Improvijazzation Nation
Issue # 78 REVIEWS
New! New! New! Zzaj PODCAST!
We now have 3 TOTALLY FREE CD's (with free cover art) available for download at our NETLABEL site! The only thing we ask is that you scroll to the bottom of the page(s) & give us a REVIEW! Please ADVERTISE this to ALL your friends... tell them we are GIVING AWAY music!
Guideline for artists SUBMITTING to us: We do NOT generally review .mp3 files/sites. Being an active artist myself, though, I understand the need for the use of Internet sites as a "staging ground" for reviews! You are encouraged to email us your .mp3 links... we will visit the site/link, & if we like your energies, we will contact YOU! (We will NOT respond to followup inquiries about .mp3 files, though!!! p.s. If you EVER e-mail me .mp3 files, you will be BLACKLISTED on this site!!!)
NOTE: You can also purchase any of these CD's (use your credit card) by going to our HOMEMADEMUSIC catalog page!
The
Stryker/Slagle Band:
LATEST OUTLOOK:
We first reviewed this fine jazz group (last year) in issue #73,
& were mightily impressed with their live performance at
The Jazz
Standard. This round is in bassist Jay Anderson's studio, in New Paltz,
NY, & is "fresh" - just hit the streets in March of 2007. Dave Stryker's
guitar is definitely in the "present tense", a clear vision of what that
instrument should sound like in this 21st Century... when paired with Steve
Slagle's superb alto/soprano sax statements, & all the other fantastic players
(Jay Anderson, bass; Billy Hart, drums; & Joe Lovano, tenor sax), your ears will
get a taste for how exciting jazz in this new century IS! It's actually
the title track that makes th' whole album "come together" for my old aural
appendages... if you can't hear th' spirit of jazz these gents lay down for you
- you ain't GOT th' "spirit" - this is my favorite track on the CD (though cut
6, "Turning Point", with it's hints of blue, comes in a close second). All
but one (cut 6, Charlie Mingus's "Self-portrait in Three Colors") are originals,
and as readers of this 'zine know, that is exactly what we love to review
in our pages. The players are together on every track, on every
note - not a sad or dropped note on the whole performance. For jazz lovers
the world over, this comes MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED by th' Zzaj! Get more
information on this great band on their site,
HERE! Rotcod
Zzaj
Ed Johnson &
novo tempo - THE OTHER ROAD:
Good Gourd-a-mightee, talk about "verve"... I imagine it's the heavy Latino
influences on the opener, "Samba 2 Tom", that make it feel so energetic, but the
CD is "pitched" as "Brazilian jazz", & wears that theme well! The title
track is more like a "dance tune", slow & smooth... conveys the sweet joy, to be
sure, especially about a minute in when Ed's guitar kicks in - but it's actually
the 6:43 "Katrina" that sneaked up on me & made it my absolute favorite track on
the album! I suspect that has something to do with the vocals (I believe
that's Ed, not positive, since I didn't see anything on the liners to that
effect), but the jazz organ, fine percussion & trumpet by John Worley probably
had a lot to do with it, too. What I enjoyed most about this first listen
to Ed's work is the unquenchable thirst for many different styles of
music it inspires... I haven't heard another artist this versatile the whole
year of 2007. If you want boring old standards, with little originality, &
the "same music all over again", do NOT COME HERE! I am strongly impressed
with all the original tracks on this album, & excited to discover a player with
such musical fire! "The Other Road" is a grand sonic adventure that
gets our MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating! Get more information on his site,
at www.edbjohnson.com/ & be sure to
tell him Zzaj sent you! Rotcod Zzaj
Towner Galaher -
PANORAMA:
Th' promo sheet said to file this one under "JAZZ" - & they weren't just
whistlin' Dixie, either, volkz! There's some absolutely smokin'
(original) jazz here, as well as a few "covers" of greats like Mingus, & Rogers
& Hart. The opener, "Midtown Shuffle", will have ya' up on yer'
tippy-toes, shufflin' all th' way 'cross town to their solid beat...
Onaje Allen Gumbs' piano (which
was reviewed in our own pages, issue #
71) on that track will
enchant you from the opening bar on this great cut! It is the title cut
that gets our vote for favorite, however... especially if you enjoy
new & adventurous landscapes... Galaher's drums on this track woulda' made
Buddy Rich jealous! "Charisma", track 7, comes in a close second for my
ears, but the musical vista painted for your ears (& your mind) by Mr. Galaher's
arrangements will, on all the cuts, give you years of pleasant listening.
