stripe. The piece that exemplified the best in jazz for my ears
(my favorite on the CD) was "Nikara's
Song"; a strange mix of sadness and hope that lets you know right away that
your ears are in the presence of high talent and pure jazz energy. "4B" is
one of the coolest jazz efforts I've listened to this year, & certainly rates my
MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, as well as an "EQ" (energy quotient) rating of 4.98
(right up near the top of the scale). In fact, if you don't get another CD
this year - get this one. Get more information at
www.jamesmoody.com
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Chris Greene Quartet
- SOUL & SCIENCE, VOL 1: From the heart of the nation, up where the
wind prowls the alleyways all night long (Chi-town, volkz), Chris keeps it
kickin' with his quartets' version of Stevie Wonders' "Boogie
On Reggae Woman" (10:33) as the opener... his high-energy saxophone work
will have you bumpin' the night away, to be sure. He's got Damian Espinosa with
him on piano, acoustic bass by Marc Piane & Tyrone Blair's drums and percussion
to round it all out. I reviewed his "Merge" CD in
issue # 101 & fell in
love with the quartet's energy right then & there... he sent a couple more of
his efforts my way, & this is the first of them. The most killer track on
this outing (for my ears, anyway) was "King
of Pain", a tune originally written by Sting... full of emotion, it swirls
around your heart and makes you feel it, to be sure... all four players
are right "on time", no dropped notes & no competition getting in the way of a
great listen. If you haven't listened to Mr. Greene & krew yet, you owe it
to your ears... I give them a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED on this one, as well as an
"EQ" (energy quotient) rating of 4.96. Get more information at
www.chrisgreenejazz.com
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El's Mystery
- INERTIAL CONFUSION: CD's that have me playing on them don't often
get reviewed here, but when multi-instrumentalist Tony Belcastro latched on to a
few of the tunes I had up on my "Track
Madness" project (27 solo compositions by me (still) available for download
& remix), it was an instant conclusion that his final product would get reviewed
here. Tony's masterful & energetic guitar work on "Lava
Flow West" just can't be easily dismissed... excellent! Of course, my
ears were jaundiced toward pieces like my comprovisation, "In
Harm's Way"... Tony added percussion & drum tracks, as well as some superb
(& fluent) guitar that will blow your ears away! We both had a lot of fun
with "Harpsichord
Swirl" (another one of mine), too; but it was the strong-rock-oriented "Once
Over the Edge" that "took it to the limit" for me... my absolute favorite
track on the CD. If you haven't listened to Tony's work before - you'll
want to NOW, folks; though it's not "pure jazz", it has elements of the ebb/flow
that transcend labels. I give this one a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED & an "EQ"
(energy quotient) rating of 4.96. Get more information at
www.reverbnation.com/elsmystery
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Jacam Manricks
- TRIGONOMETRY: Jacam was reviewed here in
issue # 95 (most
favorably, I might add)... his alto sax work is astounding & very pleasant to
listen to... especially when he hooks up with players like pianist Gary Versace,
bassist Joe Martin & drummer Obed Calvaire (with guest artists Alan Ferber on
trombone and trumpet from Scott Wendholt). Just scope out the opening
(title) track, "Trigonometry"
to get an aural feel for how talented and precise these players are. If
it's something a little more "slinky" you want to hear, check the excellent "Cluster
Funk"... excellent timing & the spirit is moving you (as well as the
players) on this one! This June, 2010 release is Jacam's first on the
Posi-Tone Records label, featuring 10
superb tracks that will get even the non-jazz listener enthused. The
introspective and intriguing "Nucleus"
slows down the mood a bit, but it also shows how strong these players are
together... not a note dropped, yet "open space" for each of them... a very cool
song. It was "Mood
Swing", though, that got my vote for favorite track... a beautiful and
suspenseful build for the entire 8:52 length of the tune. This one gets a
MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from me, as well as an "EQ" (energy quotient) rating of
4.98. Get more information at
www.posi-tone.com/jacam-manricks/trigonometry.html Rotcod
Zzaj
Chris Massey
- VIBRAINIUM: Some of the excitement I feel as I listen (for the
4000th time) to the 10:00 opener, "Galactus",
comes from the totally syncopated rush of Chris's drum works... other parts of
it are because I recognize
Donald Malloy (trumpet), or simply because 5 of the 7 performances on this
self-release are all-original compositions. Any way you slice it, though,
these smokin' players (David Ostrem on bass, piano from Evgeny Lebedev &
alto/soprano sax by Benjamin Drazen) are truly in to the music they are
playing! 7 tracks that will have jazz listeners (& players alike) looking
forward to more from Chris & krew... just check out "Smooth"
(a Malloy composition) to see what "sweet" sounds like; absolutely piercing (yet
pleasant) notage from Donald. It was the title track, Chris's "Vibrainium"
(next to last on the album) that will put your ears in a spin - I can guarantee
you'll listen to this 11:13 odyssey over and over again... it's my absolute
favorite on the CD. I've little doubt that we will all be hearing lots
more from Chris, & I'll be first in line! "Vibrainium" gets my MOST HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED, as well as an "EQ" rating of 4.98 - ain't no "slick" here, this is
REAL jazz. Get more information at
www.chrismasseyjazz.com
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Jackson Garrett - SPEECHLESS:
That's just the condition you'll find your head in after listening to the first
couple of compositions from Jackson... words will fail you... the krew he has
playing these dozen tunes are rigged up to look like (either) Mafioso or the
Blues Brothers, but it's not a hype... they've clearly been out in the "street",
& know whereof they play. Just check out one of the "horniest" tunes
around today, "Cool
and Easy"; then switch over to a totally different mood on "Kisses
All Around" to hear their diversity and skill in different musical
situations. Now switch to the heavy R&B with killer guitar of "Slow
Down, Boy!"... when you toss in the heavy horns, you'll be in musical bliss!
