IMPROVIJAZZATION Nation
Issue # 80 REVIEWS
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!
I've played in over 65 "bands" . We will highlight a few of these bands in this (and future) issues.
Featured Zzaj band for issue #80 - Detroit Improv Duo (these don't auto-start - CLICK the PLAY button to listen while you read our reviews - or don't, totally up to you!).
This grouping featured Pontiac, Michigan guitarist extraordinaire Jim Konen, with me on Kurzweill PC 88. On "The Fasttrack", Jim played horn on his guitar synth - VERY interesting sounds. The first two tracks also featured drummer Jim Russell, from Olympia, Washington. ENJOY!
Jimmy Bruno with Tony Miceli and
Jeff Pedraz - MAPLEWOOD AVENUE: Jimmy's
CD came out last June, & I didn't get to it until now, due to a hard drive crash
in November. Good thing I didn't lose the CD's - this is one SUPERB
album... 9 tracks that demonstrate skill at both playing & composition - these
are all originals. Miceli's vibes & excellent bass by Pedraz all meld
beautifully with Bruno's masterful guitar touch. I particularly enjoyed
"Route 611", maybe 'coz it's got a "creeping" bass feeling during the intro that
makes ya' feel much like you do after a night o' jazz in th' back-alley
joints... after the walking bass lines of the intro, Jimmy kicks in with some
bluesy & soulful guitar playing that will put you right in the mood - it's my
favorite on the album! "Jimmy's House", by Mr. Miceli, is also a jumpin' track
that shows off the zeal all these players seem to have for playing music with
heart. If you get a chance to hear these folks live, I'd strongly suggest
it. "Maplewood Avenue" is a "keeper", & gets a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
from me, especially for jazz guitar lovers. Get more information at
www.jimmybruno.com Rotcod Zzaj
Richard Boulger -
BLUES TWILIGHT: When
you hear the opener, "The Eternal One", you'll know right away that this is a CD
with far more "depth & breadth" than you're used to hearing... it certainly
takes you to a level miles higher than "smooth jazz", yet does so with taste &
verve, never making you feel like you're an "uneducated listener". The
segue into the title track is fluid, & takes you right back to (all)
those late-night jazz basements where the smoke never quit rising.
Boulger's trumpet is clearly out in front, but with plenty of playing room for
tenor saxophones by David Schnitter & Kris Jensen, great pianos by John Hicks &
Anthony Wonsey, bass from Dennis Irwin & drums by Victor "Ya-Yah" Jones.
These folks are tight in the playing, but with a high "soul quotient"... my ears
are really impressed, as will yours be. Freddie Hubbard pens some great
liner notes, & that in itself tells me that Richard is "in the big leagues", to
be sure. This is Boulger's second album as leader, & "Blues Twilight" is
an achievement unto itself. I give it a (B-I-G) MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Get more information at
www.richardboulger.com Rotcod Zzaj
Howard Britz - HERE I STAND:
It was interesting to me that I first spotted Howard's fantastic bass playing
on one of my favorite "home artist" sites,
www.indieonestop.com/jamroom
then 2 days later received it from promoter Jim Eigo (
www.jazzpromoservices.com ).
Jim only promotes those artists that are high quality & ripe with talent.
Well, after listening through the first 2 tracks, it was abundantly clear that
Mr. Britz is at the top of the jazz heap. All original compositions lend
to the atmosphere of high energy, as Howard's double bass is joined by drums
from Sylvia Cuenca, David Smith's trumpet & flugelhorn, alto sax from Casey
Benjamin & piano from George Colligan. My favorite track on the album is
cut #7, "Scatterbug" - can't quite put my finger on it, but it somehow takes me
back to my earliest listens to jazz in the dark jazz cellars in Germany - I'm
pretty sure it's Smith's horn work that makes it feel that way - totally tight
tune with heavy energy that involves the listener from the opening bar.
This is one of the best albums I've heard in 2008, & I give it my MOST HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED rating. Get more information at
www.howardbritz.com
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Jack Wright/John M Bennett/Ben
Bennett - ROTTY WHAT: I considered myself lucky to have caught the second
performance of this grouping at a small gallery in downtown Philadelphia.
