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Reviewed: Giuseppe Venezia | Calgaréal | Avishai Cohen | Kristin Korb | Scott Colley, Edward Simon, Brian Blade - Jazz Journal
Without realising it, this month has been a treat for someone who appreciates the sound of the bass. I have the new releases from Avishai Cohen, Kristin Korb and Giuseppe Venezia in my pile for November and I can’t wait to jump into the deep lows that the instrument offers. I start with… Giuseppe Venezia: […]
Reviewed: Jaden Evans | Kalya Ramu | Fred Hersch, Steve LaSpina, Jeff Hirshfield | Dann Zinn | Donna Brooks | Bill Evans - Jazz Journal
Jaden Evans: Evans On Evans (Shamus Records) Jaden Evans is only 16 as I write this, and he has done his own trio date with two leading players. As he’s Bill Evans’ grandson perhaps that’s not so surprising. Nor is it surprising it that he is a skilled pianist with a light touch. Here he […]
Reviewed: Judith Owen | Gordon Wellard | Snorre Kirk | Kim Cypher | Gordon Beck - Jazz Journal
Judith Owen: Swings Christmas (Twanky Records) Welsh born, New Orleans-based chanteuse Judith Owen has just released her 15th album. Backed by her 17-piece J.O. Big Band, she delivers a diverse and upbeat collection of Christmas songs of the swinging, secular sort. If you’re after traditional Christmas carols don’t look here. Jazz versions of Have Yourself […]
Reviewed: Michel Petrucciani | Neta Raanan | Collin Sherman - Jazz Journal
Michel Petrucciani: Jazz Club Montmartre (Storyville Records 1038541) This previously unreleased live double album from Copenhagen’s Jazzhus Montmartre features the French master in a magnificent trio with Gary Peacock (bass) and Roy Haynes (drums). The trio existed only for a studio session in 1987 and a short European tour the next year, of which this […]
Reviewed: Alan Barnes, David Newton | Christian Sands | Tigran Hamasyan | Ivo Neame | Yonathan Avishai | Christine Xu - Jazz Journal
Alan Barnes, David Newton: ’Tis Autumn (Woodville Records WVCD154) When I was a young jazz snob living and listening in London, I went to all the best clubs, encountered the most demanding of the avant-garde, heard all the visiting Americans, and thoroughly enjoyed Bracknell and other festivals. Home-grown jazz passed me by, unless it was […]
Playing The Changes: Jazz At An African University And On The Road - Jazz Journal
Darius Brubeck has “played the changes” both as a musician, and politically, through deep involvement in the cultural politics of South Africa, 1983-2005. With partner Catherine, he moved there in 1983 to lead Africa’s first jazz-studies degree programme, at University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) in Durban. In 1989, he became director of the new Centre for […]
JJ 11/84: Generation Band - Call Of The Wild - Jazz Journal
Many will know 50-year-old Victor Feldman from his stints with such artists as Cannonball Adderley and Peggy Lee. In recent times he has done much session work and this record finds him with a distinguished line up of Californian musicians and some excellent material. Robben Ford has long been a renowned name among guitar aficionados, […]
JJ 11/84: Abercrombie/Scofield - Solar - Jazz Journal
Neither Abercrombie or Scofield has made his name as a standards player, though you can bet that both have got that side of things pretty well covered, and this new record proves it. There is some original work here – two by Abercrombie (Even Steven and Sing Song) and one by Scofield (Small Wonder), but […]
JJ 11/94: Alan Barnes & David Newton - Like Minds - Jazz Journal
Thirty years ago Richard Palmer loved a duo between pianist Newton and the saxophonist who asked, in the first throes of the UK's endless jazz boom, 'This constant search for innovation is a bit negative. What's wrong with just being good?'
