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Entries from September 2013

Philip Clouts Quartet: The Hour Of Pearl

The Hour Of Pearl–a title taken from John Steinbeck’s Cannery Row–is the second album from the UK-based Philip Clouts Quartet. A melodic collection of original tunes, it combines lightness of touch with a rhythmic sensibility: a winning combination.

Date: Sep 30th, 2013 · No Comments · Categories: Jazz CD Reviews

Roberto Magris: Cannonball Funk ‘n Friends / One Night in with Hope . . . Vol. 2

Pianist m: Roberto Magris , who logs so much time in studios that he should be awarded Frequent Recording points, is back with two more albums, the first by a quintet with alto m: Jim Mair sitting in for m: Julian “Cannonball” Adderley and trumpeter m: Hermon Mehari for Cannonball’s brother, Nat, the second a trio session billed as Vol. 2 in a tribute to the late pianist m: Elmo Hope but containing no music written by its dedicatee (well, the album’s title does read “and More”)…

Date: Sep 30th, 2013 · No Comments · Categories: Jazz CD Reviews

The Depaul University Jazz Ensemble: Salutes Woody Herman

Were he still with us, bandleader m: Woody Herman would have turned one hundred years young on May 16, 2013. What better way, then, to mark the occasion than by doing something that made “the Chopper” happier than anything else: swinging hard and often. Chicago’s DePaul University Jazz Ensemble does precisely that on this superb album comprised of eleven memorable themes associated with Herman and his Herds from the 1940s and ’50s, thanks in part to the towering presence of a special guest, drummer m: Jeff Hamilton , a Herman alumnus who drives the band ever onward with passion and power…

Date: Sep 30th, 2013 · No Comments · Categories: Jazz CD Reviews

Ivo Perelman: One

Brazilian saxophonist Ivo Perelman’s inaugural recording for this progressive UK-based record label includes frequent companion, bassist m: Joe Morris and Hungarian drummer Balazs Pandi (Merzbow, ZU). As for Pandi, he’s contributed to several albums for this label and brings a hardcore progressive metal and avant-rock realm of experience to the forefront. Otherwise, the trio launches a largely hyper-mode onslaught via potent rhythmic invectives amid the leader’s ravaging flurries and climatic sorties into the upper-register…

Date: Sep 30th, 2013 · No Comments · Categories: Jazz CD Reviews

Elliott: Girls with Radical Haircuts

The three young Danish musicians who comprise e: Elliott — guitarist m: Alex JA nsson and double bassist Jens Mikkel Madsen, two-thirds of the indie-pop-jazz Foyn Trio! with Norwegian vocalist Live Foyn Friis, and trumpeter Jakob SA rensen, are aware of all music that was created in the last one hundred years. As the trio declares: “we already have everything from m: Billie Holiday to m: The Beatles and m: BjA rk ,” yet this trio is definite that there is more that it can offer…

Date: Sep 30th, 2013 · No Comments · Categories: Jazz CD Reviews

Skip Heller: Songs With Memories: Skip Heller and Friends Play Floyd Tillman

It would be oh so tempting to say the music impresario Skip Heller has found his niche with Songs With Memories: Skip Heller and Friends Play Floyd Tillman but with his next recording, more likely than not, he would prove that statement ludicrous. Heller’s 2012 Fakebook II: That’s Entertainment (Weatherbird) was a sequel to his 2004 recording of “standards” Fakebook (Hyena Records), the two bookending a number of recordings documenting Heller’s curious musical evolution to where we are now…

Date: Sep 29th, 2013 · No Comments · Categories: Jazz CD Reviews

Mintz Quartet: Mintz Quartet

The jazz world is packed with dynamic drummers, and players who raise the job of timekeeping–and beyond–to a fine art. And then there are the supreme poets of the drum kit: The late m: Paul Motian , with his gentle orchestra of textures, colors, and diaphanous accents; m: Jack De Johnette , with his bustling undercurrents and rock steady grooves; and, perhaps lesser known, but no less noteworthy, is m: Billy Mintz , with his melodious, metallic, shuffle-and-bump rhythmic dance…

Date: Sep 29th, 2013 · No Comments · Categories: Jazz CD Reviews