IMPROVIJAZZATION Nation
Issue #
96 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!
Slivovitz -
HUBRIS:
The sheer variety of styles on this second CD from Slivovitz makes the
purchase of the album well worth your $$$, even if you're not a hardcore freak
for music that takes you out there (as I am). All the way from the
opener's (which features absolute killer bass by Domenico Angarano)
mad-dash middle eastern trek through territory that Zappa trod (track is called
"Zorn
a Surriento"), at least after some fashion... these guys carry it a step
further, though, especially when Pietro Santangelo's sax assault on your aural
appendages makes you realize that there is nothing musical geniuses can't
do! It's track #6, "Dammi
un Besh O", that wins all my respect, even though it may come across to some
listeners as the ultimate personification of the album title - but (as
all of us who play know) you can't really be arrogant unless you've
got the chops to back up your attitude... I'm hearing snatches of mem'ry
here... the violins remind me of the finest gypsy jazz - sort of Django in
Diladin spiked with meth, if you will - or even if you won't! The point
here is that if this 7-piece dynamo hum doesn't get you flying high (without the
dope) - YOU are arrogant! I also dug the genuine groove & bump on "Sono
Tranquillo Eppure Spesso Strillo"... had me up outta' my seat dancin' 'round
with th' headphones as though I was listening to some of the old George Duke
craziness - SOLID phunk & fun! If you've never heard these folks before,
you owe it to your ears to git' DOW-un on 'em... they're KILLER (& we're tellin'
the label we want ALL of their stuff)... not only do they get a MOST HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED, but they earn the first ever "EQ" (energy quotient) rating of 5.00
(on a scale of 1-5, they are at the very top)! Get more information
at www.slivovitz.net
Rotcod Zzaj
Cara Clarke, Stefan Abuan, Steve
Bartlett - BE HEAR (demo):
As many who read our magazine regularly know, I seldom review demos... I'd been
after Cara to get me something for review, though, for quite some time, & when
she handed me this 5-song, I couldn't pass it up. That's in great part
because of the quality of recording & performance on these tracks... the
Abuan original, "Long As I Have Music" is a standout track, & Cara molds it
nicely into something of lasting value! It doesn't hurt one bit that guitarist
Abuan & bassist Steve Bartlett are right in her zone, either... this trio
has crafted some soulful sounds that will just shine when they flesh this
out into a full album. I've watched them mature into a trio to be dealt
with over the last few months, and it's been pure pleasure for my aural
appendages... their performances at one of our favorite spots in the area (Blue
Bottle Cafe) are always pure joy to watch, with Stefan's hyper-aware licks
on lead guitar, Steve's funk-filled bass both contributing to the soul-filled
vocals & performance Cara always pulls off! All the way from that Abuan
original to Sly Stone's "Thank You" will have you up & dancin', even if
you've never danced before... this is music that's full of the joy of soul, &
"Be Hear" makes it happen - all night long. I can tell y'all right now, if
the CD is anywhere near as funky as this preview, it'll stay in your collection
for years to come. I give it a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, & an "EQ" (energy
quotient) rating of 4.8 (on a scale of 1-5). Get more information on
Cara's FB page - & tell her I
sent ya'! Rotcod Zzaj
Jamie
Craig - ILLUMINATION:
I reviewed Jamie's first CD in
issue #81, most
favorably... and this 2nd effort is no less astounding than "The Lost Dream"
was... excellent music that incorporates elements of New Age with jazz, fusion
and just inspiring music that will light up your day! His piano passages
will blow you away, even if you're primarily a jazz fan... all "good" music, in
our estimation, is about the spirit of the player and how well they're able to
translate their feelings through their instrument(s), and Craig is full well
capable of helping listeners soar to the highest planes. While I love his
piano work, I'm also intrigued by the string weaves he layers in, especially on
tracks like "To Nola With Love"... the chord changes here will make you feel
the love he's feeling as he plays this. For something that takes you a
bit further out, you'll find "Voyager IX" highly attractive to your ears, as did
I... lots of variance in the moods here, and all with Jamie's masterful touch -
this one will "fly you to the moon" (& beyond). Many who attempt
composing this kind of music get "almost there", but then fall flat when it
comes to execution... not so with "Illumination" - you'll stay inspired from
beginning to end. My favorite piece was one of the slower ones, "Guardian