JJ 11/84: Cedar Walton - Eastern Rebellion 4 - Jazz Journal
On the face of it, this is the kind of release I would normally pass by, dismissing it as just another set of standards with the odd original, played by just another set of highly competent but derivative musicians. What attracted me was the presence of tenorist Bob Berg, who was with Miles Davis in […]
Christopher Riddle: a tribute - Jazz Journal
Many people cross our paths, and if we are lucky, meaningful relationships develop with those who touch us in the most inspiring way. One such person who graced my orbit and became one of my most valued and cherished friends was Christopher Riddle, the son of arranger and composer, Nelson Riddle. Over the past few […]
Poland: the 30th Jazz at the Museum, with James Carter, Take 6 and Harold López-Nussa - Jazz Journal
Ostrów’s series of jazz concerts titled “Jazz at the Museum” celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. The originator of the event, Jerzy Wojciechowski, announced that the commemoration would be duly celebrated, and he kept his promise. This has resulted in as many as eight unique concerts in 2024, including the final three at the end […]
Jeff Beck guitars to be auctioned at Christie's - Jazz Journal
Guitars belonging to the late Jeff Beck, a musician often associated with jazz, are to be auctioned at Christie’s in London on 22 January 2025. His wife Sandra Beck said “These guitars were his great love and after almost two years of his passing it’s time to part with them as Jeff wished. After some […]
Elaine Delmar - An Afternoon At Duke’s Place - Jazz Journal
They were frisking punters at Crazy Coqs on Saturday, on the off-chance they were secreting about their persons a crowbar, or at the very least a shoehorn, that would enable them to squeeze one more person into an SRO venue. Ms. Delmar, for hers was indeed the name on the tin, was battling considerable odds. […]
Bassist Ursula Harrison named BBC Young Jazz Musician 2024 - Jazz Journal
The finals of the 10th BBC Young Jazz Musician competition, shown on BBC Four, 24th November, left no doubt that the legacy of hard bop is in good hands among young British players. Four finalists had competed the previous night at Queen Elizabeth Hall in London’s Southbank Centre for the top place, each playing their […]
Un Noël de Jelly Roll Morton - Jazz Journal
Alain Gerber is a noted writer on jazz but also, to the wider French public, a highly acclaimed writer of fiction. He has already combined real musicians with fiction in books concerning such names as Armstrong, Davis and Holiday, where his imagination has taken flight from what is known about their lives and personalities. I […]
Lauren Bush: from interior design to the stage - Jazz Journal
Despite reviewing all three albums which singer Lauren Bush has released so far, I knew next to nothing about her, and so in early November, ahead of her London Jazz Festival appearance, I set about learning about her life and career. “One of the few things I know about you”, I said, as we sat […]
Music For Black Pigeons - Jazz Journal
The quartet gig which John Surman had at Ronnie Scott’s this past June (reviewed 12/06) was memorable enough in itself. What made the evening extra special was the fact that long-time ECM aficionados Adrian and Jane Goldsmith were in the audience. We had never met up before but when we did, just after the gig […]
Reviewed: George Duke | Scott LaFaro | Mike Stern - Jazz Journal
George Duke: From Me To You – The Definitive Collection 1977-2000 (Robinsongs Robin5BX74) A five-CD box seems an appropriate tribute to keyboard master George Duke. Containing a staggering 87 tracks, it comprises over six hours of music. Starting with seven tracks (including the title track) from the album From Me To You (Epic, 1977) the […]
Reviewed: Jason Anick, Jason Yeager | Misha Tsiganov | Franco Ambrosetti | Devin Gray - Jazz Journal
Jason Anick, Jason Yeager: Sanctuary (Sunnyland Records SSC 1738) The two Jasons, violinist Anick and pianist Yeager have a history going back to their teenage years when they jammed together in and around Boston. They are now both members of the faculty at the Berklee College of Music where all the tracks on this CD […]
Reviewed: John Williamson | John Alvey | Arun Ramamurthy | Django Reinhardt & Stephane Grappelli - Jazz Journal
John Williamson: The Northern Sea (Ubuntu UBU0182) Over the years, one of the many sources of inspiration for composition has been location: Dear Old Stockholm, April In Paris, Moonlight In Vermont, Chelsea Bridge, and so on. No doubt it’s tempting fate, but not many have used the Yorkshire coast as a muse. On the face […]
Reviewed: David Haney | Scarla O’Horror | Anna Marie | Marilyn Maye - Jazz Journal