This CD was recorded at a different venue, though the tuneage was pretty much
the same. If you're among the "uninitiated", this will be very different
for your ears. For those who aren't familiar, Jack Wright has been doing
sax work for many years now - I've witnessed him in several different playing
sessions, every time coming across with a "new vision"... & he doesn't let us
down on this performance. Whispered reed-breathings against John's
megaphoned poetic pronouncements. The "new" player (new to me, anyway, I
hadn't heard him before), John's son Ben, does some fantastic percussion, with
lots of brush & bell work - high talent & lots of potential, to be sure.
The recording does the sonic landscape great justice, one of the better-recorded
live performance sessions I've heard in (quite) a while! If you've heard
John's work before, you'll need this one in your collection. One of the
best improv sessions I've heard this year. Gets a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
for those who want adventurous listening experiences. Check the flics at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12802132@N00/311580582 Rotcod Zzaj
Libby York - HERE WITH YOU:
After listening to so many female jazz vocalists, a reviewer tends to hear them
as "all the same", on th' first spin, at least. Well, nothing could be
further from "the same" with Ms. York... her voice just shines! She has an
airy quality (not "air-headed", but life-GIVING) on the opener, which is the
title track... when you add Warren Vache's cornet & John Burr's punctual
acoustic bass, along with guitars by Howard Alden & Russell Malone, then toss in
drums & percussion by Vanderlei Pereira, you have a combination that can't be
beat (it's my favorite track on the album, by the way). If you're more in
th' mood for somethin' bluesy, try track 8,
Azure Te (Paris Blues)... I know,
how in heck could you be blue in Paris? Libby will fill in all the details
for you, & lift your spirits despite that funkified bluesiness! The
musicians are superb, & will keep your attention throughout the CD, but Ms.
York's joyful spirit is what will stick with you when you remember her
performance. A highly enjoyable jazz set that merits purchase right
away... this is gonna' be a classic, folks! It certainly get a MOST HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED from us, as well as the "PICK" of this issue for "best female jazz
vocalist"! Get more information at
www.libbyyork.com (Release date is 2/12/2008, so don't be
late - get yours NOW!!) Rotcod Zzaj
Joe Beck & John Abercrombie -
COINCIDENCE:
If guitar names like Larry Coryell, John Scofield, Ralph Towner or Gabor Szabo
are familiar to you, who Beck & Abercrombie have played with on numerous
occasions, you'll recognize what a high "stature" they bring to their recording
together. This is one of the most beautiful guitar-based jazz albums I've
heard in years... Joe & John will carry you right along on their fantastic
voyage through the memory lanes of high emotion & supreme talent! One of
the things that makes the album so attractive to these ol' ears is that there's
not one BIT of "scripting".... quite often, when you get more than one guitar
player together, the music comes off as (simply) "slick"... while the talent is
totally in evidence, this is more like having a couple of famous players right
in your living room, wrapping you into their magic! It starts off in a
rather slow vein with a track titled "Beautiful Love"... I don't mean that old
"tired" slow that made Uncle Frank (Zappa) say that "jazz wasn't dead - it just
smelled funny"... this is full of energy & verve. By the time they get to
cut 6, "Mikey Likes It", they've pulled out all th' stops & you get one of the
funkiest blues riffs you've heard in years - I mean "Mikey" just SMOKES (my
favorite on the album). Their rendition of "All Blues" runs a close
second! An excellent musical experience that will transport you beyond the
pale... gets a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from us, as well as the "PICK" of this
issue for "best guitar jazz"! Get more information at
www.whalingcitysound.com/wcs040.htm Rotcod Zzaj
Tangria Jazz Group - TJ:
The beautiful piano intro from Simon Rochester will probably make you think "Oh
no, another "piano jazz" diatribe. Well, I kind of got caught in that mode
until the purely brilliant percussion from Sheryl Mebane (leader) & slinky yet
vibrant bass from Justin Hellman kicked in on "Nature Boy". The keyword
for this whole album is ENERGY - talent not in the least condescending literally
shines through! When track 3, "Impressions" (my favorite on the
album, by the way) kicks in, you'll know beyond the shadow of doubt that you've
been fortunate enough to come across one of the most able jazz groups of the
day... this IS today's music, unfettered & free, but still traditional enough to
leave you with a pleasant glow each time you listen to the CD. This turns
out to be one of the most spirited trio albums I've heard yet this year!