I could (& have done) listen to this band for hours in a row... my favorite
track, though, turned out to be the bluesy "Downtown
With You"... make ya' think you're right in N'aw'leans - right NOW, people.
I give these folks a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, particularly for those who love a
bit of honkin' horn in their jazz. "EQ" (energy quotient) rating is 4.96.
Get more information at
www.reverbnation.com/jacksongarrett Rotcod Zzaj
Jennifer Zarine- FRESH MADE CUPPA
TEA: Words like "vibrant", "sweet" & "zingy" come to mind as I listen
to the opening track on Jennifer's too-cool CD "Fresh Made Cuppa Tea", "Orange
Colored Sky"... then other words pour in as she segues into "The
Way You Do The Things You Do"... "fun" & "frolicking", f'r'instance.
The tunes are, for the most part, fairly short in length, almost at "radio
length"... I think that makes the CD more enjoyable in a way, & certainly gives
you a strong sense of her performance range. If you're in a rockin' mood,
for instance, you'll definitely dig her rendition of Jagger/Richards' "Paint
It Black" - Jennifer is definitely a siren on this one! It was the
mighty mellow "Smile/I'm
All Smiles" that captured my ear for favorite track... she's right out in
front with a rich vocal that will make you feel the emotion she's
singing! I give her a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, with an "EQ" (energy quotient)
rating of 4.95. I expect we'll all be hearing much more from this highly
talented jazz vocalist. Get more information on her
FB
PAGE! Rotcod Zzaj
Davis & Dow- LOVERLY:
When I was growing up, there were a ton of "married musical duos"... Eddie &
Debbie, Steve & Edie & a whole lot of others that prolly inspired "valley girl
slang" like "gag me with a spoon"... the dynamic difference between that kinda'
'50's schlock and this elegant jazz CD from Julie Davis & Kelly Dow is that it's
all high-energy & absolutely on-time! No clichés here and you'll
find your ears totally absorbed by Julies' vocal qualities, as well as Kelly's
killer jazz guitar licks. That's especially true on tracks like "Stairway
To The Stars" where there's only one word that can describe the guitar intro
- SUPERB... when Julie chimes in, it's a match made in heaven. The
laid-back strains of "Azure"
made this one my favorite tune on the album, though... part of that may be
because their whole cast of players joins them through the whole 8:08 adventure.
Again, I'm seldom impressed by married folks trying to jazz it up, but in this
case, I'm very much impressed... they get a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from me, with an
"EQ" (energy quotient) rating of 4.97. Get more information at
www.davisanddow.com
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Phil Wilson-Makoto Ozone- LIVE AT
THE BERKLEE PERFORMANCE CENTER: Phil's trombone work will astound any
& all listeners who are addicted to that instrument, & when he's joined by
(then) the 21-year-old Makoto Ozone's piano antics, you'll feel like your ears
are in jazz heaven! The opening track, "Stella
By Starlight", is so energetic you'll think Stella's been out riding comets
again... the totally spontaneous interaction between Phil's horn & Makoto's
keyboards are among the best I've heard this year. The original release
was in 1982, and you can hear some of the "over-digitization" that happened on
digital recordings in those years, but only if you're listening at low levels...