This is highly impressive jazz, with full body & a very high "spirit quotient". I give this album a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for jazz fans everywhere! Rotcod
Zzaj
Federico
Barabino/Charles Rice Goff III - METAMORFS:
If you haven't heard CRG III's strange sounds before, this is a perfect
CD to introduce them to your ears! Though I've listened to (& reviewed) a
lot of his Taped Rugs Productions works over the last 20 years, this is
one of the most amazing, no doubt. You would have to consider it more in
the experimental jazz realm than as "pure"... in fact, Charles points out on the
liners for the album that his were only one set of interpretations of the "Expresiones"
Federico provided him... no matter who else they were farmed out to, it can be
stated with certainty that you will never hear anything exactly like
these. You MUST be in an experimental frame-of-mind to listen to these...
anything else would do them injustice... these are finely crafted, with a real
sense of (musical) "sculpture" - artworks, to be sure. For those listeners
who love music that isn't "normal", this experience is MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED -
& in fact, it gets out "PICK" of this issue for "best experimental works"!
Superb & well recorded! Get more information at C. Goff's "Taped
Rugs Productions" catalog - or e-mail him at
padukem@sbcglobal.net (p.s.
There's also a very interesting
video
available) Rotcod
Zzaj
Saco Yasuma - ANOTHER RAIN:
The music clearly reminds me of the types of jazz I used to listen to in
coffee-house gigs up in Washington state, especially on pieces like track 3,
which features our (long time) friend Golda Solomon whangin' words about to
paint pictures of Brooklyn like you've never heard before. That's only one
aspect of this fantastic CD, though... "Invisible Matters", the opening track,
features some high-energy reed & brass work by Saco & Roy Campbell, respectively.
This is just th' kind of jazz I "cut my teeth on", back in th' day - when
combined with bass by Ken Filiano, piano/bass/clarinet by Andrew Bemkey &
drums/percussion by Michael T.A. Thompson,
you'll be transported to that (same) kinda' "jazz cellar" environment I was in
during my first tour in Germany ('65 - '68). Compositions that morph from one era to
another, without missing a beat! My favorite cut was track #2, "Liquid
Entity", probably because of that poppin' bass... I mean, this piece just
moves! Any way you listen, if you dig "real" jazz, you'll find this
most enjoyable - it gets a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from these ol' ears!
Get more information at Saco's site, or
purchase the CD from CD BABY!
A truly creative jazz experience. Rotcod Zzaj
Ronno Jaxon - SO MUCH TROUBLE:
We reviewed our first CD from Ronno in the last issue; that had a much more
bluesy feel than this album... I'm hearin' a much stronger RAWK element on this
round! The opener, "Hard On Me", is pure SMOKE & FIRE! If you can't
get down to some serious rockin' while scopin' this track out, or catch a vision
of yer'self toolin' on down th' road on a Harley, then yer' ears got some
serious problems. One thing I will say, though - you gotta' have this
music KRANKED to thee MAX to really enjoy it - so, make sure there ain't no
anti-noise neighbors around, & turn that zucker UP, kidz! There are
"special times" when I listen to this kinda' music - like when I need ta' blow
th' steam off - get in that rod, slam th' turbo on full speed & CRUISE on down
th' road! This album will "take you there" - it gets a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
from me, verzure! Get more info on his site, at
http://rorarecords.com/rora/Rorarecords/index.htm or send an e-mail to
admin@rorarecords.com Some
FINE, fine rockin' music here! Rotcod Zzaj
Dick De Graaf Quartet - MOVING
TARGET:
10 all-original tunes that jazz lovers world-wide will fall in love with
immediately... Dick's tenor & soprano sax work will have you in jazz heaven!
I particularly enjoyed the opener, "Cascade", which lives up to the word... at
the same time it "flows", it also "surges" & in some moments, it "tumbles", too.
In addition to the splendid sax lines, you'll also hear the great piano chops of
Jeroen van Vliet, fine bass (both acoustic & electric) from Guus Bakker & the
perfectly punctual rhythm backing of Pascal Vermeer on drums. The title
track, a 20 bar blues originally written in 1996, is my favorite, with perfect
balance between the instruments... when music moves like this, NO "blue
meanies" will ever be able to target it! While De Graaf's playing is
clearly in the realm of "sophisticated", it also achieves a pinnacle that few
groups do these days - timeless! This is music that will melt
in your mind, but won't fade away... the Rhodes on Demasque, combined with the
Pastorius-like bass, will stick with you & keep bringing you back to listen to
this wonderful CD over&over again! We give this a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
rating... since it hit the streets in early June, 2007, you should still be able
to get a copy! Get more information at Dick's
website! Rotcod Zzaj
Jason Kao Hwang/Sang Won Park -
LOCAL LINGO:
It's not necessary to speak Korean to grasp the beauty of this duo's playing
(Jason on violin, with Mr. Park on kayagum, ajeng & vocals) - but it might help.
Certainly, having lived in Korea for 15 years, I have some understanding of
"where this is coming from" - particularly on tracks like "Ari Rang", a
traditional tune about a lost lover... these gents breathe new life into a tune
that's already stood the test of time. The kayagum meshes perfectly with
the violin to make a piece that's filled with (both) sadness and hope for the
future. To "grok" track 4, "Third Sight", it would be best to put the
'phones on and make sure you won't be disturbed during the listen.... definitely
music from a different perspective than traditional jazz! One
recommendation for future projects would be to ensure that the track titles are
burned straight on to the CD, so the listener doesn't have to keep glancing
back/forth between the liner/jacket to find the titles. I enjoyed this, &
hope to hear more in the future - the CD gets a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from us for
listeners ready to experience something sonically different! Get
more information on Jason's
website!