The album clearly merits our MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating - we're hoping to
hear each & every one of their new releases, I can tell you! This one goes
in the car player, which (whether they know it or not) is a place of honor!
GET this one! More information is available at
www.tangria.net Rotcod Zzaj
John Chin - BLACKOUT CONCEPTION:
This is our first listen to John's tasty piano jazz - fresh & full of vivacious
energy, it's a debut CD well worth hearing! He has tenor sax from Mark
Turner, along with upright bass by (either) Alexis Cuadrado or Chris Higgins &
superb drums from Bill Campbell. The
title track opens the album, & it's a
stunner - Mr. Chin has strong left hand styling, & clearly enunciated right-hand
counterpoint. Interaction between the players is excellent, especially
right around 3:48. The fact that these are all original compositions tends
to make this (much) more interesting, as I always seem to feel more dedication
to strong performance when it's the artist's piece. Turner's sax is full
of life, yet doesn't overshadow anything the other players are doing - very
nicely balanced recording! The pace slows a bit on cut 3, "I Won't Argue
with You", & cut 5, "Some Other Time", has a danceable blues feel to it.
That title track is the one that made it a keeper for me, but other listeners
will find a different track that hits the spot. This is a great listen, &
merits our HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating, to be sure. We hope to hear more
from John! You can get more information at
www.johnchin.com or at
www.myspace.com/johnchin
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Bruce Eskovitz - INVITATION:
Though this is Eskovitz' second CD, it's our first listen. He's got a
cast of players far too expansive to list here, especially since this is very
much a "big band" type of affair - but that doesn't detract from the listening
in the least. 7 of the 10 pieces are originals, but even other folks tunes
(like Freddie Hubbard's "Red Clay") are full-bodied & inspiring! Bruce
plays tenor & soprano sax, as well as alto flute, & arranges all the tracks in
his own unique fashion. There were several tracks that really had me
moving, but my favorite was "Damien's Dance",
# 2 - if you don't dance, you WILL
when you hear this... even if it's just your soul hopping - a very significant
composition that makes the album worth the purchase. Eskovitz has a very
"forthright" playing style that will pull you right in to the musical web he
weaves, & fill your heart with joy! If you love high-spirited &
well-played jazz, this is your ticket to nirvana (should be available now, it
was released on 1/29/2008). I give it an immediate MOST HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED! Get more information at
www.bruceeskovitz.com
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Kat Parra -
AZUCAR DE AMOR:
Vocalist Parra brings a decidedly Latin flavor to all of the jazzy tunes on
this, her second CD. She's backed up by some stunning players - Jovino
Santos Neto, & Ray Vega, just to name a couple. As you might expect, there
is a heavy focus on the percussives.... this type of music demands it, & with
all the high spirit, the group will have you up & dancing in no time! It's
really the infusion of spirit that makes the album such a pleasure to
listen to. Much of it is in Spanish, but even if you don't understand the
words, you'll certainly understand the language of life that Kat sings for you
in! The flute work by Masaru Koga on "Por La Tu Puerta" is enough to
recommend the CD to anyone who loves jazz with a "lilt"! Ms. Parra has
assembled a fine listen for all who love jazz with life - I give this one a
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! Get more information at
www.katparra.com
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Benjamin Lapidus -
HERENCIA
JUDIA:
This is an odd one for us... Benjamin plays Cuban music... though the
Latin flavor makes it feel (sort of) like jazz, there is a decidedly "country"
influence here, too, with overtones of (believe it or not) Jewish music.
