IMPROVIJAZZATION Nation
Issue # 90 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!
ThePeguesProject - THE
HISTORICITY OF RODGER PEGUES: Another fantastic sonic adventure I
received from recent net travels is in from Rodger. There's a pre-release
performance close to home (up in Seattle), & I'm going to do everything in my
power to be there to listen to this highly talented keyboardist & vocalist.
That's not something that happens often for me any more, as I don't like
fighting the traffic on I-5 any more... but, yeah, it's that great! Pegues
has this thing called "soul" down pat... his styling on electric (Rhodes
sounding) keyboard is the envy of this players' ear, I'll tell you... but it's
not just "technique", it's his ability to evoke the spirit for the listener
through masterfully played keyboards and vocal talents that are far & above the
"average" in these days of (often) cloned jazz sounds. Don't read me wrong,
though, he has the technical skills wrapped 'round his little fingers, too, &
the tunes just SHINE! I'm particularly enamored of compositions like "luvin
you" & "i'll
wait 4 you" that give you a feel for how skillfully Mr. Pegues can wrap his
voice around a lyric and (either) make you cry a little for the "real folks" he
sings about, or smile at their joy; I hear shades of singers like Curtis
Mayfield & Marvin Gaye here, too - you know, the heroes of my younger
years! Since my ears are more inclined towards that superb Rhodes/electric
piano sound, though, my favorite on the album is his beat-filled electronic walk
through "hang
on", the opener - one absolutely mellow tune! I give this a MOST HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED for soulful jazz fans everywhere, as well as the "PICK" of this
issue for "most creative jazz I've heard this year". Get more information
at his EPK page. (author's
note: As an extra added bonus when I called Rodger up, he hipped me to his
SOUNDCLICK site, which has long stream-only samples of many other tracks...
in particular, he asked me to check out "Africa"...
a superbly crafted piece that had me hitting the repeat button on the player
over & over again for the excellent percussion and horn/synth weave he paints to
enchant your ears... thanks, Rodger!) Rotcod Zzaj
3 Days
- THE TIME IS NOW: Jared Dickerson performs under the name "3 Days"... he's
another "local player" I spotted through
REVERBNATION who is
doing some grand work in support of an album he plans to release shortly.
His focus is on the keyboard/synth side of things, with lots of heavy
soul-i-fication (is there such a word? If not, then I just invented
something) going on... I'm reminded of some of the first efforts at
"one-man-band" I used to do with my friends
Harlan Mark Vale and Remus Glaude,
but the new software rigs (Ableton, I
believe Jared told me) make the sequencing and percussion come through with much
less of that "dumb machine" quality that we often had to contend with on
sequenced material. & he goes far beyond that "too smooth" groove you
often hear with this type of music... catch a snatch of "Hey
Now" from his SoundClick page... though he has it classified as "smooth
jazz", this one has enough "bump & jump" to take it almost into that good ol'
"phunk" zone all of us jazzheads so truly love, 'coz we grew up on it. My
absolute favorite composition on (what will become) the album, though, is "My
Space"... shades of Zawinul abound, & his electric piano sound keeps the
freedom going through genuine keyboard skill; my only complaint is that it
should have gone on for a minute or two longer. "3 Days" is a clear
representation (to me, anyway) of where jazz is (& SHOULD be) headed... music
that both pleases the listener and amplifies artistry that comes from the root
of us all - the SOUL, man! We'll be sure to let you know when the CD is
released... in the meantime, these highly original and spirit-filled tracks get
a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for jazz lovers everywhere! Visit the link above for
REVERBNATION to get more information about this fine artist. Rotcod
Zzaj
Lee Tyler
Post
- EMANCIPATE: Though the songs Lee croons are definitely not jazz (& there
is NOTHING wrong with that - we all need a change of pace once in a while), they
are filled with the kind of raw soul and lyrical power many of us in this
country grew up on! I hear snatches of singers like Gregg Allman,
Springsteen, even a taste of Dylan at his zenith. His all-original
compositions speak to every one of us... our foibles, intrigues, joys & pains,
and they do it without coming across (in the least) as "cry in yer' beer"
cheapos. One thing you can rest assured of, you'll be hearing this gent
for a long time to come... his talent for digging down deep into your deepest
memories & helping you reflect on them will (believe it or not) free you from
the chains you may have enshrouded your psyche with. His guitar-playing
shows clear talent (& love of playing), but it's not all gooped up with
high-tech wizardry that focuses the listener away from his message... the best
example of that for me was "Thunderclap",
but the track that turned out to be my favorite was "Hurricane"...
nice swirling guitars, solid bass lines and beautiful lyrical descriptions of
what happens when the winds of change are blowing... his vocal just SOARS on
this one! I'm mightily impressed & very happy to have made his
acquaintance through his
REVERBNATION page "Emancipate" gets a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from my ears!