Angel", which will make a believer out of you... there are higher planes
to achieve than this lowly one on the universal scale, and Jamie takes you
there. I give this a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED... the "EQ" rating for this
is 4.7... right up there with the best! Get more information on
Jamie's MYSPACE page. Rotcod Zzaj
Borah Bergman-Stefano Pastor -
LIVE AT TORTONA:
Bergman's piano and Stefano Pastor's violin truly "make music together", though
it's not for "tame listeners"... your ears need to be open to the spirit of
improvisation in order to enjoy this. Those (like me) who want
something different will find this one of the more challenging listens this
year... Borah's expressed sentiment about his keyboard playing is that "each
hand can go in its own way when it wants to"... though many pianists want
that to happen, few are able to make it happen without sounding like a
train wreck. There was a fellow (many years ago) named Greg Goodman who
came close to Bergman's skill level, but clearly there is no one in my
recent listening experience who can play this "disjointedly" and still make the
visions mesh as seamlessly as this gent. When you pair that up with
Stefano's interjectory strings, you'll realize that there is be-bop
available that ain't "just the same old thing". I was especially attracted
to the second track, "When Autumn Comes", probably because of the strong chords
that make it "sound like regular jazz", but it was the marvelous duo on
"Crescent" that totally captured me... Pastor's strings almost sound like a horn
(something the liners say he intended)... for the uninitiated, this may remind
them of what the inside of a terrorist's thoughts might sound like, but for
those who want innovation in their sonic adventures, this is the cat's
meow! I rate it MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, & award it an "EQ" (energy
quotient) rating of 4.85... high end pandemonium, no doubt! Get more
information at
www.mutablemusic.com/tortonainfo.html Rotcod Zzaj
The Joshua Breakstone Trio -
NO
ONE NEW:
Joshua's works have been reviewed here before, most notably in
issue #65 1/2... this
5th release shows why he's considered one of the best jazz guitarists on the
scene today! He's joined by Lisle Atkinson on bass & Eliot Zigmund's drums
& the trio cooks on all 8 tracks... of course, it's the original pieces
that always keep my ears open... when you listen to the volcanic opener, "Over-Done",
you'll know immediately why I dig his style so much! Each player has a
"voice" in the action, but leaves plenty of room for Joshua's searing leads...
talk about energy - this is (nearly) 8 minutes of high-steppin' joy,
boys! If it's a more bluesy vein you're diggin' for, though, you'll fall
in love (as I did) with "Blues
Heretofore" right after the opening line... I mean, if you can't lay back &
enjoy this one, you're a basket case already... in fact, listening back
through all the cuts, I find that this is my favorite on the CD - smooth, yet
full of life and energy. His cover of Joe Henderson's "The
Kicker" closes out the album with just the right amount of swingin' energy
to make you keep comin' back for more - & more & more & more, no doubt in my
mind. It's a most interesting trio (for this reviewer, anyway) because it
hearkens back to days when jazz was gentle, but Breakstone & crew spice
it up with an energy that's clearly forward-looking, & not leaning on any kudos
for past performance. If you dig straight-ahead jazz guitar with high
talent that will make for hours & hours of repeated listening pleasure, you'll
agree with my rating of MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, with an "EQ" (energy quotient)
rating of 4.82! Get more information on this fantastic guitar player at
www.joshuabreakstone.com/Biography.html Rotcod Zzaj
Laurence Hobgood-Charlie
Haden-Kurt Elling - WHEN THE HEART DANCES:
This is some of the most poignant trio jazz I've heard in years... thought I
hadn't listened to Hobgood's lively keyboards before, or Elling's vocals, I had
listened to Haden play his double bass with Kenny Burrell
(live, in downtown Venice Beach, California, way back in the '70's)...
this amazing CD brings out every little nuance in each of the trio's talents!
An original by Laurence titled "Sanctuary",
though in a somewhat reflective mood, managed to transition to sheer/clear joy
(for this listener, at least), perhaps because of the "blues" imagery his
keyboard calls up for my ears. Favorite tune for me, though, is actually
the title track, "When
the Heart Dances"... Hobgood's spirit is just bubbling up through his
keyboards and the listener can't help but dance right along, 'round & 'round the
floor - even if only mentally from their chair - simple, yet beautiful.