Lapidus guitar and vocal works are very interesting to listen to, and the
strange mixture of Cuban percussion with something that sounds like a liturgy
you would hear in a synagogue make his music much "different" than what you
might anticipate. Those who are "hung" on purist jazz probably won't give
this a second chance, but if you believe (as I do) that music crosses all
boundaries, and requires that you listen with open ears... I give it a HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED, primarily because it is clearly "from the heart". The
official release is March 18, 2008, with a release concert at East Midwood
Jewish center in Brooklyn, NY. Get more information at
www.treseroproductions.com
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Doug Munro - BIG BOSS BOSSA NOVA
2.0:
It must be "latin" month here at Zzaj Productions - this is the 3rd or 4th CD
that's flavored with that "hot-blooded" sound. Mr. Munro's guitar & hand
percussion are joined by bass from Michael Goetz & drums from two players, Jason
"J Dog" Devlin & Jason Anderson (track 1 & 6). Let there be no doubt that
if you're looking for high-spirit & talent in jazz that leans south of the
border, Doug & krew have what you WANT! As usual, it is the originals that
really seem to capture the heart & soul of an artist/group, & cut 6, "A Day At
The Races", is perfect aural evidence of such... totally integrated recording,
the players are tight as you can imagine, and it's my favorite track on this
album. Doug's interpretation of Freddie Hubbard's "Little Sunflower" also
caught my attention - it's a "different" arrangement, to be sure, but displays
his love for the music & his talent just shines right through. There are
10 pieces in all, with 4 of them original - if you love guitar jazz, you'll be
hard-pressed to find better than this. It gets a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from
these ol' ears! It will be officially released 4/2/2008, but in the
meantime, you can get more information at
www.dougmunro.com Rotcod Zzaj
Eric Byrd Trio - BROTHER RAY:
Not another worn out "tribute" album - at all.... Byrd (piano & vocals) & krew
(Bhagwan Khalsa's bass works & Alphonso Young's drums), along with a 4-man horn
section (Brad Clements, Lyle Link, Paul Carr & Chris Watling) & 2 guests (Lee
Gilmore's vocals & guitar from Frank McCreary) take Ray Charles' tunes & whupp 'em
right into some spirit-filled musical play that will make yer' soul soar
high! I've no doubt that Mr. Charles is smilin' & noddin' as he scopes
this out - both in the aural sense & the visual, 'coz without video, you can
still feel these folks dancin' as they play! I haven't heard this much
soul infusion SINCE watching Ray's movie (you know, th' one where Jamie Foxx
(literally) played Ray)... "Let The Good Times Roll" opens with all th'
rollickin' & rollin' you'd expect from Ray's music, & th' party rawks on all the
way on through the CD... this is a CAR CD (yes, indeedy, Mr. Byrd, you're in MY
rotation), & won't go back in th' rack for years! "Get On The Right Track"
(cut 5) is THE smoker, my favorite for sure.... hard to pick one, though, 'coz
they all will get you groovin', for sure! I rate this as MOST HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED, whether your penchant is for blues, jazz, or good ol' R&B... in
fact, this gets the "PICK" of this issue for "coolest band around"! Get
more information at www.ericbyrd.com
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Piers Lawrence Quartet - STOLEN
MOMENTS:
This extremely enjoyable jazz CD won't hit the street (according to the liners)
until 1 March, 2008... so, get your copy reserved now! Lawrence's guitar
meshes perfectly with piano from Chuk Fowler, bass by Jim Hankins & drums from
Sir Earl Grice... this is the kind of quartet jazz that hearkens back to the
"good old days & good old ways" of jazz. The pace is nice & easy, no
players "comping" on top of the other - everybody knows what's to be played, &
it's totally evident that their talent levels are at such a level that they know
they don't have to compete with each other. That's especially true on the
originals by Piers, like "Samba Christina, "Everytime" & "Dimanche" - "Dimanche"
is my favorite on the particular CD, because the dynamics & tension/release are
superb... far above average - it's one of the best "bluesy jazz" pieces I've
heard this year. "Samba Christina", a bouncy little piece, came in as a
close second. I give this a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating for any
listener who wants classics in their collection. Get more information at
www.pierslawrence.com
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FOWL - InaStorMental:
This being our first listen to Noah's weird works, we weren't quite sure what
we were getting ourselves into, especially when that high-horn synth/bass/drum
thang kicked in at about 2:00 on "MoFo Heat - Part 1 - Warming Up"... lotza
"buzz", some fair amount o' "fuzz" (guitar) & lots of strange electronic
energies being captured to entertain your braincase. You will NOT find
music like this in other review 'zines, as they're unwilling to exceed their own
expectations (or limitations, however you see it)... of course, that's never
true at this magazine... in fact, we WANT the odd, the improvised, & the totally
tanked. By the time you get to the screwy spoken-word lines on track 3, "MoFo
Heat - Part 3 - Take a Cold Shower", you'll either go take one (a shower, that
is), lock yourself in the loony bin, or rush right out & volunteer for
the Noah Campbell "Peace World Tour"... terrorists would find this
incomprehensible, so we should pipe it into Guantanamo 666 hours a day... ha!
