CD Reviews on projects by Jazz artists
jazz, making a Scene, Ted Piltzecker
Ted Piltzecker Brindica Zoho Former trumpeter, now vibraphonist and bandleader Ted PIltzecker is making his debut for the Zoho label and delivering his fifth album. While his previous output featured standards, tangos, and African- flavored tunes his eclecticism has gone even further here on Brindica. Some may quickly notice how that term is an acronym […]
jazz, making a Scene, Simone Kopmajer
Simone Kopmajer Spotlight on Jazz Lucky Mojo Records It’s convenient to call this a throwback album but somehow Simone Kopmajer would seem to be just fine with that description. It’s uncanny how her originals, five of them, fit seamlessly with swing standards from the ‘40s and ‘50s, such fare as Louis Armstrong’s “Struttin’ With Some […]
Gabriel Espinosa, jazz, making a Scene
Gabriel Espinosa Nostalgias De Mi Vida Zoho As you might guess from the title, even if Spanish isn’t your language, this is about nostalgia and happy personal associations with the past (memories of my life). At age 66, Mexican-born composer/singer/electric bassist is looking back fondly on his life in jazz, from his first days with […]
burning bridge, china, jason kao hwang, jazz, making a Scene
Jason Kao Hwang Burning Bridge Blood True Sound Recordings Forgive this start as Blood is an ultra-serious project but this writer cannot help but recall a night of listening to several forms of live jazz in Beijing, China a few years ago. After listening to a couple of straight-ahead bands and a Salsa combo, our […]
cd review, chris pasin, jazz, making a Scene
Chris Pasin Ornettiquette Planet Arts Ornette Coleman’s free jazz and avant-garde compositions were on that slippery border between the accessible and inaccessible for many listeners and this writer. Yet, alto saxophonist Coleman and his long-time collaborator, trumpeter (or pocket trumpeter) Don Cherry’s work has held up remarkably well, first with the band that included Cherry, […]
jazz, making a Scene, ronnie Cuber, Sax
Ronnie Cuber Live At Montmartre Storyville Records Ronnie Cuber is a jazz saxophonist. The seventy-six year old musician has played with a virtual who’s who of Jazz. Some of the artists he has worked with include George Benson, Slide Hampton, Maynard Ferguson, Eddie Palmieri, Grant Green, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Jimmy McGriff, The Mingus Big Band […]
jazz, making a Scene, rachel caswell
Rachel Caswell We’re All in the Dance Turtle Ridge Her Grammy-nominated violinist sister Sara may be better known but it’s clear that musical DNA runs through vocalist Rachel as well. We’re All in the Dance looks to be only Rachel’s second or third album but she’s already established quite a presence with her intelligent phrasing […]
jazz, kate reid, making a Scene
Kate Reid The Heart Already Knows Self-released Vocalist Kate Reid takes a courageous path on The Heart Already Knows, her third release. Rather than sing with a conventional rhythm section, Reid recorded this project in various duo formats, just her vocals accompanied by either a guitarist or pianist. Not only were many of the songs outside her […]
Christopher Hollyday, jazz, making a Scene
Christopher Hollyday Telepathy Self-released Hard bop alto saxophonist Christopher Hollyday is back for the first time in 26 years as a leader. He plays with so much enthusiasm and unbridled fury, that it’s immediately clear he must have been bursting at the seams to get back into a studio. Jazz fans may recall Hollyday form […]
cd review, fusion jazz, jazz, making a Scene, shijin
SHIJIN Self-titled Alter-Nativ/SOCADISC/AN100 You’re likely already thinking “what kind of name is that?” and “what’s with the weird record label name?” Yes, this is not your usual jazz group but instead a co-op group that brings American and European jazz artists together in a fusion-jazz/improvisational jazz format across eight original compositions that range from three […]