Rotcod Zzaj
Dave Tofani Quartet - NIGHTS AT
THE INN:
We first reviewed Dave's work way back in issue #57.
We're overjoyed to hear his exuberant jazz/sounds again! You may remember
(from that earlier review) that Dave plays sax... on this outing, it's tenor, &
he's clearly at the top of the hill - still! He is joined with Jesse
Green's pretty piano, great bass lines from Evan Gregor & perfect punctuation
(drums) from Ronnie Zito (there are also guest shots by Steve LaSpina on bass &
Jack Wilkins doing guitar). Dave's original tune, "You Caught Me" (cut 4),
is my favorite on the CD... lots of spiff & totally upbeat all the way through.
"Trip To Madrid" is a (very) close second, though totally different
rhythmically. Several covers of tunes by Duke Ellington, Thad Jones & even
Cole Porter. This is very pleasant jazz, & I've no doubt you'll keep
coming back to it... sort of like a night at a splendid hotel... if it "strikes
you right", you'll always return. I give this a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
- if you're seriously engaged with/in jazz, you'll want this for your
collection! CD is available through
www.solowinds.com ! Rotcod Zzaj
SelfTort -
N.I.C.:
We've been advertising on MIXPOSURE ,
our number one choice site for "home-produced" music; what was called, when I
joined in the movement 'round 1980, "D.I.Y." music. SelfTort (a.k.a. Brian
Ralston) was one of the players we particularly enjoyed in MIX, so we were
especially happy to receive this CD from him... his playing has energies often
not heard in the "big bands" these days - just RAW vitality! All th' way
from high-end rawk (track 6, "Frankenstein's Bride"), to beat-driven jazz/blues
("Light The Flame", cut 9, which brings back mem'ries (in some ways) of
N'Aw'leans & Dr. John-like funkin' 'round - some STRONG & gravelly vocals on
this one). It's th' mellow & bluesy opening track ("Best Man") that was my
favorite piece on th' album, however... some genuinely funky bass rolls down,
'round, under & through SelfTort's soul-filled vocal - this tune (along with
many others) will get it's "hook" in ya', & you won't forget it - & he
plays some kick-azz organ on this cut, which grabbed me right away!
Brian's been playing since th' '70's, so he's got chops that won't quit, & it's
clear that he's dedicated to expressing his soul through his music. I'm
highly impressed, with the clear artistry demonstrated on his first album, as
well as the grand production values! D.I.Y. ain't never been as good as it
is today! If you're looking for music with clear focus & creativity, this
comes MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from me! Get more information at
www.selftort.xs4.info or e-mail him
at selftort@hotmail.com
"N.I.C." is also available for purchase at
http://cdbaby.com/cd/selftort Rotcod
Zzaj
Daniel Smith - THE SWINGIN'
BASSOON:
It's been forever (maybe closer to never) since we've heard a bassoonist
who could play such tasty standards (yah, unfortunately, there weren't any
originals that I spotted) in total swing mode. His rhythm section
(Martin Bejerano's piano, John Sullivan's bass & Ludwig Afonso on drums) makes a
lot of difference for the listener - they are definitely tight together, but
leave plenty of room for Daniel's fantastically upbeat front lines. This
is among the best quartet jazz albums I've heard this year, with precisely
punctual delivery - yet fluidity galore, enough so your ears know that these
gents are deriving as much joy in the playing as you are from listening
to them. My favorite tracks are Monk's "Well, You Needn't", & Dizzy's "A
Night In Tunisia"... they both feature the fantastic lines of jazz masters, but
with Smith's (very) unique interpretation via his bassoon. I'm strongly
impressed - this album is a "keeper", & gets a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from me.
Thoroughly enjoyable & unique jazz for all listeners! Get more information
from www.danielsmithbassoon.com
Rotcod Zzaj
Charmaine Clamor - FLIPPIN' OUT:
The opening track on this "W-O-W" CD will do much for anyone with qualms about
havin' "brown skin"... "My Funny Brown Pinay" celebrates the joy of being "of
color"... a very interesting track! There are lots of tunes written by
other folks on this album, but Ms. Clamor makes them all her own...
stylistically, & soul-wise as well. I believe it's her deep-rich vocal
quality (& it is quality, through & through) that will astound you
most... she can reach right out & hook you into her audio fantasy.