the recording is superb, actually... especially on tracks like (my favorite) "Blues
My Naughty Sweetie Gave To Me". This 25 year old recording is already
a "jazz classic" by virtue of the length of time since it was recorded, but more
importantly, it conveys the spirit of jazz that is so essential to keeping
freedom alive in the world today. I give this CD my MOST HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED, with an "EQ" (energy quotient) rating of 4.98. Get more
information at
ANSWERS! Rotcod Zzaj
Lisa Downing- A DELICATE
BALANCE: I don't care what the most ravenous jazz fan says... a change
of pace ev'ry once in a while is part of keeping the "balance", and Lisa's
beautiful solo keyboards, though not jazz, are as intimate a part of my own
musical lifestyle as the ravingest free jazz on the globe. I'd imagine
that's because I'm also a keyboardist, and know just how much yin/yang can be
experienced in the joyous moments of realization. In Lisa's most capable
hands, you'll be guided through (nearly) 50 minutes of pure pleasure and
universal harmony; lest you think that's me "hyping", take a (headphone) listen
to "The
Bedtime Song"... not so much like a lullaby as it is a gate to astral
travels during your rest period. There are 12 beautiful pieces here, but I
found the short-titled "Lost"
to be my absolute favorite on the CD... Lisa's playing on this one expresses the
full range of emotions you might attribute to being "off the path" for a bit,
but also brings you full circle back to the path. I'm enjoying this one
immensely, as will you... I give it my MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, with an "EQ"
(energy quotient) rating of 4.96. Get more information at
www.lisadowning.com/ldcom/delicate-balance.htm Rotcod
Zzaj
Dave Anderson Quartet- CLARITY:
If you're thirsting for some jazz that hearkens back to where jazz "came from",
yet with solid 21st Century timing and verve - you'll want to get this superb
effort from Seattle saxophonist (soprano/alto) Dave Anderson... John Hansen's
piano, bass by Chuck Kistler, drums from Adam Kessler and flugelhorn from Thomas
Marriott combine to give you one of the clearest jazz CD's you'll hear in 2010.
I've no doubt you'll enjoy this music for many years to come; it's just the kind
of performance that gets "hooks" in your ears and won't let go. Just listen to
the high-energy "Stalemate",
or the haunting "Beautiful
Love" to hear why this is such an instant attraction for jazzers everywhere!
My money is on the monster track "Free",
though... you will hear reed talent like you've never heard before, and the rest
of the group is tighter than most any quartet you'll hear on the scene today!
This debut CD is only the first experience you'll have with this vibrant
player... I predict you will be hearing much, MUCH more from him in the next few
years! I give this a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, with an "EQ" (energy
quotient) rating of 4.98... "Clarity" also gets the "PICK" of this issue for
"best emerging jazz talent". This one is HOT, folks - get it! Get
more information at
www.daveandersonjazz.com Rotcod Zzaj
Rita Edmond- A GLANCE AT
DESTINY: When you're in the mood for vocal tales of love found, lost
or continuing, Rita's CD will be your perfect choice... 14 wonderful jazzed-up
songs that will take you through the whole panorama in (slightly over) an hour.
Her voice is rich-toned and full of energy on these vibrantly performed tunes...
I'm impressed, and with the amount of jazz singers I listen to over the course
of a year, that's definitely saying something. Just check out the
laid-back atmosphere Rita creates on "Gentle
Rain" - +, she sounds totally comfortable with the players she's chosen to
join her (too many to itemize here). This is her second album, and though
I didn't have the opportunity to review the earlier one, I've no doubt we'll be
hearing much more from her in the coming years. Her totally upbeat style
on "This
Can't Be Love" made it my favorite on the CD... truly inspiring, people!
I give her a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for all who love jazz vocal works that are
full of punch and vigor. She gets an "EQ" (energy quotient) rating of
4.97. Get more information at
www.ritaejazz.com Rotcod Zzaj
David Borgo and Jeff Kaiser-
HARVESTING METADATA: By the sonics that guide my ears, there is little
more exciting than music like David and Jeff perform here as "KaiBorg"; of
course, my aural appendages are ever-so-slightly jaded, twisted & bent, so some
of you reading this will wonder why I'm reviewing it. All you have to do
to find out the answer to that question is listen to the marvelous/intriguing "Flow
Control"... make sure you do it with 'phones on, and you'll hear the
attraction right away (unless you're such a sonic sludgemudgeon that you can't
stand "different"). I've been listening to Jeff's work for many years now,
& reviewed one of David's CD's way back in
issue # 69; these gents
are veterans, & musically well-educated vets, at that. Great music for
adventurous listeners... for me, it was the mysterious "Postural
Schema" that got the vote for favorite track... bottom line is that if you
love aural adventure, you'll have to have this superbly constructed CD in your
collection. It certainly merits my MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED and gets an
"EQ" (energy quotient) rating of 4.98. Get more information at
www.kaiborg.com
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Fremont John- GUITAR SONGS:
Some absolutely superb string work from Fremont John & friends... 10 great
tracks featuring his guitar and keyboard work. If it's laid-back with a
truly "continental" vibe you're lookin' for, try out "Europa"...