Rotcod Zzaj
Goat
- SPECIAL AGENT:
The lead-in to the first track, "The
Lucifer Project", will fool you... sounds like just another rap drum/beat
solo kind of thing, but it won't take your ears long to figure out that this
tune is far more complex & engaging than your first impression would have led
you to believe... the group is a good-old 3-piece (Greg Sinibaldi - Tenor Sax,
EWI, Electronics, Zach Stewart - Guitar, Electronics, Denali Williams - Drums),
but they display a clear talent for sonically screwing with your head. I
can't argue with the genre they picked for themselves, either - "Friggin
Good"... ha! ha! What I can tell you, without doubt, that this isn't just
another "wack band"... excellent recording & the downloads from the store were
320 bit .mp3's... they will challenge your perceptions a bit, and give you that
taste of "different" you've been looking for. My favorite cut, as it turns
out, was the quirky stilted-rhythm of "Armadillo"...
lots of playful segments here that gave me a clear image of some of those
armadillos I used to see trekking around down in the desert near Barstow,
California. If you want something a bit more "laid back", check out the
long "Wish"... nice
builds here for a pretty long piece - 10:16 on my player - that shows the
special talents of each player! The title track is dense and thick with
innuendo, but also could serve as a movie backing track for such a title.
Though this is my first listen to these gents, I expect to be hearing a lot more
from them. This one gets a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for listeners who
aren't afraid to try out something new! Get more information at
www.gregsinibaldi.com
Rotcod Zzaj
Zach Dunham
- SKETCHING GESTURES: A very nicely abstract set of pieces found (randomly,
of course) via the Internet (&
REVERBNATION)... very difficult to "describe" Zach's music, as it's "his &
his alone"... a very interesting freestyle "style" that combines a whole
plethora of instruments (the usual suspects, drums, bass (with a HIGHLIGHT on
bass... some excellent solos), horns, guitars - you who improvise know the drill
- whatever's there) into something that "normals" will run (immediately) scared
from, but those with adventurous ears (like your friendly editor) will come
running TO! I've had the privilege of playing with many performers who
understood this kind of music (I won't bore you with a long "name dropping"
list) & can tell you that when it's "done right", as the tunes I'm hearing here
are, it's full of excitement for BOTH the players & the listener! One note
on the 8 tracks Zach gave me for download as a part of his upcoming CD effort
(he said he's still refining the mix) is that they are in an "accessible"
mode... even "old school" listeners are bound to find something they enjoy on
this album. If I were inclined to put a "label" on it (though I'm not),
I'd term it as something like "nu jazz", or "Zach jazz"... one reason it's not
possible to put such useless containers on Dunham's music, though, is because it
IS jazz, albeit experimental... it may not be what grandpa listened to (exactly)
on the Philco, but it is definitely where jazz IS... in constant evolution & as
a result full of sonic discoveries for the performer as well as the audience.
I'm greatly impressed with "Sketching Gestures", actually, and would tell Mr.
Dunham to GET THAT MIX wrapped up - the world deserves to hear more creative
energy like this! I give it a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED & will predict that
you'll be hearing much, MUCH more from this group! Get more information at
the REVERBNATION site linked above. Rotcod Zzaj
Davis & Deleault (featuring
Eugene Friesen and Glen Velez) - DAVIS & DELEAULT: We first reviewed these
gents in issue #89,
playing backup for poet F.D.