What comes to mind (even tho' I wasn't there during the era) is the deep, dark
after-hours environment of an old-fashioned speakeasy... I can see (& hear) the
audience watching (& listening) to this enchantress, as though I were right
there. The list of jazz players accompanying her total talent is too
long to list here, but if you visit her site at
www.freehamrecords.com/releases.php - you can learn much more. My
favorite track (tho' it's very haunting), is "I Hadn't Anyone Till You", cut
2.... Charmaine really weaves her web well on this one. This is a very
pleasant jazz experience, & gets a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from my long-jazzified
ears. Rotcod Zzaj
Marcos Fernandes/Bill Horist -
JERKS AND CREEPS:
These guys are (& prolly always have been), like WACKED, volkz!
Bill's guitar works have been reviewed many times in our 'zine, as have been Mr.
Fernandes's electronic artistry. They are joined by many other players
(Haco on electronics & voice; Masafumi Ezaki on trumpet; Bunsho Nishikawa on
electronics & Tim Olive on electric bass), all in a celebration of the great,
wonderful & strange things the musically talented mind can conjure up.
Yes, I use that word (conjure) because I want you to understand that these folks
are FAR from being "regular players"... instead, they are "wizards". No,
they don't turn bars of soap into gold - but they do turn seconds into
sonic wonders - "gems", if you will... & so what you wind up with is a
treasure trove, nearly 60 minutes worth, of exploratory sound that will both
astound and (at times) confuse you, at least in auditory ways. All the
compositions were recorded during a 2005 tour Bill & Marcos made of Japan,
totally in "live" mode. If you're looking for music that will challenge
your mind, yet leave you walking away refreshed & inspired, this comes MOST
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, & gets the "PICK" of this issue for "best live improv".
Get more info at
www.accretions.com/catalog/jerksandcreeps.asp Rotcod Zzaj
Tevet Sela - TEVET SELA:
We solicited this great CD via internet, & are we ever glad we did... talk
about heart & soul - this young gent's GOT it, in spades!
Strong & forthright jazz, all original, that display a superb talent, & a
joy of playing seldom found in store racks. The player list is far too
long to itemize here, but if you Google "Tevet Sela", you'll find over 219,000
references (that's FAR more than you'll find if ya' do that for "Zzaj" - ha!
ha!). One of th' funkiest tunes I've heard this year (& my favorite cut on
the album) is ""One Inch Journey"... solid bass & drums compliment Tevet's sweet
& groovin' sax lines. A close second for favorite track was "Smoken Blues"
- some great Rhodes-sounding keyboards combine very nicely with Sela's
soulful lines to transport you away from those nether regions you've allowed
yer' heart to sink down into! All-in-all, this is one of the best
sax-based jazz albums I've listened to in 2007, & merits an instant MOST
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! If you want to hear what real jazz (not that
syrupy trash that's passed off as "smooth" these days) sounds like - GET THIS
ONE! For the "official word", visit his site, at
www.tevetsela.com or his site on Myspace
- www.myspace.com/tevetsela
We WANT to hear MORE from this rising star! Rotcod Zzaj
Nathan Hubbard - BLIND ORCHID:
Quite a few reviews of Nathan's music have been written in these pages (check
out our ARCHIVE), but this
is the first pure percussion CD we've reviewed by him. It is
recommended that you do this listening with headphones, & that you allow for (at
least) an hour's worth of isolation... it's not the kind of album you will
"grok" in spurts. The opener, "i/nside (no exit)" is nearly an
"industrial" kind of sound, wherein he uses various & sundry elements (including
his voice) to project a feeling of frenetic energy. There are, in fact,
whole worlds inside his forays into the mysteries of percussion. "Witchball"
(cut 7) is my favorite on the album, as it is the "crispest" recording of drums
I've ever heard, & believe me, I've heard more than a few. If you're
looking for ballroom jazz, or a host of horns, you'll go elsewhere... but if
your mind is attuned to exploring true talent in a hyper-creative zone, you'll
GET THIS one! It gets a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating from us! A very
interesting sonic experience! Get more information at
www.accretions.com/catalog/blindorchid.asp Rotcod Zzaj
Eddie Daniels - HOMECOMING (Live
At The Iridium):
Live recordings don't always "make the mark"... quite often, we find the
recording quality to be abominable, not capturing (at all) the verve
inherent in such performances - well, I can assure you, that is NOT the case
with this recording of Eddie Daniels. It's a 2-banger (2 CD's in one
package), & shows the shining talent of this extremely gifted reedist!