a bit longer than many at 7:36, but it's a genuinely vibrant tune that displays
a love for life & the living of it! For those listeners who want nothin'
but instrumental bliss, this is absolutely the ticket. Many of the tunes
take me back to an earlier & gentler time in our history, when many of us wanted
to do little but sit 'round & make music... nothing like the hectic pace of life
today, and John's talent shines through in his ability to inspire you to kick
back with him & the other players joining him on the CD. My favorite piece
was "Slippery When
Wet", probably 'coz of th' bluesy ride to oblivion it takes you on... a
truly "sweet" tune! I give this one a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for
listeners across all spectrums, with an "EQ" (energy quotient) rating of 4.97.
Get more information at www.fremontjohn.com
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Bob Szajner Triad II- LIVE AT
THE MONTREUX DETROIT INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL: This 1981
performance was digitized & released by Cadence Jazz Records in July 2009...
though I'd not heard Bob's piano work before (or Ed Pickens bass & Frank Isola's
drums), it's clear through all 11 tracks that these guys were having the time of
their lives. High energy jazz in live mode - the energy, in fact, just
won't quit. The recording itself has some of that "high digit" sound that
was typical in those days, but considering the technology back then, they pretty
much captured the real thing. It's the kind of jazz that makes you wish
you could have been there with the hundreds (maybe thousands) you can see on the
album cover, swillin' down cokes (maybe with somethin' mixed in 'em) & gettin'
loose with the players. Unfortunately, I couldn't find any sample files
(maybe they're out there somewhere, & if you know where they are, please send me
links - Editor: Bob sent me the
ITUNES link, though I don't use ITUNES, since they don't allow deep linking), so you'll just have to take my word that "Prayer Meetin'" will take you
right back to your roots. I give this one a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, especially
for those who collect memorable jazz performances. "EQ" (energy quotient)
rating is 4.97. Get more information at
WIKIPEDIA.
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Dave Wilson Quartet- SPIRAL:
Surprise is the word I find on my mind as I write this... I'm surprised that I
didn't hear Dave's superb tenor & soprano during my 18-month (or so) sojourn in
the Lancaster/Philadelphia area, as he's been a stalwart on the jazz scene for
many years. The 11 cuts on this fantastic high-energy CD prove his musical
genius beyond doubt, especially on tracks like "Summer
Breezes", one of the most
beautiful pieces of music I've heard this year. It's full-tilt jazz from the
title track on the opener, "Spiral",
to my absolute favorite piece, "Movin'
On"... Phil Markowitz'
piano, bass by Tony Marino and drums from Adam Nussbaum all work together with
Dave's probing reed work to make this a most memorable tune. This CD is more
than just a "keeper", it's an instant classic in my collection... just kick back
and scope out "Elm"
to get a real taste for what jazz is truly all about! I can't say enough about
Dave's splendid June 2010 release - it gets my MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating,
as well as the "PICK" of 2010 for "best jazz quartet". The "EQ" (energy
quotient) rating is 4.99. Get more information at
www.davewhilsonmusic.org
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William Parker, Jason Kao Hwang,
Will Connell, Jr., Zen Matsuura
- COMMITMENT, THE COMPLETE RECORDINGS 1981/1983: A marvelous 2-CD set
that captured Will on flute, bass clarinet, alto sax and wood flutes, as well as
string bass from William Parker, violin, viola & bird calls from Jason Kao Hwang
and drums from Zen Matsurra. These are some amazing works, as fresh as the
time they were recorded... it's some of the liveliest and most important work
you'll hear for the early roots of Asian-American jazz! The music here
will remind you of where free-jazz started from, albeit with some tasty
east-west flavorings and cultural blending like you've never heard before.