Reeve... asked Don (Davis) if he had anything in need of review, & this arrived
only a few days later. Davis' highly talented work on sax (alto &
soprano), bass clarinet, shakuhachi & flute is superbly complimented by Joe
Deleault's spirit-filled piano mastery, & as an "extra added attraction", you
get to hear sultry cello by Eugene Friesen along with thoroughly timely (&
on-time) percussion, Bodhran, Pandero & Tar Drums from Glen Velez... I was
highly impressed by their work on Mr. Reeves album, probably in part because I
know it's difficult at times to "match up" with a spoken-word artist, but this
great CD gives insight into whole new aspects of their talents. The
CD Baby page hints at a
"fusion" of jazz & "world" musics... the tune that best illustrated that (I
believe) was "Naked As
We Came"... very calming, yet full of spirit and life. My favorite
piece, though, was the lively "The
Four Winds"... Don's reeds just SHINE, as well as Deleault's total movement
on the keyboards... this tune is a KEEPER, to be sure, & will "stick in your
head" for days to come. You've never heard "Strawberry
Fields Forever" as it sounds with Friesen's cello backing it on this CD -
totally mellow. The recording is "right on", catching every little nuance
you can imagine! I've no doubt that you'll be hearing a LOT MORE from
these folks - they get my MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating, to be sure! Get
more information at
www.davisanddeleault.com (and be sure to tell them that Zzaj sent
you)! Rotcod Zzaj
White Rocket - WHITE ROCKET:
The piano work from Greg Felton & drums from Sean Carpio (from Dublin) play some
jazz miracles for your ears when paired up with NY'er Jacob Wick's magic
trumpet! Admittedly, this is not music for the timid & does require
actually listening... if you're looking for 1930's jazz, you'll have to move a
few bins down from this trio's debut CD. Totally original compositions
from the trio, with more energy than I've ever heard from such a combination...
but these guys minds' seem to be
melted together as you
listen to them; it's one of the tightest trios I've heard in about 5 years.
I thought that was especially true on "His
Story", where Felton does (what I call) a "chord stride" in support of
crispy percussion from Carpio & very lively brass from Wick! It was the
2:58 "Hone" that
captured the spot of "favorite track" for these old bent ears, though... talk
about crescendo building... my only complaint was that it could have been about
a minute longer (or so). Their real forte, in my view, is an abundance of
rhythmic structure that will propel you right to the edge of the galaxy - this
could well serve as theme music for the first intergalactic flight - "White
Rocket", indeed - Ha! Ha! I'm highly impressed and hope to hear many more
albums from this superbly talented trio. They get a MOST HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED from me, as well as the "PICK" of this issue for "best jazz trio
work". Get more information at their
MYSPACE page!
Rotcod Zzaj
The Conduit Trio
- BEYOND LIQUID GLASS: Besides that ultimately cool title for the CD, this
trio has one heck of a lot going for them - namely that they were just what
the Rotcod ordered... if these 16 tracks don't liven up your day, your soul
is beyond repair! The highlight on the opening track (Smelling
Salt) (for this listener, at any rate) was Robert Branch's molten guitar
leads... just like any good glass-blower, he bends those sonics into what he
believes they should be... all to superb effect for the listener... a most
memorable tune & one of my favorites on the album. The absolute GEM,
though, was "Silent Fury"...
this composition brings home the reality of one of their slogans in the promo
sheet - "Progressive Jazz for the 21st Century" - with music craft that remind
me at times of McGlaughlin Mahavishnu-type stuff, but more rhythmically
challenging in a constantly evolving shift that will be interesting even for the
most seasoned (i.e., jaded) listener. Another tune that is a true
ear-catcher, especially for folks who grew up on Zappa, was "Disparate
Measures".... it's not just that it has volcanic movement, but that the trio
brings such FULL BODY to the sound... if your ears have any level of adventure
in them, you'll find this a keeper that will travel everywhere with you.
You'll need to purchase the CD to get full grasp of why I'm so excited about
these gents (David Furnas on 6-string bass & Josh English on drums flesh out the
unit), but trust me when I declare this to be MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, and the
"PICK" of this issue for "best progressive jazz for 2009". Get more
information at www.conduittrio.com/
Rotcod Zzaj
Dan Adler -
ALL THINGS FAMILIAR:
Although it's true that Adler's jazz comes across feeling very "familiar", his
style and approach to things jazz is uniquely his, and that's very comforting
for the jazz aficionado, or the "occasional" jazz fan. His guitar stays
nicely (although not obtrusively) out in front, and the players who join him
hold their own all the way through the 10 cuts (6 are original Adler
compositions, too, an extra added attraction for this reviewer)... Richard
Samuels piano is wonderful, the bass from Dimitri Kolesnik is steady-on, drums
by Philip Stewart totally punctual and there's some stunning tenor sax from
Grant Stewart (editor wonders - are Philip & Grant related?). The music
isn't "in your face", or too far off the beaten path, which sticks to the album
theme, yet is infused with high energy to the point that you won't soon forget
this new musical acquaintance (though Dan's been part of the NYC jazz scene for
at least 20 years, this is the first time we've heard his work). He's also
a very interesting person... you can find a wealth of information on his
website, including jazz transcriptions, CD reviews & extensive music articles...
