Noah Preminger “Meditations on Freedom” Dry Bridge Records noahpreminger.com Many people had strong reactions to the recent presidential election. The response of one of the nation’s top young saxophonist’s comes in the form of music. Noah Preminger’s “Meditations on Freedom” is a collection of tunes that evoke and react to the current political climate in […]
jazz
Posted inMusic
Album review: ‘The Seasons’
Manuel Valera Trio “The Seasons” Mavo Records manuelvalera.com On his 12th recording as a leader, pianist Manuel Valera embarks on a grand, four-part suite inspired by Antonio Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons.” Make no mistake, while these works follow the Baroque masterpiece with musical interpretations of each season, these are Valera’s compositions. “Summer” was never as propulsive […]
Posted inMusic
Album review: ‘Visions & Friends’
Bob Holz “Visions & Friends” MVD Audio bobholzband.com A drummer that doesn’t stand out is a good drummer. Sure, we dig the chops, the chaos, and the backbeat, but a drummer that hangs back in the pocket is hard to find. Maybe it’s the fact that we give them sticks and put drums in front […]
Posted inMusic
Album review: ‘Transitions’
David Gilmore “Transitions” Criss Cross Records davidgilmore.net He has served as a sideman with Wayne Shorter, Steve Coleman, Meshell Ndegeocello, and others, but on his fifth album, “Transitions,” guitarist David Gilmore amply displays his prowess as a leader. The record, a tribute to recently departed jazz giants, showcases Gilmore’s originality and intelligence in terms of […]
Posted inMusic
Album review: ‘Voyage Home’
Chris Rogers “Voyage Home” Art of Life Records artofliferecords.com The first sign of something unusual about trumpeter and keyboard player Chris Rogers’s wonderful new album, “Voyage Home,” is the masterful saxophone sound of Michael Brecker, who died in 2007. With an overall funky, Afro-Cuban feel, this CD is as fresh as yesterday, but the credits […]
Posted inMusic
Album review: ‘The Truth of What I Am is Greater Than the Narcissist’
George Burton “The Truth of What I Am is Greater Than the Narcissist” Inner Circle Music georgeburtonmusic.com With a title based on a Charles Mingus quote, pianist George Burton’s debut album instantly puts him on the jazz map. His solos are wonderful, with a flair reminiscent of McCoy Tyner, but the album is also a […]
Posted inMusic
Album review: ‘Dan Trudell Plays The Piano’
The Dan Trudell Trio “Dan Trudell Plays The Piano” Self-released dantrudell.com Dan Trudell could be a hot pianist on the New York scene, but he’s chosen to live on a lake about halfway between Chicago and Milwaukee. Working those two scenes, he has played with Kurt Elling, Roy Hargrove, Eric Alexander, Nicholas Payton, and others. […]
Posted inMusic
Album review: ‘The New York Session’
Mark Lewis “The New York Session” Audio Daddio marklewismusic.com Multi-instrumentalist Mark Lewis may not be a household name in the jazz world because he’s spent much of his career in Europe and Canada. But Lewis has played with greats like Bobby Hutcherson, Randy Brecker, and Johnny Griffin. And on his new album, “The New York […]
Posted inMusic
Album review: ‘The Village’
Yotam Silberstein “The Village” Jazz&People yotammusic.com Yotam Silberstein is lucky he’s a guitar player. If he were playing the 100-mile-an-hour solo that begins his new album on a wind instrument he’d have no wind left. Listeners are left with just enough energy to say “wow!” With the arrival of his fifth album, Silberstein is the […]
Posted inMusic
Album review: ‘Moving Forward’
Brent Gallaher “Moving Forward” V&B Records brentgallaher.com New York isn’t the only place producing top-notch jazz musicians. Although it may not be high on the radar screen, Cincinnati has a thriving jazz scene, and saxophonist Brent Gallaher has been a vital part of it for more than 25 years. He’s toured with the Glenn Miller […]
Posted inMusic
Album review: ‘Stabilimento’
Roberto Occhipinti “Stabilimento” Modica Music robertoocchipinti.com You may not know his name, but if you’ve walked down Gibbs Street during the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival, you’ve probably heard one of Roberto Occhipinti’s bands, Soul Stew. You may have also caught him with Manuel Valera or one of the many other artists he’s played with […]
Posted inMusic
Music review: ‘North’
Kevin Hays New Day Trio “North” Sunnyside Records kevinhays.com The cover of Kevin Hays New Day Trio’s album “North” features a detail of a wall in Harlem rich in layers of posters in a variety of styles. The cover is especially appropriate for an album not only multilayered in terms of complexity, but also in […]