I was unable to find samples to link in, though I'm sure they are out there
somewhere (if you know where they are, please send me the links at
zzajunique@hotmail.com ). The
track I found the most intense and in the best traditions of jazz that's already
in orbit was "The Web of Forces"; all the players are "on" during the entire
6:36 length. The fact that some of the tunes are live recordings also
lends some excitement one might not otherwise hear. Excellent recording,
excellent jazz, excellent players that get a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from me,
with an "EQ" (energy quotient) rating of 4.97. Get more information at
www.nobusinessrecords.com
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Blues Emporium- BLUES EMPORIUM:
Some hard-rockin' blues from this splendid DDR (digital download review) these
gents provide me. Just scope out the first track in the 30 minutes (or so)
of music they opened up for me to write on... "Cheap
Sunglasses" - that harp DO smoke, volk! Of course, you'll also wanna'
listen to their uniquely played rendition of the old standard, "Crosscut
Saw". The quality these guys truly excel in is their ENERGY level for
the playing of tunes that often sound hackneyed in the hands of other players...
they are definitely UP for what they're doin', & will have you scootin' 'round
th' floor in a matter of only a few notes. My favorite song from this
round, though, is "Travelin
South" - surely reminds me of th' roadhouse kinda' atmosphere I remember
from the Bishop boys way back when. I'm greatly impressed & hopin' they
send us a CD with tons more releases in the future... I give this effort a MOST
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for those blues lovers in our readership. Their "EQ"
(energy quotient) rating is a stellar 4.99. Get more information at
www.reverbnation.com/bluesemporium (& be sure & tell 'em I sent
ya'). Rotcod Zzaj
Adam Schroeder
- A HANDFUL OF STARS: It's not very often that I hear baritone sax at
the front of a jazz group, but Adam's debut recording (with guitarist Graham
Dechter, bassist John Clayton & drummer Jeff Hamilton) puts him right out in
front of it, to be sure. Other baritone players I've heard often come
across with a voice too "strident", for lack of a better term, but as you listen
to the opener, "I
Don't Wanna Be Kissed (By Anyone But You)", you'll hear reeds that kinda'
"melt" right in with the other instruments... great track! A Quincy Jones
tune, "Jessica's
Birthday", will have you dancin' 'round the room with joy, no doubt, & it
shows just the kind of superb talent your ears are in the presence of. It
was Adam's original track, "Midwest
Mash", that got my vote as favorite tune, though... strident playing without
any hesitation or shyness on his part, it took me back to the kind of "roots
jazz" I grew up on in the mid-to-late '60's, but with a solid 21st Century
outlook. 11 completely solid tracks that will have you wanting to hear
more, & I predict that's just what will happen... you'll be listening to
Schroeder & crew in lots of future recordings. I give him my MOST HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED, with an "EQ" (energy quotient) rating of 4.97. Get more
information at
www.adamschroedermusic.com Rotcod Zzaj
Chris Colangelo
- ELAINE'S SONG: Fans of jazz bass will find their ears totally
captured by Chris's (mostly) all-original (7 of the 9) tunes on this September
2010 release... no doubt in my mind about that! He's joined by some
stellar players (John Beasley on piano, Steve Hass on drums, Bob Sheppard doing
tenor & soprano sax, Benn Clatworthy on tenor sax & flute and Zane Musa's on
alto sax), and their collective talent just shines right through on all the
tracks. The "keyword" for all of these tunes is "power", & you won't find
a better example than the 6:33 "Like
Kenny"... each instrument has their own place to project the power of their
spirit, and they all do so with the kind of confident approach you'll never hear
from amateurs.... & Chris's bass is just KILLER on this one. I also found "Watts
Important" a completely pleasurable listen... my favorite piece, though, was
the beautiful closer, "From
Dark To Light", which takes you through an entire range of emotions & back
again to solid ground. Any way you listen to it, "Elaine's Song" clearly
merits my MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating, with an "EQ" (energy quotient) rating
of 4.96. Get more information at
www.chriscolangelo.com Rotcod Zzaj
Benny Sharoni
- ETERNAL ELIXIR: Totally good reason why this is the first time I've
heard Benny's splendid tenor sax work... this is his debut CD (July 2010
release). Ten ultimately cool jazz tracks that will turn your ears on &
chill you out no matter what state you were in when you started listening...
just check out the 8:10 "French
Spice" to hear the magical spell Benny weaves (be sure you're listening with
your headphones on, at least for the first round; you'll want to catch every
note on this tune). What's so absolutely attractive about his reed work is
that his spontaneous joy in the living of life shines right through for you to
latch on to & raise your spirits... an excellent piece for that is the
gospel-riff "Pentecostal
Feelin'"... totally soulful and inspiring jazz that shares the stage with
each & every instrument. My favorite piece on the album, though, was "To
Life", which paints a pretty portrait of the tones (and emotions) of the
privilege we have in being here. If this excellent music doesn't inspire
you to relish every moment you have on this plane, you're not "living" anyway.
I give Benny & crew a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, with an "EQ" (energy quotient)
rating of 4.96. Get more information at
www.bennysharoni.com Rotcod
Zzaj
Ken Elkinson
- LINK: Folks who know me also know that I think "change of pace" is
terribly important, whether it be in routine things, or the music one listens
to... helps to avoid stagnation, something that many of our fellow humans seem
to become mired in before their '30's. Ken's excellent solo piano work
makes for an excellent transition between post-bop, free jazz & shades of R&R.