Daniels is joined by Joe Locke on vibes, Tom Ranier on piano, Dave Finck on bass
& Joe La Barbera on drums, & these guys have the audience doin' far more than
just ordinary "toe-tapping"... several original compositions (along with plenty
of standards) thrill those in attendance at the Iridium show, & will hold you
spellbound, as well. The opener for disc 2 ("That's For Afta"), composed
by Eddie, was my favorite track on the album - it features his lightning-speed
clarinet, with some really kickin' backup playing - surely one of the
highest-energy jazz originals I've heard in 2007! For something a tad more
"laid-back" in nature, "Chosen Words" (also on the 2nd disc) came in a close
second. This is our first listen to Mr. Daniels (that I remember, anyway),
& he was instantly elevated to my "favorite players" list! This grand
CD-set gets a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from our ears, to be sure! (The CD
was only released on 4 September, 2007, so you should still be able to get
yours). Get more information at Eddie's site -
www.eddiedanielsclarinet.com,
where you'll also find links to purchase! Rotcod Zzaj
Ernesto Diaz-Infante/Mike Khoury
- HYMNS FOR NEW FATHERS:
Since this 'zine was founded on improvised (& jazz) music, it would
hardly be fitting to publish an issue without an improv masterpiece like this
set. It's been a while since I've reviewed music with Ernesto (or Mike,
for that matter). This postal collaboration features an evolution for Mr.
Diaz-Infante... his guitar(s) are far less "processed" than on CD's I'd reviewed
of his in the past few years... Mike's violin works may have something to do
with this more mellow collection of improvs... or, perhaps it's just a matter of
staying more closely to the title theme, not sure which. Both of these
improvisors are known for the intricacy of their compositions, & you get that in
spades on this mini-CD. The pieces are quite short (the longest
clocks in at only 2:36), but they have a "stick to your ribs" flavor, as is
often true with improvised music. You'll find yourself "hearing" (parts
of) this during your trip to the grocery store, just before your meditations, or
even at the arena game. This is a VERY WELL recorded set, & those
interested in hearing well-recorded, well-performed improvised music will surely
agree when I declare it to be HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. You can get more
information at (either)
www.paxrecordings.com or
www.geocities.com/entropystereo/ (Be sure & tell 'em Zzaj sent you, of
course). Rotcod Zzaj
Christine Rosander - SMOOTH RIDE:
We reviewed a fantastic vocalist in our last issue, Carla Hassett... she sent
us information on Christine, & we got in touch right away (after checking her
out on the web). "Smooth Ride" features an even dozen tracks, all but one
of them being originals (which is the music we really like to review - I
mean, there's nothing wrong with covers, but I seem to get a much better "feel"
for the "inside" of the player when the tunes were written by them). The
music Rosander writes isn't jazz, per se, though that spirit (blues,
jazz) is a part of what she projects (particularly the blues part), 'specially
on comps like "Cattle Press"... high energy playin', & laden with emotion
(though without falling in th' dreaded "sappy" realm). The album is
well-recorded; on the "tech-end", one suggestion would be to make sure the track
titles are embedded in the CD next time around. There are snatches
of blues, some heavy soul & even songs that come close to bein' a little
"countrified"; a real smorgasbord of styles... I can hear a lil' bit of Rickie
Lee in there, or maybe Bonnie Raitt. This is high talent & very attractive
music that will weave you (easily) into it's spell. Definitely a "keeper"
for listeners who want somethin' to "tool on down th' road" with. My ears
rate it as HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, to be sure. To get more information, check
out the site at
www.christinerosander.com/, or on her MYSPACE site at
www.myspace.com/christinerosander (this debut album hits the streets 'round 17
October, 2007). Rotcod Zzaj
Ezra Weiss - GET HAPPY:
We've enjoyed & reviewed Ezra's fantastic piano works before (issue #75),
& were mightily impressed then - as are we on "Get Happy". As per usua,
it's his original tracks that thrill our ears the most, especially on the
opener, "For Heather", or our absolute favorite composition on this album, "Run
Under The Fountain", featuring the deep & mysterious vocals of Elif Caglar; this
is a truly funky tune, taking me way back to th' Zawinul days... some
wonderful walkin'-bass lines & Rhodes-sounding keyboards make it a winner!
If Rhodes/electric piano is a preferred listen for you, you will certainly "get
happy" when you listen to the last track, "Don't Need No Ticket", another Weiss
original. There are far too many players to list here, but you can get all
the information you need about the album & players at
www.ezraweiss.com/ (just click on
the "More info" button under the CD cover image). There are 7 other fine
tracks as well, all combining to make for a most pleasant ride through
jazz-land, & an album that jazz collectors everywhere will want to add to their
collection. We rate this work as MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, in the strongest
terms possible. Rotcod Zzaj
Michael Camacho - JUST FOR YOU:
This is our first exposure to Michael's silky jazz vocals, & what a joy it
is... whether the original title track, covers of Beatles tunes like "Norwegian
Wood", or my favorite cut on the album (another Camacho original), "Here's To
The Blues", you'll find yourself put right back into "mellow-land", no matter
the mood you started from. Michael's stylings are far deeper than "lounge
lizard" drudgery, & his voice even reminds me (in places) of another favorite
artist of mine, Mose Allison. This is definitely an "uptown" jazz
experience & Camacho & his accompanying players have a full grasp on how to be
infectious without being invasive. The key to his musical attraction,
methinks, is his sense of rhythm... he's able to slip/slide his way into
your heart without coming across (in the least) as too "syrupy", or "smooth".
