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Entries from December 2011

Lajos Dudas and Hubert Bergmann: What’s Up Neighbor?

Lajos Dudas and Hubert Bergmann are both experienced musicians, but until 2011 they had never even met, let alone worked together. What’s Up Neighbor? is their debut album, an engaging and refreshing duo set of improvisations on clarinet and piano. Dudas is an experienced improvising musician with an extensive discography going back to the ’60s.

Date: Dec 31st, 2011 · No Comments · Categories: Jazz CD Reviews

Libor Smoldas Quartet: Live At Jazz Dock

Czech guitarist Libor Smoldas doesn’t buy into the idea that music is simply meant to be a product for commerce. While Smoldas peddles some of his recorded wares like the rest of the performing musicians out there, his third album–Live At Jazz Dock–is actually free for the taking for anybody who wants to visit his website and download it.

Date: Dec 31st, 2011 · No Comments · Categories: Jazz CD Reviews

Cat Conner: Cat Tales

After thirty years as a jazz singer, California-based Cat Conner has recorded her first album, Cat Tales, an endeavor that is long overdue but no less welcome. For those who haven’t heard Conner and may be curious as to what she and her compatriots have to offer, here’s a brief summary. Lustrous, pleasing voice, crystal-clear articulation: check. Deep-rooted feeling for jazz, ability to swing: check.

Date: Dec 31st, 2011 · No Comments · Categories: Jazz CD Reviews

Martin Moretto Quintet: Martin Moretto Quintet

Composer/arranger Martin Moretto is a member of the legendary Argentine Progressive Tango group and happens to be one of New York’s most active Argentinean guitarists, delivering one of the finest self-titled debuts with the his Martin Moretto Quintet. Exploring uncommon territory, the music showcases eight modern jazz compositions containing elements of the Argentine influence. Featuring New York tenor saxophonist m: Bill McHenry and renowned sideman m: Phil Markowitz on piano, the ensemble performs brightly, forming a cohesive unit worthy of a world-class designation…

Date: Dec 31st, 2011 · No Comments · Categories: Jazz CD Reviews

David Budway: A New Kiss

David Budway’s accomplished piano abilities are front and center on A New Kiss. Sometimes richly vibrant, sometimes plaintively florid, the overall spirit of Budway’s arrangements ooze musical sophistication. Backed by the superb rhythm section of bassist m: Eric Revis and drummer m: Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts , Budway works his way through a mix of originals and standards, with each track highlighting a shifting stylistic element. At its most engaging, Budway’s musicality floats like a melodic ether over the gritty tug of the rhythm section…

Date: Dec 30th, 2011 · No Comments · Categories: Jazz CD Reviews

Dennis Gonzalez – Joao Paulo: So Soft Yet

Recorded in Portugal, Texas trumpeter Dennis Gonzalez and Portuguese keyboardist Joao Paulo offer a temperate pastoral setting, grounded on the duo’s intake of regional sensibilities, ethnocentricities and emotive responses to cultural and spiritual components. With the effective use of space acting as a third instrument, the duo strikes an ethereal balance, spanning open-air panoramas, lush phrasings and resonating micro-themes via a largely unhurried gait…

Date: Dec 30th, 2011 · No Comments · Categories: Jazz CD Reviews

The Eric Ineke Jazzxpress: Jazz XL

Straight-ahead and alternatively swinging and blue, The Eric Ineke Jazzxpress’ Jazz XL delivers a terrific performance through first-rate material treated with energetic, loving respect. Some of jazz’s great composers are represented, with performances of material by m: Xavier Cugat , m: Johnny Griffin , and the ubiquitous m: Thelonious Monk , showing admiration for the tunes, overlain with top-notch individual performances. Culled from three live performances in Holland, recorded in 2008 and 2009, the set supports the notion that good things continue to happen across the pond…

Date: Dec 30th, 2011 · No Comments · Categories: Jazz CD Reviews