An even dozen compositions that reflect a clear talent and love of the
keyboards. Tunes like "Juniper"
will take you into emotional zones you've forgotten about - it was very easy for
me to picture a walk through the woods on this one, and remember where I've come
from on this long journey. Ken's shimmering piano makes "Sunlight
Through Trees" extend that journey down mem'ry lane... simple, yet
beautiful. The haunting tones on "House
at Dusk" made it my favorite track, one that will stay at the top of my
piano playlists for a long time to come. A very pretty CD that gets a HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED from me, especially for those who love solo piano joy. "EQ"
(energy quotient) rating is 4.95. Get more information at
www.kenelkinson.com Rotcod
Zzaj
Joyce Cobb
- JOYCE COBB WITH THE MICHAEL JEFRY STEVENS TRIO: Wakin' up to Joyce's
splendid performance of "Moanin'"
with Michael's piano & trio members Jonathan Wires' bass and Renardo Ward's
drums takes me right back to 30 years ago when EVERY morning was filled with
shades o' blue. This is a totally different style than what I've heard
Michael & his crews doing before; definitely soulful & Joyce makes that happen,
especially on tunes like "Jitterbug
Waltz", one of the bounciest versions I've ever heard - the keyword for her
vocal on this one is "sultry". It was "Blue
Skies/In Walked Bud" that turned my ears on, though... Joyce has a "cute"
quality to her vocal on this one that brings images of playful nymphs cavorting
through smoke-filled rooms on late night sessions, & Stevens piano just KICKS
here... this is TOTAL ENERGY, and won't soon fall off your playlists. This
is one of the most pleasant sonic surprises I've had this year, & certainly
merits my MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating, especially for those who love female
jazz vocals with high-talent players. "EQ" (energy quotient) rating is
4.97. Get more information at
www.myspace.com/joycecobb Rotcod Zzaj
Takao Iwaki, Tadataka Unno,
David Wong, Quincy Davis - INTRODUCING TAKAO IWAKI: Man, can this cat
play some tenor saxophone, & that piano player Tadataka is beyond belief - when
you toss in vibrant acoustic bass from David Wong and dynamite drums from Quincy
Davis, you know you're in for a long (& most pleasant) jazz ride! This may
have something to do with the fact that all 10 of the tracks are Iwaki
originals, since I believe the energy levels are always pumped up higher when
playing one's own material. Just check out the opener, "Fallin'
Chestnuts" to hear how sweet this quartet sounds... some of the freshest
tuneage I've listened to (yet) this year! One of the tracks I liked best
was "Iguana", pure &
forthright aural evidence that there IS "power jazz"... very cool, Takao.
The piece that captured my ear as favorite, though, was "Iwakistan",
with Takao's wonderful reed work carving a road through (somewhere in) middle
eastern turf. This entire album is a keeper, start to finish... I give it
my MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, with an "EQ" (energy quotient) rating of 4.98.
Get more information at www.takaoiwaki.com/
(+, keep your ears on this great young player; I predict you'll be hearing much
more from him in the coming years). Rotcod Zzaj
Fingerprints - DREAM LIFE:
Those in our readership who grew up during the same years I did will easily
remember names like "Spyro Gyra" and "The Crusaders"... while it's easy to just
"drop names", this massive (& massively talented) band brings fond memories of
those styles... on the other hand, they do it with a definite 21st Century
outlook, so it's not "just another cover band". The third track in, "Acoustic
Soul" is among the best "hip jazz" tunes I've heard in 2010. There's
no doubt that you'll be hearing much (MUCH) more from this band in the coming
months & years... just scope out the totally svelte keys on "Lonesome
Rhodes" to be convinced of my conviction in that regard! Of the even
dozen tunes, it was the super funky "Anything
for You" that made them soar to the top of the charts - absolutely my
favorite track... full of life & the rhythm of soul that moves hearts to do
great things. "Dream Life" is a clear winner, & gets my MOST HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED rating, as well as the "PICK" of this issue for "funkiest band
around". "EQ" (energy quotient) rating is right up near the top at 4.99.