it's at http://danadler.com/...
that may be (in part) because he holds degrees in Computer Science and
Electrical Engineering. You won't hear any "weird" sonics, or
technological marvels in this recording, though... it's clear that Dan
understands how to keep the "real" in his music... all very straight-up
composition, with the music (and excellent talent) being the focus. It
turns out that my favorite cut is the title track (click on the link to hear a
sample of it), probably because it's one of Dan's original compositions, but
also because the players all get equal time on solo. My ears were also
drawn (immediately) to "Sivan's
Samba"; clear Latin flavor, but some really robust sections that will stay
in your ears. A very entertaining first round for Adler as a leader that
gets a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from this reviewer.
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La Forza - DANCE MUSIC FOR YOUR
MIND: There is a wealth of music on OMD's right now (like
REVERBNATION, where I pulled
this from)... I scan these kinds of sites every now and then,
particularly in "local" mode to see what I can hear, & when I cruised through
the tracks from Austrian-born (and classically-trained) pianist/electronic
artist Divina Klein and underground hip-hop producer Douglas Mackar, I sent them
a note right away asking for a CD. It arrived only a couple of days
later... the copy I received wasn't a "promo" copy, in other words it was
without a full jacket/label/etc., but after talking with La Forza, that was
simply because they had exceeded their quota on review copies... the jacket art
is visible at their site, as well as the thumbnail I pulled here, & it's really
cool! What we really review here is the ENERGY (and talent) quotient displayed
by the artists for the music being played, anyway. The compositions on their CD of
electronic dance they provided for review show an abundance of talent and a
clearly focused energy all the way through... that's especially true of pieces
like "In Joy" - my
favorite on the album; they truly understand the achievement of "balance"
between the "beat" part for the dance element and the "composition" part for the
keyboards... I just loved the phasing during the intro. I'm reminded in
many ways of another favorite artist of ours, "John
& Karen (Riendeau) Orsi" on "Aurora Caught Napping", but La Forza seems to
stay with the dance orientation more than John & Karen do. For listeners
enchanted with the undercurrent & bass-driven tunes, listen to "Spiral
Galaxy", certainly worthy accompaniment for your next ride through a
wormhole. This is one of the more inspired pieces of electronique I've
listened to in the last year, & draws a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from me.
Get more information at www.laforza.com (&
be sure to tell them we sent you). Rotcod Zzaj
Denise Donatelli - WHAT LIES
WITHIN: If it's tasty jazz vocals you need to wake up on a dreary weekend
morning (like today up here in the Great NW), you need look no further than this
marvelous CD from Denise... her voice is full of energy & her talent quotient is
above the mark in all regards. Her full-throat and straight-ahead vocal on
"Sails"
will blow your mind and fill you with inspiration to get onboard the ship of
life and travel to all corners, no doubt. What shines through the
combination of vocal and excellent instrumental work assembled here is
Donatelli's clear love of jazz... many other singers try to reach the heights
that Denise soars to, but are unable to, perhaps because they
are having to try. The group of players she assembled to back her
spirited performance up is far too long to itemize here, but they are ON every
second of every tune. The other impression that shines through when
listening to the songs here is that in addition to being enthused about what
they are doing, the entire group is totally professional... you don't
always get the level of intensity evidenced here, and one of the best tracks to
hear that on is the beautiful "Crystal
Silence"... if this one doesn't make you reflect nostalgically, you've
already got a stake through your heart! The best cut (& my favorite) on
the album, though, is the opener, "My
Shining Hour", one of the best jazz vocals I've heard this year. You
won't want to let this album slip away, and I've no doubt you will agree with me
when I declare this one MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! Get more information at
www.denisedonatelli.com
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Steve Khan
- BORROWED TIME: Here's yet another from our fantastic guitar-jazz friend
Steve... we reviewed 2 of his more recent efforts in issues
#88 and
#89. On "Borrowed
Time" (released in 2007), he's joined by John Patitucci doing bass, Jack
DeJohnette on drums and Manolo Badrena's percussion (along with a host of
others). The CD includes explorations of tunes from folks like Monk,
Ornette Coleman, McCoy Tyner and others, but (as usual), the originals are what
stay in my mind... the beautiful and dreamy "Face
Value" is the perfect vehicle for opening up a lazy Saturday morning,
especially when Randy Brecker chimes in on Flugelhorn. In the same vein,
but with some wonderful eastern influences, was "EL
FAQUIR", which I loved especially for the beautiful (and long) introduction
- it clocked in at 13:39 on my PC... Badal Roy's superb tabla and excellent bass
clarinet from Bob Mintzer will weave a truly world fantasy for your ears and
leave you more enlightened than you've ever been... a very improvisational feel
and my favorite on the album, without doubt! Steve's guitar on this piece
saunters in, out and through the entire 13+ minutes and imparts a great sense of
calm, something we all need to aspire towards in these ever-more trying times...