Charlie's original, "First
Song", also features Elling's emotion-laden vocal & comes in a close second
as a favorite. There are 11 wonderful pieces of elegant jazz here that
will zoom to the top of your playlists and stay there for years & years
to come. This is the kind of album that's destined to become an "instant
classic" - if you don't believe me now, just click on the samples to hear what
wonderment these gents can (& will) inspire for your heart... they will
have you dancing! Get more information at the
NAIM
(label) site for the CD! This one gets an automatic MOST HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED, with an "EQ" (energy quotient) rating of 4.83).
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A New Day -
SUMMER REFLECTIONS:
"A New Day" is pianist/composer Rob Miller and Ron Heustis doing orchestrations,
all to wonderful effect... if you want to know what summer "sounds like" through
the ears/eyes & souls of accomplished players, you'll surely become acquainted
with it on this (their second) CD. In some sense, what they're playing
reminds me of the Windham Hill "seasonal" releases... the compositions are
highly original, full of spirit and totally engaging. If you're a "purist"
jazz fan, you may not find these as attractive as did I, but even if that's
true, you'll know you're listening to high talent. I couldn't find
non-flash downloadables (as you can find when an artist loads their work on
AMAZON), but their SOUND PAGE has
flash samples of each of the tracks (actually, if you Google them, you can find
them on plenty of podcasts). The most attractive piece for this listener
was the 6-minute "Early Rising"... I've always been easily engaged by the sound
of a Kalimba, and they weave it into this composition very nicely... horns,
guitar, everything you might imagine as you get up to meet a new day... keyword
for this track is "inspiring"! I also loved the full body approach on
"Place of Solitude" - the orchestrals are excellent. All in all, this is
one of the better New Age recordings I've listened to this year - it earns a
well-deserved HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, as well as an "EQ" (energy quotient) rating of
4.48. Get more information at
www.anewday.ca Rotcod Zzaj
Charito - WATCH WHAT HAPPENS:
Another laid-back jazz vocalist, Charito joins one amazing pianist/player from
France, Michel Legrand... the recording doesn't "favor" either one, & they're
both able to impress you with zesty talent and powerful playing! I'm telling you
right now, when LeGrand kicks in with "scat" on the second track, "Summer Me,
Winter Me", or the duet on "Pieces Of Dreams", your ears will quickly realize
just how astounding life can be when in the presence of musical quality.
Charito is from Japan (or at least, she's based there), & having lived in the
Orient myself for nigh on 20 years, I can tell you that she's "got it"... no
pretending or imitating here - she's the "real thing". As you read through
her BIO,
you'll see that she gets extremely high marks from jazz notables like Nancy
Wilson, & I've no doubt that doesn't come "easy". There are a couple of
good introductory vids at
ALLABOUTJAZZ
on her, though I couldn't find any downloadable .mp3's for you - the AMAZON page
didn't have any samples, either. Her voice is full of soul, and she's
easily able to wrap you into her spell... very enjoyable CD, in great part
because of Michel's playing, but Charito is quality vocal jazz... she gets a
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from me... "EQ" (energy quotient) rating is 4.45. Get
more information at www.charito.com
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Dan Moretti - TRES MUSE:
We have reviewed Dan's splendid jazz works for many years now... all the way
back to issue #36 & most
recently in issue #93...
anything we've heard his tenor sax on is the highest display of talent and
energy you'll find on the scene today! On this outing, he's joined by
Marty Richards' drums & Marty Ballou on electric bass... a superb trio of
masterful players who will challenge your ears, albeit in most pleasant
fashion... this is the kind of jazz you can listen to for hours (even days) &
find yourself coming back to over & over again to taste the essence of tightness
- highly impressive and without restrictions. This kind of
originality in composition takes me back to my earliest years of listening to
jazz - the early 1960's, when everything I listened to was exciting, because it
was fresh & new... tunes like "Mumbo
Jumbo" will remind you (as they did me) of great players like Eddie Harris,
yet still excite you because the energy is clearly 21st Century! The
driving drum intro on "Fais
Do-Do" will have your blood pumpin' at thrice the normal rate and your muses
will be dancing as well... it was Ballou's thumping bass line that made "Guacamaya"
my favorite on the CD, though... these guys are right on time every
second, & will have you revisiting their muse far more than three times!