ha! Seriously (are you KIDDING, Metcalf?), if you want to hear something
totally different, this is your ticket to the show! "Serious" fans
of jazz will be shocked, but that's better than NOT hearing this fantastic
voyage into the ghost of Uncle Frank Zappa... I give this a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
for fans of the insane. Get more information from
http://www.terminus1525.ca/studio/view/3442,
www.myspace.com/fowlmusic or via email to
fowl720@hotmail.com
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Monk's Music Trio - MONK ON MONDAYS: If you've been a Monk fan (like I have) for a while, the music on this October, 2007 release will make you very satisfied... & if you haven't listened to a lot of Thelonius's music, this will give you the opportunity to do just that. The trio consists of Chuck Bernstein on drums, Si Perkoff on piano & Sam Bevan on bass will enlighten you on this wonderful jazz album featuring 13 superbly played tracks! There is sometimes a tendency to view CD collections like this with a jaded eye/ear, kind of relegating them to the "bottom of the stack"... your ears will be the loser if you choose to do that... this is one of the best tributes I've heard in a while... if it's "jump" you want to hear, then check out cut 5, "Evidence"... recording is crystal clear, & the sound comes across as though the players are right in your living room. If you're in the mood for something a bit lighter, you'll relish "Ruby My Dear", track 4. My particular favorite on this session was one I hadn't heard from Monk before, "Brake's Sake"... absolutely stunning drums & piano that are (literally) driving... excellent tune for that drive from East to Left coast - invigorating is the word that comes to mind. Jazz fans new & old alike will agree when I declare this as MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Get more information or purchase the album at http://cdbaby.com/cd/monksmusic4 Rotcod Zzaj
Jane Stuart - BEGINNING TO SEE
THE LIGHT:
You can (easily) hear the smile in Jane's jazz; it will fill you up with joy &
(of course) light... a very perceptive singer with a huge compliment of talented
players behind her (far too many to itemize here). It's a "husky" style of
singing on the title track, but at the same time, her vocal bounces around with
glee & from the heart - if you love jazz, you'll want this album, no question
about it. It's the kinda' CD you'll want to "curl up" with for an hour or
two... not a "road" CD, though the tunes have plenty of verve... the track that
caught my ear right away (cut 7) by Bobby Timmons/J. Hendrix called "Moanin'".
It's my favorite on the album, maybe because of that righteous sax by Frank
Elmo. This is a superb recording that will entertain you for years to come
- it gets our HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating. Get more information at
www.janestuartmusic.com
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Boots Randolph - A WHOLE NEW
BALLGAME:
When you want to get in the "old time" jazz mode, there's nothing like a
classic artist to whet your appetite, & this CD from Mr. Randolph provides just
what you need! It was released last summer (June 2007), & features tenor
sax from Boots, guitars by Roddy Smith, great piano chops from Steve Willets,
the striding bass of Tim Smith, drums & percussion by Ray Von Rotz, the keyboard
strings of Jason Webb and great Hammond B3 rate by Mark Stallings. The
second track in, "Billy's Bounce", is one jumpin' tune, & if it's great blues
you're ears are thirsting for, you'll definitely dig "Basically Blues" (by Phil
Wilson - my favorite on the album). The horn section on "Stompin' At The Savoy" will have you
wiggling your hips in no time. Boots Randolph's strident notes on all the
tunes is a signature sound, no doubt, making this an extremely listenable album
all the way through. I rate it HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, to be sure! Get
more information at
www.zohomusic.com/cds_detail.php?cds_id=57 Rotcod Zzaj
Vince
Seneri - THE PRINCE'S GROOVE:
Our first exposure to Seneri's fantastic organ work was in
issue #74, & he's
outdone himself on this new CD (due for a March 1st release). As always, he's
got some stellar players with him, like Randy Brecker on trumpet & flugelhorn,
Paul Bollenback's guitar, Dave Valentin on flute, tenor sax from Houston Person,
percussion by Richie Flores and Gary Fritz & (last but not least) Buddy Williams
on drums. A track title like "Dearly Beloved" would make most listeners
think "ballad" (as did I), but this is one of the most scorching Hammond B3
pieces I've ever heard... & the title track, a Vince original, is some of the
mellowest jazz you'll ever listen to. My favorite tune was "The Stinger",
composed by Seneri... it flows with sophisticated rhythm, & highlights each
player without taking away from any of them... an absolute stunner! Mr.