This guy's jazz is the epitome of cool, & the album is a "keeper", in every
sense of the word... it gets a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from our ears. Get all
the information you need at
www.myspace.com/michaelcamachomusic, or purchase it
HERE! Rotcod Zzaj
Claire Ritter - WALTZING THE
SPLENDOR:
Claire's piano sounds better every time I review her works... we've reviewed a
couple of her CD's already ("RIVER
OF JOY" & "GREENER
THAN BLUE"), and have been amazed at how her simple stylings breathe such
life into standards & originals as well. She's got a fine cast of
players with her on this outing, including Jon Metzger on vibraphone; Jane Hart
Brendle, violin; Ashima Scripp, cello & a guest shot by a long-time player
(bass), Dave Holland. One of the most unique things (I thought) about this
recording is that most of the pieces are quite "short"... the longest clocked in
at 4:29, & the shortest at 1:23... strange thing to catch one's attention, but
we kind of have gotten used to "hit length" tracks (I think). Even with
the shortest of tracks, though, her playing will come back to haunt you like
"brain candy"... melting in, then coming back to tease you with a taste of the
splendor she paints for your ears with her keyboards. This is a "happy"
CD, but that makes it no less jazz... we enjoyed it all the way through
several listens, & give it our MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for those who want a
slight taste of "different" in their piano jazz. Visit the links above to
purchase Claire's wonderful CD's, or
www.claireritter.com . Rotcod Zzaj
Joe Friedman - CUP O' JOE:
If yer' lookin' for high-energy & high-talent guitar jazz, this will be
yer' "cup of tea"... er', whoopz, "cup o' joe"! There are only 2 originals
on this round (the title track, & "A Darker Shade of Rose"), but that doesn't
detract at all from the joy of listening to the fantastic players on the CD...
Joe on acoustic & electric guitars, George Colligan's high-spirited keyboards,
bass from Peter Washington, drums by Neal Smith & Renato Thomas doing very
punctual percussion. Strangely enough, it's a George Benson cut, "Myna
Bird Blues" that I found to be my favorite piece on this album... as you all
know, it's usually the originals that I'm totally attracted to, but this one
displays the full range of talent & totally tight groove of all the players; one
of the best "jumpin jazz" pieces I've heard this year. It was a bit short,
but I know I'll be playin' it all th' way to Honolulu ev'ry morning & afternoon
(you actually get to "meet" the players, too, 'coz this track is featured on a
studio video that accompanies the CD). For a more laid-back mood,
Friedman's composition, "A Darker Shade of Rose", really had my attention...
it's my second favorite piece on the album. All in all, this will be a
perfect album for those in love with jazz guitar, no doubt... it gets a MOST
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from us! Get more information at
www.joefriedmanjazz.com
Rotcod Zzaj
Mostly Other People Do the
Killing - SHAMOKIN:
Ha! Ha! They call this "Terrorist Be-Bop", & it definitely fits... if
those fellows who flew th' planes into the towers had been listening to this,
they'd have gone way off course... plus which, they would still be around
to enjoy this sheer jazz voyage! Moppa Elliott, on double bass, is the
leader - he's joined by Peter Evans on trumpet; & Jon Irabagon doing alto sax;
Kevin Shea on drums. Everything is "in synch", but it's somehow "out of
kilter"... "unbalanced jazz", maybe? Title track is an absolute riot
& will have you (not only) tappin' yer' toes, but wondering how you ever got IN
on this set; that's the thing about the way these guys play - there's "humor" in
it. I enjoyed the heck out of this album, & will be hoping more to drop in
through our mail slot... nothing makes my day more than heavy talent that
doesn't have a problem with lettin' it RIP! GREAT jazz, great
music, great improv feel. The favorite track, from a "compositional"
standpoint (for me) was cut # 7, "Evans City". Some fine trumpet, &
Moppa's bass thumps, walks & rocks all th' way from start to finish. This
one is an absolute MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, no matter what "school of
jazz" you grew up in. GET it! Read more at
www.moppaelliott.com Rotcod
Zzaj
Melvin Smith - PORTRAIT:
Mr. Smith's talents for passing the (musical) message of his muse are clearly
displayed on this neat little CD. Melvin's soprano & tenor sax works keep
solid focus on th' rhythms, & will have you tappin' right along with him!
Solid playing from the other artists as well (Lino C. Gomez, acoustic & electric
bass; Reggie Pittman, trumpet & flugelhorn; Stephen Lee's piano, Gregory Royals
piano tracks, & drums by (both) Sam Knight & Ezra Henry), to make for a
well-rounded picture (ah, portrait) of players who respect & love th' power of
th' music! One of the comps I found most listenable was an original
by Melvin, "Manasseh"... it made me reach way back in th' mem'ry banks, where I
found comparisons to great ol' "Blue Note" tuneage - but with a 21st century
"flavor", if you will. Clean & crisp recording throughout will make this a
favorite for jazz listeners everywhere. My favorite cut was "1750
Washington St", yet another original by Mr. Smith (4 out of 9 were originals);
nice upbeat piece that makes for perfect "road" music - ya' know, as in "movin'
on down" - it moves, folks! The best thing about this album is that
it blends many styles in the jazz arena to form a perfect "whole", & it comes
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED by us! The release date is listed as 28 September,
2007, so you should be seeing it soon, or you can get information direct, by
visiting www.melvinsmithsax.com
Rotcod Zzaj
Tom Furgas
- harpsichord1.wrk.:
Here's another very interesting CD from friend Tom in his ".wrk" series.