Get more information at
www.fingerprintsband.com Rotcod Zzaj
Cesli Vane - CESLI VANE:
Some very tasty keyboards on this DDR (digital download review) from Cesli on
REVERBNATION... if piano is your forte (listening or playing), you'll want to
check out "sanctums
{piano solo}"... +, it's not just "ordinary" work, the playing is most
unique and delicious to listen to. They only gave me 25 minutes of
material, but it's rich in variety, not just stuck in a rut... I was strongly
impressed with the percussion on "brainsweeper"...
hypnotic is the word for what they're doing on this one. The hands-down
winner, though, was "Tala";
even though it only clocks in at about 3:43, it aids you in the journey to the
outer regions of your inner self. Thoroughly enjoyable independent music
that certainly merits my HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating, particularly for those
listeners who want to hear something different. "EQ" (energy quotient)
rating is 4.95. Get more information at
www.reverbnation.com/celsi
(& be sure to tell them Zzaj sent you). Rotcod Zzaj
The Joel Yennior Trio - BIG CITY
CIRCUS: When it comes to jazz trios, it doesn't get much sweeter than
this... Joel's trombone is joined by Eric Hofbauer's guitar and drums by Gary
Fieldman in one tasty session... 9 tracks at just under 50 minutes that you'll
find yourself playing over & over again! As I listen (for the 100th time)
to the opener, "Dancing
Dave", I'm doing a bit of chair dancing myself... perfect balance in the
recording, with each player sharing the tune for a most pleasant listen.
If it's high energy your ears are yearning for, though, it will be "Estrellita"
you will fall in love with... again, the recording is crystal clear, and the
talent shines through as brightly as any supernova you've witnessed lately.
It was the 5:44 "Postcard
to Dorothy" that got my vote as favorite track, though... Joel's trombone
will talk you through the journey he's taking the trio (and you) on, & it's a
marvelously mellow meander, I'll tell you. I give this one my MOST HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED rating, with an "EQ" (energy quotient) rating of 4.98. Get
more information at
www.brasswheelmusic.com/editable/recordings.htm Rotcod
Zzaj
Chris Graham Trio - AFTER-BIRTH
OF COOL: There aren't a lot of vibe players these days that can
capture your ears as quickly as Chris, & when you combine that with the
sensitive bass by Alex Austin and crisp drums from Oliver Hunt, you'll hear
(right away) that you're in the presence of superb talent! The playing is
all "one-take", no overdubs, so you're getting the raw & natural performance any
jazz listener yearns for. Just listen to one of my favorite pieces, "Punchin'
Trout" to hear Chris's unique 5-mallet technique in all it's pure glory...
you will find this one stays right at the top of your playlists for a long time
to come. There are no illusions in this trio's cool performance - it's all
natural, straight-forward jazz that you'll love... they play very well together,
as you (& your ears) will agree when you listen to my absolute favorite on the
CD, "Salt
'N Ice" (which also closes the set). My only complaint is that the CD
should have been just a tad longer... it clocks in at 28:49... nevertheless, it
still gets a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from me, with an "EQ" (energy quotient) rating
of 4.96. Get more information at
www.chrisgrahamjazz.com Rotcod Zzaj
Michael C Lewis - REFLECTION:
Michael's trumpet and flugelhorn playing (along with strong and solid vocals
from him) is an experience in purely soulful pleasure, I can tell you... &
that's especially pertinent, since I kind of "grew up" on soul like what he's
doing here. He has a full compliment of talented players with him... for
instance, being a keyboard player myself, I found William Heagy's keyboards to
be absolutely spellbinding as I listened to the opener, "Reflection"
- absolutely perfect balance on the recording for all instruments. "I
Need Your Love" will make you FEEL the rhythm & blues power this gent
projects with his music... hints of '70's smooth are in there somewhere, but the
singers & players have the talent to transport this to something more than "just
another love song". One of the funkiest tracks (for this reviewer, anyway)
was "Cloud
Parade"... feels just like you're out on a warm riverbank somewhere watching
'em float on by... again, Michael's horn, in conjunction with the beautiful bass
lines, will win over your ears, to be sure. The tune that got my vote for
favorite track, though, was the gospel-like "Miles
To Go"... solid rhythm and a great call/response vocal will get yer' soul
thumpin' that beat out. This CD is an all-around winner, full of spirit
and heavy vibrations - not to mention the cool echoes they've got programmed in
there! I give it my MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, with an "EQ" (energy
quotient) rating of 4.96. Get more information at
www.michaelclewis.net/
Rotcod Zzaj
Chie Imaizumi - A TIME OF NEW
BEGINNINGS: This is my first listen to Chie's highly exuberant
compositional style, and it certainly won't be the last... she expresses
concepts far better than any "little combo" would be able to, and that probably
has much to do with the fact that she has players like Randy Brecker, Jeff
Hamilton and Steve Wilson on the CD. The horn work alone on "Information