Seneri is (as of this moment) my favorite jazz organ player, & if you love jazz
organ, you'll share my sentiments there. This album gets our MOST HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED rating, as well as the "PICK" of this issue for "best organ jazz"!
Get more information at www.vinceseneri.com
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Ashia - PAY TO BE LOVED:
One thing I enjoy most about writing this 'zine is the diversity of artists we
get in here for review... a cello player who sings the (down & dirty) blues...
this is a first for me, to be sure, but Ashia ROCKS, folks. The opening
track, "Divine Killer", features her vocal in one of the darkest blues pieces
I've ever heard on a jazz album, without doubt. She actually lists here
genre (on the tracks) as "folk", but on this tune (my favorite), it's a lot more
like blues! On the title track, after a splendid cello intro, she
continues with vocals that stride right along as punctuation to the strings.
Actually, after listening through this twice, I find myself remembering a
young/upstart Janis Ian (many, many years back), & know that that is why Ashia's
music holds the spell it does over my ears. You won't find any "jumping"
tracks here, & in that sense it is more like a folk album than jazz... beautiful
cello intros lead into her vocals on nearly every track. If you're looking
for something different than you're used to, this gets a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Get more information at
www.myspace.com/ashiavc Rotcod Zzaj
Michael Winograd - BESSARABIAN
HOP:
Klezmer clarinet seems to be the rage in some circles these days; I can't tell
you how many of these (often) soulful & spirited CD's we've reviewed over the
last 5 years, but I know it's been far more than we received in the mid-90's.
Michael's (17 February, 2008) release starts off in a pensive mood, with "The
Beginning", but by track 3, "Sher 199", he's got your toes tappin' & your brain
in a party mood, no doubt. My favorite cut (for what I'm predisposed to
think music like this is supposed to sound like) is "Patriot Bulgars"... images
of vodka flowing & drunken soldiers dancing in spirited & whirling fashion.
The compositions are actually more in a laid-back vein on this one, but anyone
who enjoys lively and talented Klezmer will recognize Winograd's superb talent
from the first bar! I give this one a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! Get more
information at www.michaelwinograd.com
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Charles Rice Goff III - SWEAT ON
A BLACKSMITH'S APRON: No one can ever accuse this magazine of not having an
"open review" policy... CRG III's been sending us his crafts for eons now, &
SOABA is one of the best ever... there's even a "country flavor" on parts of the
CD (which might be something you'd expect with an album title like that).
Rampant talent shines through on the opener, "The Ballad Of Burroughs Creek"...
if you can imagine a country blacksmith backed by a chorale of monks, you'll
have a hint. "Lilly Of The West" makes me think that maybe Lilly was
eating pieces of that cacti found in her western desert... interesting synths &
"whoosh" sounds prop up the sonics for a very pleasant listen. "Quantrill"
takes us in a different direction, with fuzz guitar intro that will penetrate
you down to your knees! "Chantey Dance In Dada Pants" is my favorite track
on the album, in great part because of the title, but the lyrics are definitely
in dada-land, too, which will make it a favorite for all you "stream of
consciousness" types. For anyone who loves music that's never been heard
before, this gets a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! Get more information at
www.geocities.com/padukem/
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Satoko Fujii Quartet - BACCHUS:
I have been a fan of Ms. Fujii's works for so long I can't even remember
(without digging through the archives) when we were first introduced.