it's the most relaxed playing I've ever heard from him! The other track I
really scoped out a lot was "BLUES
FOR BALL"... very subtle & laden with the soul you'd expect from the
blues.... a McCoy Tyner tune that's very satisfying. This one is my
favorite of all the CD's I've listened to from Khan, though I'm sure there will
be many more coming down the proverbial pike... I give this a MOST HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED, as well as the "PICK" of this issue for "best guitar-based jazz".
Get more information at www.stevekhan.com
Rotcod Zzaj
Kari Gaffney - SATIN DOLL:
I've been waiting (quite) a while for this fantastic 2002 CD in from Kari...
don't know when I realized that in addition to promoting tons of jazz artists,
she was also a performer; also not sure if she has any further vocal jazz (or
any other kinds of jazz) in the works, but I can tell you that her voice on this
one will grab you, hold you & wrap you into her spell quite nicely. She's
joined by Erik Hargrove (drums), Hal Melia (sax, flute & clarinet) and Jeff
Williams (guitars and bass) in some stunning performances of classic jazz
tunes... but her voice makes the excursion far more inspiring than just another
rendition of "the same old tunes"! I can't quite describe in words what
the attraction is... words like "husky", "soulful" & "spirit-filled" come to
mind, but have probably been hacked to death already by other reviewers!
As I listened to the opening track, "Speak
Low", I felt like I never wanted to walk away to do anything else... the
recording is so crystal-clear that you'll believe she's right there in your
living room singing for you personally... that's especially true when Hal's
flute weaves in behind her lines; simple, yet sweet & totally attractive.
The suave jazz feeling evoked by "West
Coast Blues" made that one my favorite track - probably something to do with
her ability to sing those blues like they were made for her to wear. The
best place to check out the tracks is at the album's
CD BABY page; you'll also find a lot
of notes there about how the album came to be. This CD was well worth the
wait - it gets a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from these old ears, and the "PICK" of
this issue for "best female jazz vocal CD". A superb jazz adventure.
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Alt Tal
- OPEN THE GATES: Here's a refreshing sound... basic sax (David Alt), bass
(Kenny Annis) & drum (Andrew Ryan) trio that flawlessly improvises 11
all-original Alt compositions in a solid modern jazz performance that will put
you in moods both introspective & joyful. The jumping piece "Nymph"
is most representative of the playful spirit the title would make you think
of... it's track 4, "Amoureuse
de Mon Père", that will take you over the top, perhaps even jumping beyond
resolute toe-tappin' to jumping up and dancing a bit... my favorite on the CD,
to be sure. On "Amoureuse", the drums seem to propel it, & the bass
provides superb counterpoint... David's sax paints a bubbly stream that will
make you think of your father, no doubt. If you're favoring the reflective
side at the current moment, be sure to check out "Force
Of Nature", the tune I thought was the most mellow on the entire album.
The overall impression I had was that this approaches improvised jazz with a
decidedly "eastern" flavor, more studied and controlled than other reedists I've
listened to who are doing it "from the hip", so to speak. All in all, very
impressive & full of vigor... I rate this one as HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for jazz
listeners who want to experience an album with many facets - excellent sound
quality, high talent and sonic vistas you haven't heard before! Get more
information at www.alttal.com
Rotcod Zzaj
Steve Haines Quintet with Jimmy
Cobb - STICKADIBOOM:
Steve's Zoho-label debut release (actually his second album) features some
stunning all-original aural adventures composed by himself and Jimmy Cobb.