Overload" makes it worth the price of purchase. The aptly named "Fear
of the Unknown" will make you feel the apprehension and emotion pours
through the instruments all the way through. I found the light-hearted
approach on "Today"
totally attractive and full of the spirit of life that music is meant (in my
judgment, anyway) to convey! The strident "Run
for Your Life" got my vote for favorite track... though it may not make me
get up and put my jogging shoes on, it certainly had me tappin' toes in a large
way. A very enjoyable jazz experience that you will be quite happy to have
in your collection. I give it a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, with an "EQ" (energy
quotient) rating of 4.95. Get more information at
www.thousandpictures.org
Rotcod Zzaj
Acoustic Ocean - REFLECTIONS ON
STILL WATER: I first listened to and reviewed the wonderful music of
these folks in issue # 95;
I was mightily impressed on that one and have even more of a connection to the
theme of this CD, as I just a couple of years back moved from Hawaii... they
proclaim the tunes on this album to be a celebration of the beauty of the
islands, and they hit it right on the mark. Many years back, in Olympia,
Washington, I used to listen to groups who featured harp and guitar, as well as
plenty of other instruments (like hammered dulcimer and mandolin), and this
certainly takes me back to those post-hippie gentle days along the pier of the
Puget Sound - kind of fitting, with the water theme and all, eh? One of
the most attractive tunes on this outing is "Rainbow
Falls"; as their sounds cascade over your ears, you will hear hints of
vocals in the background that could be fairy princesses or nymphs floating
'round your head. I also greatly enjoyed "Devas
in the Garden", with the tasteful interplay of the harp strings and acoustic
guitar & I've no doubt you'll love this one too. It was the haunting "Voyager"
that made it right to the top of my current playlist - where it will stay for a
long time to come. True beauty shines through for you to behold and marvel
at... I give it a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, with an "EQ" (energy quotient) rating
of 4.6. Get more information at
www.acousticoceanmusic.com
Rotcod Zzaj
Kuwahara - HONEYCULT:
Some splendid indie music in from one of the "founders" of the home-taping
underground, Mike Honeycutt. If you've never heard bees swarming, you may
not relate well to this sonic assault... with headphones on, you'll believe
you've been caught on the inside of the hive, & that you'll never be able to get
back to "normal" (whatever that is, heh! heh!). This is synth-driven, and
it's one of the most excellent excursions I've been on lately - while there are
a few invasive moments, this is unusually harmonic and totally perceptive of
what will drive you up the proverbial wall, but let you down gently enough to
escape without commitment to the "D" ward. There wasn't a lot of
information available on the web, though you can find the tracklist
here... Mike is joined
by M. Peck, and they've created a wealth of sonic adventures that any active
listener will find irresistible... some of this stuff takes you right out to the
very EDGE of the universe, and doesn't necessarily bring you back (or at least
not in one piece). One of the most intriguing compositions was "Whose
Children Are We?", with blunt-trauma sonic hammers ready to blow you ALL THE
WAY AWAY... the other piece I just loved (my favorite track, without doubt) was
the swirling opener, "A
Basket For Elliot"... just beautiful! I'm impressed, and you will be,
too... I give this aural adventure a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, with an "EQ"
(energy quotient) rating of 4.98. Get more information at
www.reverbnation.com/kuwahara
(& be sure to tell them that Zzaj sent you)! Rotcod Zzaj
Sol - FREEDOM: You
won't believe this cat's talent, folks... I first ran across his magnificent &
soulful playing at his
REVERBNATION page where you can hear many of the tunes on this fantastic
CD... one of my favorite tunes was "Rough
Catfish", a bass-driven low crawler that takes you right down to the deepest
parts of your soul & kicks your tail right back out into the real world when
it's over (you'll definitely be thinkin' Hendrix on this one). If it's
somethin' with a more world-like reggae feel you're lookin' for, try on "Hellhound"
for size. For pure spirit-driven funky LIFE, though, it was "Let's
Get Down" that captured my vote as favorite track... some excellent
organ/keyboard licks, & the guitar work on this one just shines so bright!
Another favorite for me was "Girl"
- just about as mellow as mellow GETS, people, & the lead guitar just soars.
These guys (Sol on guitar/vocals, Mike Tony Echols on bass & vocals, with Scott
Rabino on drums) are one of the tightest bands I've heard this year (and that's
saying somethin', since I've listened to more than 400 this year alone) &
they certainly merit the MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating I'm giving them, as well
as the "EQ" (energy quotient) rating of 4.97. Get more information at
www.reverbnation.com/solroots
(be sure to tell Sol I sent you). Rotcod Zzaj
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Here are a few tunes of MINE for you to listen to - it's from my latest CD release, "AC not PC" (Alphabetically Correct, not Politically Correct)
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