11 tracks of unadulterated jazz bliss for those who don't want their genres
"mixed" into some unintelligible hydra... this gets our MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED,
with an "EQ" (energy quotient) rating of 4.78! Get more information at
www.danmoretti.com Rotcod
Zzaj
Fred Simon-Paul McCandless-Steve
Rodby-Mark Walker -
SINCE FOREVER:
There have been some wonderful releases coming in to us from the
NAIM label lately... Fred Simon's piano
compositions lead the quartet here, most splendidly. His keyboard style is
clearly based on lots of training, but his soul clearly comes through as he
leads and backs reeds by Paul McCandless, acoustic bass from Steve Robby and
drums/percussion from Mark Walker. The high-flying and jubilant second track, "No
War Nowhere" is among my favorites... each player has a part to play, and
play it they do... of course, I'm sure the theme has much to do with the
emotion you feel pouring out from each instrument! It is the dynamic and
mysterious "Even
in the Evening" that captures the prize of being my favorite, though... it
stays in the jazz realm, but there are moments when I can clearly picture a
symphony playing this one as a classic. If you're inclined to hear
something a bit more bright and upbeat, you'll fall in love with "What's
The Magic Word?" immediately. The keywords for all dozen of Simon's
track are vibrant and essential... nearly 64 minutes of pure sonic
pleasure that gets a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from us and an "EQ" (energy
quotient) rating of 4.89 - volcanic! Get more information and listen to
samples at Fred's MYSPACE page!
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Christopher Boscole - PRESENTS
OF ANGELS:
Being a piano player myself, I can tell you that they often have a tendency
towards so much introspection that their compositions often sound too
self-absorbed - you know, like they're taking themselves too seriously.
That's surely not the case on Christopher's wonderful CD! "Joy" is
a word often used to describe the efforts of solo pianists doing "new age"
works, and (once again), that is often a keyword for listeners to expect
over-glitzy passages so far removed from the human condition that they're not
enjoyable at all... Boscole's playing communicates the vision he wants you to
see without any overstatement, and clearly demonstrates talent far beyond the
reach of many of those who "think" they know how to put their vision across!
This is EXCELLENT piano, something I know I'll continue listening to for the
long term... this is especially true on compositions like "Angel
of Bliss", my favorite on the album. Christopher's talent goes way
beyond the norm for this genre, and pieces like "Knights
of Gold", another favorite, put you in the mood to commune with higher
beings! I'm most highly impressed - this CD gets my MOST HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED, as well as the "PICK" of this issue for "best solo piano"!
You owe it to your ears (and your soul) to pick this one up for your collection
of favorites! The "EQ" (energy quotient) rating is 4.86 (almost unheard of
for solo piano). Get more information at
www.christopherboscole.com
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Richard Brent Turner
- JAZZ RELIGION, THE SECOND LINE AND BLACK NEW ORLEANS:
The image you see here pretty much "says it all" about this (very) interesting &
engaging book from Richard Turner. The brass band funeral processions are
far more than just the "party" that the media shows for the "Crescent
City"... Turner is a teacher of religions, and brings a wealth of personal
knowledge, as well as direct experience with "the Second Line" that contributes
so much to traditions that birthed the jazz we hear today... all the way from
the original Congo Square performances to players (like Louis Armstrong, Mahalia
Jackson - even the Neville Brothers) whose roots in this music so full of life
and healing power helped to create jazz on the wider basis we know it today.
He intelligently explains how Voudou & even Catholicism blended elements from
the African Diaspora, West Africa & Haiti and fused into a music founded on
"resistance" that left even the Jim Crow folks at a loss as to how to "control"
it (fact is, they never will be able to control the spirits, as much as
they might like to do that). This is the kind of book that you'll go back
& read through again & again... & get something new out of it each time, no
doubt in my mind. The beauty of Richard's writing is that he's able to
tell you his story without getting so scholarly about it that you have to
consult a dictionary or Thesaurus for every other page. A thoroughly
enjoyable read, with a totally engaging photo section that captures (at least)
part of the spirit of the music/religion he's writing about. I'm impressed
enough to give this a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for anyone interested in "digging
a bit deeper" into where this "jazz" all came from. Get more information
at
Indiana University Press - & of course, tell them you read the review here!