8 tracks that will lift your spirits up and have you boppin' right along with
all six of the players. That's especially true on tunes like the opener, "The
Freightrain", which will speed you up & doze over any worries you might have
had. Haines' bass doesn't get up in your face, or trod over the other
players, & you'll clearly hear David Lown's tenor sax, Rob Smith's trumpet &
tenor sax, as well as great keyboards from Chip Crawford... drum duties are
split between Thomas Taylor (tracks 1 & 7) and special guest drummer Jimmy Cobb,
who used to play in Miles quintet (all other tracks) The tune that had the best
jazz feel (I felt) was "Rendezvous",
with excellent solos from each player... a totally balanced jazz composition
that will come back to mind many times after you listen to it; my favorite cut.
Another excellent piece was the title track, which will make you think you're
back in a 1970's all-night blue-smoke joint... fun personified is the way I
heard it. The track where I felt most comfortable with Steve's bass
playing was "Re: Frayne", dedicated to a sax-playing pal of his named Rob
Frayne, but he's well integrated into all 8 tunes. If you're a "hardcore"
jazz fan who wants a CD that will stay in the "keeper" pile, this comes MOST
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Get more information at
www.zohomusic.com/cds_detail.php?cds_id=75 Rotcod Zzaj
Solomon Douglas Swingtet
- SWINGMATISM: Solomon's band has been around since '02, and when he
uses "swing" to describe the music they play (all 10 or so of them, depending on
where he's playing), he's not using the word lightly... this is some of the most
upbeat big-band swing I've ever heard (and believe me, I've heard more than a
few bars)! The beautiful thing about Douglas' piano is that he always
keeps things hopping, never letting the focus stay on his keyboards for too
long. As you might expect, since Douglas is the leader, his piano is right
"there" on every tune, but every instrument (or group of them) gets a chance out
in front when he arranges the tunes. All the varieties of the great swing
era are represented on this romp - pre-swing hot, classic swing, be-bop that
won't quit, what Solomon terms "New Testament Basie", as well as postbop modern.
If you're looking for sweet piano boppin', listen to Solomon on Ellington's "Black
and Tan Fantasy"; he treads lightly, but milks some sweet soul right
out of those keys. For something with a true groove, you'll probably find
your favorite to be "Stolen
Moments", as I did... it stays close to Oliver Nelson's original
composition, but seemed (to my ears) to come across with a very much (more)
cosmopolitan feel. Ray Noble's "Cherokee"
is very tastefully done, too, but I just fell in love with "Stolen Moments".
Since swing jazz is "timeless" music, anyone who listens will find something
they like... & you should go investigate as soon as you can, since it comes MOST
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED by me... get more information at
http://solomondouglas.com/ (& be
sure to tell him that Zzaj sent you). Rotcod Zzaj
Russ Hewitt
- BAJO EL SOL: This month has been splendid for "online" musical
discoveries... after some ads I put out on various sites soliciting music for
review, Russ sent me an email... the next morning after our exchange, his full
electronic press kit (EPK), with all 10 tracks from his debut CD, was waiting
for me to pickup online. Many of us in the review community have been
forecasting that this method of getting releases reviewed would be happening
"soon" (I remember talking about it at least 6 years ago in some of my rants) -
well, folks, it's HERE! Now must get back to the focus, though... Russ's
beautiful guitar style, which he calls "Nuevo Flamenco”, will have you enchanted
from the opening bar... his playing will lift your spirit up, no matter how far
down it's been... especially true on tunes like "Tranquillo"
- very mellow, yet full of life & energy. Extensive travels around the
globe have also given his compositions a truly "world" feel, without becoming
bogged down in some of the cliché's that have been associated with world music
in the past... he infuses each tune with his own unique character, the way (all)
music was meant to be played. One of the best pieces, & my favorite
on the CD, was "Inger",
which takes you to the edge of the horizon & back. He has a full cast of
highly talented players with him, including Walfredo Reyes Jr on drums, Rafael
Padilla playing percussion, Bob Parr on bass, and flamenco guitar prodigy
Alfredo Caceres joins him as well. A superb musical experience, that even
strict jazzheads will enjoy... I give this a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Get
more information at
www.russhewittmusic.com Rotcod Zzaj
Sarah Brooks and Graceful Soul
- UNDER THE BONES OF THE GREAT BLUE WHALE: A sweet taste of jazz blues
vocal, with the emphasis on blues, this live recording is a CD you'll treasure