Satoko is, without question, THE most talented improvising keyboard artist on
the jazz scene today... not just high energy & talent, but that "spark" of
creativity that makes your ears stand up & listen to every little nuance in her
compositions. Nothing lessens our estimation of her skills (or those of
the other three players, either), in fact this album MAKES the impression all
over again! There is (as on many of the quartet's albums) an "edge" that
makes the music stick to your ribs... it will come back in the middle of the
night & (pleasantly) stir you from sleep... any playing that can do that merits
more than one listen... I've run through this album 5 times now, & am still
finding little nuggets on various pieces. Absolutely alive jazz
that will knock your SOCKS OFF! This one gets our MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
for sure. GET this one if you're looking for tastefully crafted music that
won't just "settle in". Get more information at
www.muzak.co.jp/artist/satokofujii/ Rotcod Zzaj
Trio
Nuevo - JAZZ MEETS TANGO:
What an entertaining little CD... we reviewed saxophonist Dick De Graaf's
"MOVING TARGET" in our last issue, & this gem was in that package as well.
Along with Dick's tenor work, you'll hear Michael Gustorff on violin, accordion
by Hans Sparla & special (vocal) guest Sandra Coelers. The reeds against
the violin & accordion is a combination we don't often hear in jazz, at least
not in this "tango" mode... truth be told, I'm reminded of some of the
interesting compositions I've heard Amy Denio do when I listen to it.
There are lots of original De Graaf compostions, lively & spirited music that
might remind you of your vision of some kind of gypsy camp. My favorite
piece was "Sleeping Giant", which sounds much closer to what a listener would
hear as "jazz" (especially with the wailing reeds aspect at around the 3:00
minute mark), but the violin takes it to another realm. A very enjoyable
listen that gets our HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating. Get more information at
www.trionuevo.eu Rotcod
Zzaj
Fred Katz - FOLK SONGS FOR FAR
OUT FOLK: Those
listeners who thirst for "more" in their music will enjoy this decidedly
"different jazz" album with orchestras conducted by Mr. Katz. I didn't
know it until reading the promo sheet, but this is the guy that created the odd
music that backed the original late-'50's Corman production of "Little Shop Of
Horrors"... actually, that's one of the films that got me interested in improv &
"odd" music, so hearing what Fred was doing in 1959 (when this was recorded)
kind of took me back a way... it will do the same for you. Of course, back
in those days, this was "beatnik" music... no one bought such albums, except as
a gag gift... everything "normal" folks bought was along the lines of Sinatra,
Crosby, Elvis & Ricky Nelson... I'm really glad to hear the folks at "Reboot
Stereophonic" recover these brilliant pieces for future generations - I haven't
had this much fun listening to a jazz/folk CD in many years! There is a
breadth & depth to this music that is timeless, & anyone who enjoys music that
takes the listener in new directions will agree when I rate it as MOST HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED. Get more information at
www.rebootstereophonic.com
Rotcod Zzaj
Dorothy Doring - SOUTHERN
EXPOSURE: Our
first listen to Ms. Doring's jazz vocal works was indeed a pleasure... the
liners have a keyword that I think really applies - "smoldering"... that really
applies, no matter what style she & her players are tackling, her voice turns it
into somethin' that literally SMOKES... steam-heat combined with raw energy &
talent... her rendition of "I Love Paris" (by Cole Porter) breathes new life
into a standard that's often done a disservice by low-key rambling of the lyric
& energy-lacking players... I can tell you - that is NOT the case with her
interpretation of it.... just SUPERB! The list of players is far too long
to list here, but she's chosen folks who know right where she's coming from
as a singer... seldom do the singer & the players communicate as clearly as
they do on (all) the tracks on this great album. My favorite piece on the
album is "Don't Let The Sun Catch You Cryin'"... one of the most sultry
renditions I've ever heard. This is a great album, & if you love female
jazz vocals, you'll have no problem agreeing with me when I declare it MOST
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Get more information at
www.dorothydoring.com
Rotcod Zzaj
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!!!)
We would really appreciate any support you can give us in this effort - as you'll see, there are a few FREE trax on each of the albums, too! Please (also) TELL other folks about our new BLASTMYMUSIC site!
You can ALSO sell your OWN music by clicking on the graphic
below (you'll really be helping Zzaj out, as it uses my Affiliate ID when you
sign up with BLASTMYMUSIC. Thanks:
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!
RETURN to Zzaj
Productions MAIN page!