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Michael DeMaria - OCEAN:
The aspect of Michael's music that impressed me most on his previous release, "Siyotanka"
was his ability to touch the listener with the power needed to heal them... and
this new release shows that talent at an even deeper level. Michael tells
me in the letter that accompanied the package that the music was "designed to
help people relax and let go"... not necessarily the kind of relaxation that
puts them so deep under that they want to sleep - more the kind that spurs
pleasant brainwaves to help a listener focus on the healing power they have
within themselves. I know (from my own experiences/recovery) that this is
possible and that the world would be a far better place if more folks could
settle down enough to feel the gentle calm that "Moonlit
Sea" inspired for me! Well crafted and full of spirit, DeMaria's music
touches your mind through passages that (at times) feel like your brain is being
massaged... witness the bass sounds, beautiful flute, dynamic strings and
enchanting vocals on my favorite track, "In
Search of Home". This kind of music deserves your undivided attention
- it isn't "background" music, & you should make sure you set aside the full
hour for an uninterrupted listen - preferably with headphones on. Be sure
to keep your ears on Michael, as you're going to be hearing more and more from
him in the coming years... he gets a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from me, as well as
the "PICK" of the year for "best ambient CD". This one gets an "EQ"
(energy quotient) rating of 4.92 (scale is 1-5). Get more information at
www.ontosmusic.com Rotcod
Zzaj
Tom Braxton -
ENDLESS HIGHWAY:
One of my promoters took a (real) chance on this one, as the ads all kind of put
Tom's fantastic CD in the "smooth jazz" category... while it has elements of
that (you know, stock chords & similar changes), none of the compositions carry
that dreaded "lull" that genre category carries with it for many of our readers.
Why? Because Braxton's style on both his originals & those of the other
players whose tunes appear here all contain stellar energy for the
playing of the music... there isn't a dull tune on the album! As you might
imagine, the title track is one of Tom's, & it KICKS right in - splendid
introduction to his playing, which I'd not heard before, though I'm sure after
hearing these spirit-filled tunes, we'll all be hearing more from him in the
future! There's a clear sense of jumpin' for JOY on many of the 13 pieces,
but nowhere is that sense of just how great life can be was it more evident than
on my favorite cut, "Soul
Purpose", another Braxton original... his tenor sax is superb here, and his
talent for arranging shines right on through with his horn arrangements.
If you want to hear from what jump sounds like, you'll definitely dig "That
Wayman Smile", by Tom & keyboardist Jay Rowe... gettin' on up to dance isn't
a question on this one, it's a mandate. For something that soars, check
out "The
Journey Radio Edit" - perfect cut for the lead-out on an album that has the
high spirit and life-filled energy that is demanded to get a review here.
This gets a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from my ears, & an "EQ" (energy quotient)
rating of 4.75! Get more information at
www.tombraxton.com Rotcod Zzaj
Davey Williams -
ANTENNA ROAD:
Davey's back at the improv shrine again - only in this case, we need to bowin'
down to him (it's just the price of fame, Mr. Williams... ha! ha!).
30 (yes, I said THIRTY) tracks that vary in length from seconds long to minutes
long... superb improvisations that will warm the cockles of yer' heart - unless,
of course, you're in a "smooth jazz" frame o' mind... then, Davey's odd-istry
may not groove you quite as much as it did me. I've known him for a long
time (since around 1980 or so, when we played together on a CD called
Sdrawkcab Zzaj), & can say
unequivocally that this is the best guitar-based improvisation set I've
ever heard... everything is recorded very clearly, nothing is left to chance.