(& keep playing over & over) for a long time to come. For folks as old as
me, it will bring back mem'ries of the '70's heyday of singers like Roberta
Flack, Gladys Knight & many others who kinda' "taught us" the ecstasy of a
well-honed blues vocal with jazz underpinnings. When she kicks into track
3, "Chain
Of Fools", you'll think (almost) you're hearing the "Queen" (Aretha) belt it
out... Ms. Brooks does a splendid job of interpreting the track in her own
fashion, though, & you'll know the difference; a killer tune that was my
favorite vocal on the CD! Having the audience included (as on most live
recordings) will make you feel like gettin' up & bumpin' 'round th' floor
for a few steps, too, no doubt. If it's time for you to lay back &
ruminate on love, though, you'll especially dig Sarah's splendid vocal on "Since
I Fell for You". For this ol' rocker, though, the tune that had the
DRIVE I was expecting from such a rockin' set was an old Pee Wee Ellis tune
called "Chicken"
with some downright FUNKY instrumental pieces on it. Go to
http://sarahbrooks.com/ to hear all the
samples & purchase this great album... it's gets a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from
me for those inclined to mix a lil' soulful blues in with their jazz diet ev'ry
once in a while! Rotcod Zzaj
Satoko Fujii - Myra Melford
- UNDER THE WATER: I have reviewed so many of Satoko's exceptional CD's that
it would be impossible to list them all here in a review (just do a search at
the bottom of this page to see what I mean); unfortunately, it appears that I've
only reviewed one of Myra's (issue
#39), but have heard her marvelous improvising since the late 1970's when I
knew her at a little coffee house (here in Olympia) called the "Gnu Deli".
This CD features the two of them together in live performance at Maybeck Recital
Hall (West Coast)... and what performances they are - all the way from plucked
piano strings to solo against that, this is one of the most invigorating piano
duos I've ever heard! It's truly like they were speaking to each other
through the keyboard(s)... this kind of conversation is one that regular folks
don't often have, because in addition to a strong element of focus, it
requires the kind of studied talent that most of us will never have.
These two are master sonic conversationalists, and they paint the water-themed
comprovisations in tones that are warm (at times), frenetic (at others) and
full-tilt from the opening bar to the closing note! We've all been at some
of those sessions where pianists were trying to impress the audience (or
sometimes each other) with monkey-shines on the plucked strings... they
sometimes come across as "interesting", but seldom do they shine as brightly as
on the duets here. The little "bell" intro on "The Migration of Fish" is
very pretty, but over the 11:21 that it lasts evolves into one of the most
exciting pieces of piano music I have ever heard. Some artists "try" this
playing style, but (unequivocally) none of them "get" it like "Under The Water"
does - this is a GIANT album that deserves some serious listening, and you have
never listened to anything as unique as this... limited edition (only 500
copies), so get yours NOW, while you can! I give it a MOST HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED, as well as the "PICK" of this issue for "best improvised piano"!
Get more information at
http:/www2s.biglobe.ne.jp/~Libra, www.myramelford.com
or purchase from the following site:
http://diskunion.net/jazz/ct/detail/LIBRA202-204 Rotcod Zzaj
XISIX
- LIVE SHOW: This set of electronic dance was encountered after meeting
XISIX at his REVERBNATION
page... I'd been walking through a pile of jazz, techno & electronic artists in
my area, & found him... signed up as a fan on RN, then talked to him about
sending something our way (in this case, all digitally). He's got some
strange & decidedly "out there" music that could easily be added to the "SPACE"
category, rather than "Electronic Dance", although it's definitely beat-based...
& WHAT beats... this isn't yer' "stock" drum machine (albeit some of it may
come from a box)... simply WILD percussion, which (I believe) is what drew
my ears in the first place. Some of those ol' fashioned "raves" (back in
the '80's, when I was much younger) would have thrived on music like this.
Aliens talk to you in the background, maybe even shades of 666, uno's? A
bit of language (at the front) made me hesitate to continue, but I don't shy
away if there's SPIRIT involved in the playing, & this dude's GOT that in
spades! Don't think granny'll be bumpin' to this anytime soon, but those
who are lookin' to get their ears (& heads) loosened up in a flurry of dance
will find this strangely engaging. His instrumentation/execution is right
on, all the way through the 5 trax on this show. For those who are
really IN to the "dance/electronica" genre, I give this a MOST HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED... for jazzheads, worth a listen, but may not be your cup of tea.
