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Entries from February 2014

Shawn Maxwell: Shawn Maxwell’s Alliance

In the liner notes for Shawn Maxwell’s Alliance, the Chicago-based multi-reedist is transparent as can be. He makes note of the fact that this project was born out of a conscious desire to do something different and pull away from the commonplace quartet and quintet formats that are so prevalent tod…

Date: Feb 28th, 2014 · No Comments · Categories: Jazz CD Reviews

The Jim Olsen Ensemble: We See Stars

For We See Stars, Oregon-based composer / arranger Jim Olsen has pared his usual big band down to a more manageable tentet but hasn’t lessened the ebullience and ingenuity that are invariably a part of Olsen’s broad palette. The album, Olsen says, evolved from a casual post-concert conversation in w…

Date: Feb 28th, 2014 · No Comments · Categories: Jazz CD Reviews

Keith Jarrett / Dennis Russell Davies: Ritual

In pianist Keith Jarrett’s vast ECM catalogue, albums on which he does not play aren’t exactly common, but nor are they completely uncommon; his 1974 double-disc set In the Light features a handful of tracks on which he performs, but its primary focus is on Jarrett the composer. Ditto Luminessence…

Date: Feb 28th, 2014 · No Comments · Categories: Jazz CD Reviews

Cindy Scott: Historia

Stating the obvious right off, vocalist Cindy Scott is from New Orleans. This fact thoroughly and three-dimensionally informs the twelve selections on Historia, Scott’s follow-up to Let The Devil Take Tomorrow (Catahoula Records, 2009), without making a burden of it. In subtle and not-so-subtle ways…

Date: Feb 28th, 2014 · No Comments · Categories: Jazz CD Reviews

Ton Trio II: On And On

Oakland, CA, based jazz and improvisation protagonist, alto saxophonist Aram Shelton could hold his own with most anyone in a cutting-contest. But there’s more than a whole lot of technical acumen taking place with Ton Trio II. One of the principle selling points so to speak, is how the musicians im…

Date: Feb 28th, 2014 · No Comments · Categories: Jazz CD Reviews

Alexander Hawkins: Song Singular

The concurrent releases of pianist/composer Alexander Hawkins solo and ensemble recordings demonstrate the up-and-coming artist’s exceptional range of compositional skills across dissimilar formats. The young Oxford, UK native has been a much sought after sideman, working with free jazz sax legend…

Date: Feb 27th, 2014 · No Comments · Categories: Jazz CD Reviews

Janice Borla Group: Promises to Burn

The artist title is a hint: “The Janice Borla Group.” Borla is a vocalist with a reputation for taking chances as evidenced on her three previous recordings, all released on Tall Grass records, From Every Angle (2006), Agents of Change (2003) and Lunar Octave (1996). What she effectively does on the…

Date: Feb 27th, 2014 · No Comments · Categories: Jazz CD Reviews