Names like Derek Bailey are often used to make comparisons with Williams, but I
can tell you for a fact that you have never heard music like this... all
the way from mythical dragons screeching in your ears to ordnance blowing out
your eardrums, "Antenna Road" is totally original. In your
braincase will roil distant remembrances of players like Beefheart, perhaps
Zappa & others too jaded for public consumption, but you'll know that what
you've been exposed to is the imagination of a genuine modern wizard,
with no punches pulled & no prisoners taken. Unfortunately, the sample
trax from this one appear to be up on
CD BABY, which uses flash,
so no direct downloads were available (damnable FLASH player sucks
buttermilk)... guess that means you'll just have to purchase it - and if you're
a fan of mind-boggling improvised music, you will be driven to purchase
this. It is, quite simply, the VERY BEST IMPROVISED GUITAR I've ever
heard... not only a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, but it gets the "PICK" of this
century for "best improvised guitar"! The EQ (energy quotient)
is 4.92. Get more information at
www.the-improvisor.com/transmuseq/davey/ Rotcod Zzaj
Gene Segal - HYPNOTIC:
I'm continually impressed by the high quality of music sent for review these
days... this CD is from a Brooklyn-based jazz guitarist (originally from Russia)
who has put together an excellent sextet... jazz fans will love his all-original
music, as did I! Each & every track is packed with the kind of vibrant
energy that only can come from a person who is fully engaged in life!
Gene's excellent guitar is joined by organ from Sam Barsh (I'm just lovin'
his style), drums & percussion by Matt Kane, tenor sax from Mike Sim, both tenor
& soprano by Bryan Beninghove, & rounded out by trumpet from Jonathan Powell.
There's a rockin' undercurrent of uptown funkiness that can't be resisted,
especially on pieces like "Blues
Again"... Barsh's exceedingly talented organ playing is a perfect compliment
to Segal's kickin' leads, & at 5:25, it's long enough to make you get on up &
step to it! "Alef"
leads in with a great call/response funk riff, & when the horns start doing
counterpoint, you'll be groovin' for sure! My favorite on the CD, though
was the last track, "Truth";
each player has a part to play, & they clearly are in tune enough not to be
steppin' all over each other... Gene's guitar has some scorching leads here,
too, which is probably why I dug it so much! I expect I'll be hearing a
lot more from Segal after this stunning debut effort... keep your ears on him,
to be sure! I give him a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED on this one, as well as
an "EQ" (energy quotient) rating of 4.91. Get more information at
www.genesegal.com Rotcod
Zzaj
David Widelock Trio - SKATING ON
THE SIDEWALK:
The mark of a true music professional is the ability to flex between different
styles of music without "losing" the listener.... David & his trio companions
(Fred Randolph's acoustic & fretless electric bass, & Jim Kassis on drums) have
put together a truly attractive 11 song sonic package for your pleasure that
displays the highest talent level I've heard from a trio in quite some time!
All tracks (except 2) are composed by Widelock, which adds an "edge" that's
necessary, at least in some ways, to get a top rating from me... & it goes all
the way from straight-up jazz to funk to great Latin-influenced jazz. If
you're looking for "laid-back", try "A
Colorful Dream Underwater"... Randolph's bass lends a nice loose feel in
support of great (& very clear) guitar leads by David. On the other hand,
if you're looking for somethin' to get yer' "groove on", you'll dig "Peeling
The Magic Onion" in a big way... this one's still playing in my car player -
great for the road, I'll tell you! My (absolute) favorite, though, was "Something
Easy"... it's one of the best blues-influenced originals I've heard (yet)
this year... absolutely tight playing that will haunt your ears for years to
come. Though this isn't his debut release (his last was in 1985), it might
as well be, in my mind, anyway... it paints a very clear sonic image of a player
who (though having been around for a good long time) is right in touch
with what jazz fans want to hear in the "now". I give it a HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED, & will definitely look forward to his next release! "EQ"
(energy quotient) rating is 4.86. Get more information at
www.beegumrecords.com
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John Wojciechowski - LEXICON:
John's tenor and soprano sax works are (quite simply) astounding! His tone
makes it that way - full-bodied and rich all the way from opening note to
closing bar. Unfortunately, this one wasn't up on AMAZON (yet?), so I
couldn't link the samples right in for you, but you can hear 4 or 5 of them on
John's listening page
(whoops, I did find some downloadable/playable samples at
EMUSIC - our hats are off to those folks for making the links
available, even tho' it does appear to be that abominable FLASH player).
He's joined by Dave Miller on guitar, Ron Perillo on piano/Rhodes, Dennis
Carroll on bass and Dana Hall on drums/cymbals; you may not realize it until
you've listened to him, but he's been on the jazz scene with lots of players.