8 pieces recorded that feature (all) harpsichord compositions that will enchant
you. They were all recorded using "Cakewalk" on a ThinkPad. The days
of poorly recorded computer-based music are clearly over, as Mr. Furgas
clearly demonstrates. You can look forward to quite a few more reviews, as
we still have 3 or 4 CD's to review in upcoming issues. This music isn't
strictly "jazz", though there are moments (like cut 4) which will make you sort
of "feel" like jazz. The real point about the kind of talent Tom displays
(as on all his compositions) is - creativity! He's able to
translate (often) complex ideas to something your mind can wrap itself around, &
without resorting to clichés or hooks, wrap you in & make you enjoy it.
For listeners who demand high originality - this is MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
If you're looking for something different - GET this! (added notes from
Tom: the
disc is available for $9 postage paid (US) or $12 postage paid (everywhere
else), or is available in trade for any other artist's CD, to 1840 Paisley St
#3, Youngstown, OH 44511-1024; feel free to e-mail me at
tfurgas@cisnet.com ) Rotcod
Zzaj
The Claudia Quintet - FOR:
John Hollenbeck is back with his (as always) fantastic drum, percussion
& electronic tape wizardry, on an album that is all "for" (as in, like,
"dedicated", man) other artists like Fritz Pauer, Jan Garbarek & many others.
What you'll find, though, is that it's really for you; this is
some absolutely invigorating jazz that will inspire (other) artists & listeners
alike. Quite often when an album is led by a percussionist, there's a
tendency for the recording to "focus in", sort of exclusively, on his playing;
what strikes me most about this experience is that all the players (Drew Gress,
acoustic bass; Matt Moran, vibraphone & vocals; Ted Reichman, accordion & Chris
Speed's clarinet & tenor saxophone) get "equal time", with no loss of the
rhythmic push that is driving this train. Your ears will be amazed, &
unless you're a total jazz purist, you will find this some of the most
enjoyable & inspiring music you've ever heard. We rate this are more than
MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED; it also gets our "PICK" for the year for "best
creative album". This is truly the best creative jazz album I've heard
this year! Get (much) more information at
www.cuneiformrecords.com/bandshtml/claudia.html Rotcod Zzaj
Gemini Soul - THE LIQUID SOUL
TOUR:
Fine lil' CD here, sorta' comes off as "jazz retro"... lil' snatches of Ramsey
Lewis, th' feel of Stanley Clarke & even some Funkadelics in there somewhere.
The players - Andre Ajamu Akinyele, bass & drum programming; Jon O' Bergh,
piano, keyboards & programming; Andrew Foster, percussion & Alex Marks, drums -
are tight & definitely together! Great bass-driven jazz... though
there are elements of th' dreaded "smooth" in there, they've got th' soul chops
to make it "more than just smooth". For a tune that will take you in many
different directions (with MLK's speeches woven in 'round & through), you'll
want to check out "Supernova" (# 11), for sure; lots of finger-poppin' bass
lines, with nice piano lines after the intro. There weren't a lot of
"volcanic energy" tunes on here, but the live performance sections were recorded
well & will stick to your ears! A good all-round jazz experience that gets
a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from us! Get more information at
www.geminisoul.net Rotcod Zzaj
The Rocco John Group - DON'T
WAIT TOO LONG:
Rocco John Iacovone's (all original) alto sax work will please the ears of jazz
aficionados the world over, especially on driving tuneage like (my favorite on
the CD) "Bicycle For 2"! He's joined by Michael Irwin's trumpet, double
bass by Aaron Keane & drums/percussion by Dalius Naujokaltis - & not just
"joined"... these players are right on th' mark(s) together.
Absolutely kickin', no hesitation & high-energy all the way through the album.