Get more information at
www.woundedinfidel.com/xisixweb/ Rotcod Zzaj
Ben
Averch - WASHINGTON STATE:
Ben & I hooked up (yah, another one online) via his
REVERBNATION page... several
excellent cuts there for you to listen to. After a bit of message
exchange, he came back to me & asked if I'd listened... had, but I like to have
the downloads (so I can do the review at my leisure)... he turned 'em on &
"instant download", had the whole thing on my drive. He plays some VERY
psych/prog stretches, particularly on tunes like "In
A Dream State"... soaring lines that will take you about as high as
Washington can get you... & having lived here since 1978, I know how well
elevated that can be. It's not just the excellent guitar work, either,
he's got the whole rhythm thing down in a big way. What impressed me (more
than anything), though, was his lyrical skill... I want to compare that to (for
instance) the skills of one of my favorites, Bruce Cockburn... but Ben's playing
takes the lyrical/music combination to a whole different level than most of
Bruce's best stuff... in listening, I hear a whole new 21st century influence in
Averch's compositional style... what Obama might term as "hope" shines through.
There are lots of guitar players who "think" they have progressive down, but
their output comes short of the mark of that mountain-high quality I hear on
"Washington State"... if you don't believe me, listen at about the 3:05 mark on
"Levitate", one of the
most energetic tunes I've heard this year. All in all, this album is a
true "KEEPER", & gets a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from these (often) rockin' old
ears! Check out the album at his RN site, or at
http://averch.com/listen.html
& be sure to tell them Zzaj sent you! Rotcod Zzaj
C. Goff III
- SANDUSKSCENES: OK, Goff - there's no doubt about it - you've gone FAR TOO
FAR this time... the descendants of Herbert (Hoover) have got you in their
sights this time, no doubt... cruelty to MANtis'... on "Mantis Meal", you
pretend to be playing nursery rhymes (albeit for Karloff films) and introduce
our youngsters to cannibalistic scenes of one bug being eaten by the other....
pretty good parody of politicians, I thought, but entirely too graphic for
malleable minds - oh, I see, that was the whole idea... make the IPOD gen-x-ers
squirm with a dose of visual cruelty... ha! ha! ha! (Those who
haven't read this magazine for a long time won't know that I've reviewed a LOT
of C. Goff's material - this is the most entertaining, albeit jaded, I've
received from him to date). That "Trip To The Fair" gives a pretty
good perspective on all us turkeys tied up in knots over the whirligig state of
the economy, along with a snatch or 2 of "Animal Farm". Excellent
experiments in homemade sonic wonder that may not win a Grammy, but will have
Granny in stitches as she watches. Excellent quality DVD for those not
afraid to tackle the "same old scenes" you'd find in that town in Ohio with some
new interpretations from Mr. Goff. I rate it as MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED,
to be sure! Get more information at
www.geocities.com/padukem/ or go
directly to his YOUTUBE
videos page (over 77 that I saw). The epitome of where the digital age is
taking us - like, oblivion, man! Rotcod Zzaj
Charlie Kohlhase's Explorer's
Club - ADVENTURES: This
debut CD features Charlie's highly-charged alto, tenor & baritone sax
mananglements along with Matt Langley's frenetic tenor & soprano, trombone
from Jeff Galindo, Eric Hofbauer's guitar, bass by Jef Charland and drums from
(both) Miki Matsuki & Chris Punis (Punis & Jef Charland were reviewed quite
favorably with another quartet in
issue #89, & I've
reviewed Eric's guitar works before in
issue # 50, as well as
other issues). The beautiful thing about Charlie's CD is a grand sense of
humor... musicians not afraid to explore the contrasts that can be achieved by
not "sticking to one thing"... pretty much all-original compositions (7 out of
10 were written by Kohlhase) with peaks and valleys (in tempo and tone) galore
(yah, I know that "galore" dates me, but I'm old enough not to have to care
about that). Titles like "The Alarm Clock Is My Only Kryptonite" isn't
just an eye-catcher either, it's a study in sonic restraint (on the part of the
players, I mean) that will keep your ears on the edge of the seat! The
reed's interactions with all the other instruments will serve as a primer for
your introduction to the language of sax, & have you trying to "whistle" along
with their rhythm changes... percussion on "Loquator & Taciturnator" is superb
all the way through the track... hyper bop for the 21st century. This
won't be an "easy listening" experience, so if you can only handle basic 4/4
time with no diversions, it won't lead you to Nirvana... but if you're a fellow
explorer, in the sense of listening, this will be like spelunking through the
myriad facets of a wormhole. It gets a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from me!
Get more information at
www.charliekohlhase.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!!!)
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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