Nine original tunes keep the energy going at full-bore, especially on
compositions like "Jazz
Folk Song", my absolute favorite on the album... at about 2:50, Perillo's
excellent piano chops are joined by a scorching sax lead that you won't soon
forget, & Carroll's bass introduction provides a driving force that
propels it at rocket speed! There are all kinds of player
comparisons I could make (names like Getz, Adderley & such come to mind), but
what I so much enjoy about his energy is that you can tell everything he plays
is straight from the heart... songs like "Jazz
Folk Song" are more expressive of the ancient language that music truly
is than any I've heard in years! If it's rousing drums and energy that
spans the universe you crave, you'll fall in love with "Pentatonic
Tune"... this one just soars! If you're looking for an album
that will become an "instant jazz classic" - this is it!!! I rate
it MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, as well as award it the "PICK" of this issue for
"best saxophone-based jazz quintet"! "EQ" (energy quotient) rating is
4.96! Get more information at
www.jwojojazz.com Rotcod Zzaj
LaDonna Smith - Michael Evans - DEVIANT SHAKTI:
Here's our longtime improvising pal LaDonna creating crystal-clear improvised
havoc with her violin/viola in tandem with Michael Evans, doing percussion,
drums, electronics & Theremin! As many of you who read this 'zine on a
regular basis may know, I first met LaDonna way back in the earliest days of her
label,
Transmuseq... I was doing a lot of performance art & played with her &
guitarist Davey Williams (also reviewed in this issue). My first listen to
this CD was through speakers, & to be fair to the artists, decided right away
that it MUST be taken in through headphones... doing the listen in any other
fashion takes away from the intense concentration and focus that you must have
when experiencing improvised music; and I can tell you that you'd be missing a
lot... this is one of the intricately woven sonic tapestries I've ever heard
from LaDonna... EVERY note has a new adventure, and you'll find yourself
absorbed to the 'nth degree after only the first 20 seconds. There are
"voices" in here that even the most able among us will find difficult to grok,
even if we are at the highest levels of "the force"... Smith's string antics
mesh perfectly with Michael's (r)evolutionary percussion to give you an
insight of the language the creators of the universe speak in... what language,
you ask? Why, pure and unadulterated music, of course, unfettered
by convention or mediocrity. If you are inclined to thinking that artistry
can only be "true" if it reflects the conventions man often wants to superimpose
over the chaos that life really is - go elsewhere... but if you appreciate
sonics that take you to new levels, you'll have no choice but to get this one!
The "EQ" (energy quotient) level on this one is what gives it away as one of the
best improvised albums in a long time - it gets a 5.0 (which is at the top
of the Zzaj energy scale... you can't go any higher). It is, of course,
MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for those listeners who are unafraid of "different"
music, as well as the "PICK" of this issue for "best improvised duet"! Get
more information (& listen to short samples) at
CD BABY!
Rotcod Zzaj
Fra Fra Sound - DYA SO:
Having led an "addictive lifestyle" myself for a few years, I know that what
often causes folks to get hung on substances is a key element missing in their
lives - & that is the joy that comes from a life fully lived... these
gents help to inspire such through their music, in a big way! I'm
highly impressed, as will any jazz fan who is looking for Afro-Latin sounds that
will get both body & mind moving in zones that bring that joy on! To watch
a video of them "at play", go
HERE - the feeling there reminds me somewhat of
old vids of groups that Joe Zawinul was in, & in fact, Weather Report does come
to mind on tunes like "We'll See
You There" (this is at their MYSPACE page... couldn't find any direct
download samples that weren't using FLASH). We've actually listened to (&
reviewed) them before, but for some reason, I was unable to find the issue they
were in. The FAVORITE track (for me) on this outing, though, was "100%
Halal"... in addition to the marvelous horns, there is also some fantastic
electric piano work... if this one doesn't get you up & moving - you're dead
already! Those who want to find jazz that will stand the test of time need
only check out the links above... 9 joyous tracks that will be the envy of jazz
aficionados 'round the planet. I give them a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, &
have told the promoter that we want EVERY release they have (past, present or
future) for review! Funk without the fuss - GREAT jazz that gets an "EQ"
(energy quotient) rating of 4.95! Get info at
www.myspace.com/frafrasound
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!
RETURN to Zzaj
Productions MAIN page!
'k, alla' you hardcore
D.I.Y'er's!
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