David Haney: four albums on Cadence and New York Jazz Stories Pianist David Haney’s put out a number of albums this time round, including appearances by musicians including Marty Ehrlich, Kirk Knuffke and, implausibly in Haney’s generally avant-garde milieu, funk-drum maestro Bernard Purdie. His musical approach might be described as post-Cecil Taylor, although more helpful […]
Reviewed: Geoffrey Keezer | Nexus | Gato Barbieri - Jazz Journal
Three partly related themes this month: the squirts of album releases from busy record labels; the number of albums recorded live at famous venues; and the tributes being paid to the music of others, a province long dominated commercially and perfected to sometimes ludicrous extent by the pop/rock fraternity. Doing the rounds of UK clubs […]
Reviewed: DD Jackson | Christopher Parnis | Naomi Moon Siegel - Jazz Journal
DD Jackson: Poetry Project (ddjackson.com) Who among us did not launch an eccentric project during lockdown? DD Jackson certainly did. When poet George Elliott Clarke popped up in Jackson’s inbox asking him to set one of his texts to music, the award-winning pianist opted to give it a go. Clarke then chucked a dozen more […]
New releases Oct-Nov 2024, P-R - Jazz Journal
Pagán, Michael: Paganova They say : Paganova the new album from the prolific pianist/composer Michael Pagán, who has become a fixture of the Kansas City jazz scene over the past two decades, documents five of his compositions and three arrangements of tunes by some of the most celebrated masters of the post-bop era. (Capri Records) Pallas, Michael: […]
New releases Oct-Nov 2024, M-O - Jazz Journal
M.T.B. Quintet (Mehldau / Turner / Bernstein) : Solid Jackson They say : When eminent jazz practitioners with shared histories convene in the studio without rehearsal or preparatory gigs, a perfunctory, by-the-numbers session is often the outcome. That is decidedly not the case on Solid Jackson, whose personnel, four of whom participated on the well-wrought day-after-Christmas of […]
New releases Oct-Nov 2024, V-Z - Jazz Journal
Valdes, Chucho: Jazz Nocturno They say : Nothing. (Descarga 637002 LP) Vallon, Colin: Samares They say : The signature-lyricism of Colin Vallon’s compositions and his trio’s understated three-way interaction remain magically intact on “Samares”. Yet, much has evolved in the sound of the Swiss pianist’s group (with bassist Patrice Moret and drummer Julian Sartorius) since 2017’s “Danse”, among other […]
New releases Oct-Nov 2024, S-T - Jazz Journal
Sajdera, Anne: It’s Here They say : Third album by San Francisco pianist/composer Anne Sajdera takes listeners on an uplifting & groove-filled journey with Sajdera originals, familiar standards, & a Slovak folk song. Personnel includes Gary Brown (b), Deszon Claiborne (d), Mike Olmos (tpt), & Jesse Levit (as). (Bijuri Records) Salo, Matti: Matti Salo Quartet: 4 + […]
Reviewed: Neil Cowley Trio | Aaron Parks | Phil Bancroft Trio | Alasdair Pennington | The Tony Currie Orchestra - Jazz Journal
Neil Cowley Trio: Entity (Hide Inside Records HIDECD003) This month’s digest starts with two excellent releases from piano-led bands. After a considerable break, Neil Cowley returns with his trio and a pared back sound that explores the joy of human connection in the digital age. In years to come, cultural historians may well write about […]
Reviewed: Miles Davis | Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers - Jazz Journal
Miles Davis: Steamin’ (20th Century Masterworks 350270) Just before signing for the prestigious Columbia Records label in 1956 the Miles Davis quintet recorded their final four LPs for Prestige, fulfilling a contract obligation. Miles had been working with John Coltrane, Red Garland, Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones for most of that year so Cookin,’ […]
Reviewed: John Beasley, Frankfurt Radio Big Band | Neff Irizarry | Alice Zawadzki, Fred Thomas, Misha Mullov-Abbado | Lina Nyberg | Runar Nørsett - Jazz Journal
John Beasley, Frankfurt Radio Big Band: Returning To Forever (Candid CAN 33352) Following my review last month of the Del Sasso Big Band’s revisioning of Chick Corea’s 1981 Three Quartets, here is another high-octane take on the pianist’s multi-dimensional world. This time the music includes material I associate with the moment when Corea turned the […]
New releases Oct-Nov 2024, J-L - Jazz Journal
Jackson, Javon: Javon and Nikki Go to the Movies They say : Tenor saxophonist Javon Jackson reunites with renowned poet, activist and educator Nikki Giovanni for a second extraordinary collaboration. Javon and Nikki Go to the Movies, due out August 23, 2024 via Solid Jackson / Palmetto Records, draws on the pair’s shared love for standards from […]