Another jumpin' tune was track 8, "Cursory Rhyme"... the reeds & brass are in
synch from the opening note, & that bass/drum syncopation keeps the music at
full-tilt... I'm very much impressed, & you will be too if you cut your teeth on
jazz that doesn't compromise & allows no hint of "smooth" to creep in -
ANYwhere! A "way of life" is presented sonically - not that '30's "hep-cat
stoned be-bopper" thang, either - this has th' mellow parts, but it also has
edges that we all have to navigate on our journey! Very tasty jazz
adventure that gets a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from us! Get more
information about the group at
www.roccojohnmusic.com Rotcod Zzaj
the Laverne Christie Trio - EAST
OF THE SUN, WEST OF THE MOON:
Don't imagine the title would give much away about this very pleasant little
jazz CD... there's a real "swing" groove here, & the approach to the playing is
simple, yet (somehow) sophisticated! The recording quality is superb,
& you'll listen to this (if you're at all like me) over & over again...
this album is definitely a "KEEPER". My favorite cut on the album was a
classic, "Well, You Needn't"... Laverne's trio interpretation is decidedly
unique & original! For something with a heavy drum influence, you'll love
cut 8, "The Sunset Hour". The title track is a gem, too, brightly
displaying the talents of each of the players (Laverne's joined by Mike Candito
on drums & bassist/cellist Mark Ruben), which are considerable, to be sure!
If you like guitar-based jazz that will keep you swingin' (both mentally &
spiritually), you'll love this - it gets a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from me!
I can tell you now, you'll want this if you're a collector... get more
information at
http://cdbaby.com/cd/lavernechristie Rotcod Zzaj
The Mark Kleinhaut Trio -
HOLDING THE CENTER.:
We've listened to & reviewed Mark's wonderful jazz guitar work before, & were
mightily impressed then, too. On this round, he's joined by Jim Lyden on
bass & Les Harris, Jr., on drums; it's one of the tightest jazz trios I've heard
in 2007, & their comfort level with each other is apparent immediately!
For somethin' funky, check out cut 3, "Baby R"... my only complaint was that
with only 3:31, thee "groove" didn't last quite long enough - but this one makes
great use of the bass to keep th' beat movin' right along. A flavor of
"high tech" invades th' funk on # 7, "Erika's 8:30 Rule"... but, my favorite
track on the CD was track 12, "Gospel of B" - this tune seems to pass along the
"soul" of the players (all of them)... nice laid-back bluesy kinda' mood.
Superb album all the way through with lots of excellent musical flavors.
This one comes MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from these ol' jazzified ears. Get
more information (& some samples) at
http://www.markkleinhaut.com/ Rotcod Zzaj
Felix Werder - THE TEMPEST:
Our friends at POGUS PRODUCTIONS continue to
amaze us with CD releases that feature some of the finest
experimental/electronic adventures you will ever hear. All of Mr. Werder's
compositions (except one, "V/Line", recorded in 1992) on this outing were put
together in the 1970's, yet the recording quality approaches that of the 21st
Century. My favorite piece of the four compositions was track 1, "Banker",
recorded in 1973. Felix's and Keith Humble's synths, percussion by John
Seal, guitar by Jochen Schubert & piano by Dennis Henning all combine to take
you on a journey that could (as well) be a space odyssey. There seems to
be no "competition" amongst the players - all the sounds mesh into a very
cohesive sonic adventure that is quite calming (yet strange). 1971's
"Oscussion", from a performance in Melbourne, was quite intriguing as well.
If you're only looking for "straight-ahead" jazz, be-bop or R&B, it's doubtful
you will get much further than the first track, as this kind of music requires
intense involvement on the part of the listener - but if you're willing to
engage yourself in the composer's imagination, & participate in adventurous
sonic exploration, you will agree when I declare it MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Get more information on this CD at
www.pogus.com/21044.html Rotcod Zzaj
Turkey Makes Me Sleepy - THE BIG
PART OF THE WISHBONE:
Never let it be said that C. Goff III makes "strange" music... well, maybe a
"little strange", but not abominably so... it's actually "forward looking"
music. This CD by "TMMS" is their 10th anniversary recording... C. Goff,
of course, is a member, along with Michael Adams & Eric Matchett. Heavy
electronic editing ensured that only the relevant portions of their electronic
experiments made it onto the album. Strangely enough, it was track 5,
"Turkish Coffee", that was my favorite ride - that may (or may not) have
anything to do with my having been (nick)named "Cp'n Cappucinno" in an earlier
time, but the energy levels on this particular piece (second longest on the
album) approach the same 'igh eye get when on my coffee I.V. It's also the
nearest to a piece that is "accessible" by the masses (not that that is a "goal"
of "TMMS"... after all, accessibility is purely in the mind of the beholder).
Another excessively odd (& eminently enjoyable) cut is "Deeple Speak", #3 on the
CD... totally engaging (tho' if you're "normal", don't let yourself become
too engaged, eh). I rate this a definite MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for
those who are experimentally inclined! Check out C. Goff's "Taped
Rugs Productions" catalog - or e-mail him at
padukem@sbcglobal.net Rotcod
Zzaj
In This Issue: -
IF you are the FIRST e-mail respondent to this note (to
rotcod@hawaii.rr.com - MAKE SURE
your subject states ALEX CD), you will
receive (free of charge) a copy of a superb jazz CD by Alex Kontorovich, titled
"DEEP MINOR" (which was reviewed in our last issue). We will have (some)
more freebies coming in future issues, so be sure & tell all your friends about
us!
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