J.J.Johnson - "J.J.Inc"
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RealAudio Sample |
Columbia has released this 1960 session of the J.J.Johnson sextet with cohorts Freddie Hubbard (trumpet), Clifford Jordan (tenor) and a rhythm section of Cedar Walton (piano), Arthur Harper (bass) and Albert "Tootie" Heath (drums), a well-oiled group that functions with interchangeable parts, each capable of carrying the impetus forward. All compositions are by Johnson, except Gillespie's "Blue 'n Boogie", a rapid-fire rendition featuring Hubbard on muted trumpet. Johnson is at his mellow best in interaction with other horns such as on the stereotypical Indian rhythms of "Mohawk" or the funky "Fatback" where he readily reinvents the melody and changes tempi in mid-flight. His solos, though intricately phrased, remain fluid, warm and clear on the swinging "Minor Mist" and a moody "Aquarius" with its subtle harmonic shifts built over a simple rhythmic progression. This is an excellent example of Johnson's ability to adapt the trombone to the music of that period and of his compositional contributions to the jazz idiom. There are three bonus tracks here, including an all-out extended version of "Fatback". (J.S.)
Columbia (Legacy) CK 65296to order
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Aziza Mustafa Zadeh - "Jazziza"
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Despite little information provided by the liner insert, the CD itself
offers the listener a fairly accurate sample of the talents displayed by
pianist/vocalist Aziza Mustafi Zadeh. Her vocal range, from contralto to
soprano, is quite extraordinary, notably on such numbers as "Lover Man"
or "Black Orpheus" (Shades of Cleo Laine!): however, one wonders how
much more effective that sensuous, articulate voice might have been
without the strong tendency for voice overdubbing or the inclination to
employ it almost instrumentally in lengthy scat choruses. Several of the
works are instrumental (e.e. "Sunny Rain"/"Character"), and she shows a
strong, confident assurance at the keyboard, harmonically inventive,
rhythmically adept. There is plenty of variety in choice of moods and
selections, with accompanists Toots Thielemans ("My Funny Valentine"/"I
Can't Sleep"), Philip Catherine ("You've Changed" et al), and the
percussionist Eduardo Contrera giving good support. (J.S.)
Columbia (Germany) 487897-2to order
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Carol Akerson/Bob Winter - "The Piano Love Songs"
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When was the last time (or any time) you heard "World Weary" (Noel
Coward), "Little Jazz Bird" (Gershwins), or "Most Gentlemen Don't Like
Love" (from the show "Decline and Fall of the Entire World") - (Cole
Porter?). These are only three of the fifteen numbers on this duo debut
album by vocalist Carol Akerson, offering a wide and unusual range of
material. Unpretentious, fresh and appealing, comfortable in several
languages ("Corcovado"/"Ce Sacre Piano"), she shows indeed why she would
easily adapt to the worlds of cabaret, musical theatre, or the concert
stage. "The piano has been my guide and companion through the world of
music", she states, and certainly Winter's accompaniment with its
unerring sense of anticipation and melodic inventiveness seems all that
she needs (though wouldn't she have been a bandleader's delight in
40's). Deliberately playful with "Little Jazz Bird" or "Brush Me Off",
bluesy on "Thanks for Nothing", gentle with the ballads "Lush Life" or
"Summer's End", Akerson reveals the depth of her ability in many varied
contexts. This is a thoroughly enjoyable first outing. (J.S.)
Seaside 200 to order
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James Bazen Big Band - "Tonight He's Mine" |
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Reedman James Bazen leads his Maryland-based big band on this 1996 CD of
standards and originals. It's a well-balanced aggregation driven
ostensibly by drummer Steve Steve Larrance, with excellent solos by such
performers as trombonists Doug Elliot ("Tonight He's Mine"/"The Funky
Little Drummer Boy"), tenor man Kellogg Johnson ("Syeeda's Song
Flute"/"Chillin' "), and trumpeter Mike Davis ("The Funky Little Drummer
Boy"). Bazen himself, who charted most of the numbers, shows his
versatility on flute ("Summertime"), alto sax ("Stranger Things"),
soprano ("The Funky Little Drummer Boy") and clarinet ("Danny the Samba
Boy""). Four of the eleven compositions have vocals - Patty McKay,
offering a wide dynamic range and great flexibility with the lyrics on
"Willow Weep for Me", while Debbie MacFarlan treats her own "Tonight
He's Mine" with a rich, strong voice to an orchestral Latin Beat. The
relaxed, almost bluesy "Chillin' " and
John Coltrane's Syeeda's Song Flute" proved most satisfying for this
listener. (J.S.)
Seaside 146 to order
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Artie Barsamian's Boston Big Band - "Everything Happens to Me" |
RealAudio Sample |
This is a smoothly-oiled, interactive big band from Boston, revealing a
high calibre of consistency and musicianship. There are several obvious
reasons for this: the experience it has gained since its founding in
1979 on the concert/club circuit; the fact that many of the players are
drawn from the nearby Berklee College of Music; the apparent low
turnover of its members over the years; the interchangeability of the
roles of the musicians as soloists; the contributions of skilled
arrangers such as Dick Lieb (who charts six of the thirteen numbers on
this disc). There is attentive balance of ballad style and uptempo
performances, with leader Barsamian active on baritone, clarinet, and
alto. Kudos go to tenor man Mike Rossi ("Body and Soul"/"Fall Line"),
trombonist Steve Piermarini ("Red High Heels"/"Taboo"), and guitarist
John Baboian ("Caravan/Berklee Shuffle"), though to omit anyone is an
oversight. Liner notes, like the music, are rewarding. (J.S.)
Seaside 147 to order
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Dawn Sierra - "A Little Rain Must Fall" |
RealAudio Sample |
On this her debut CD, Dawn Sierra dips into the blues bag for her
unifying theme. Strong originals mixed with some beautiful old standards
result in a heady brew of soul and sass. She has a gorgeous voice,
refined and mellow, that holds your attention on all the eleven tracks
here. I am reminded of Sheila Jordan on some of the tunes, and that is
meant as a high compliment, not as a comparison. Pianist Paul Tobey
writes some exceptionally attractive tunes and is the epitome of what a
singer always wanted as an accompanist. Dawn's caressive passionate plea
on "Don't Explain"captivates, and her treatment of "You Don't know what
Love is"/ "Miss Otis Regrets" indicates she has lived some of these
songs herself.
Pat LaBarbera's tenor soars, dips and swings loose on "Cheek to Cheek",
and is soulful on "Another Day Alone"/ "A Little Rain Must Fall".
Bassist Pat Collins and drummer Mark G. McLean lend effective support
throughout and make this one of the most interesting CD's to hit the
market in recent months. (H.H.)
Unity 154 to order
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RIAS Big Band Berlin - "The Music of Trumpet Kings" |
RealAudio Sample |
It's rare that a recording can capture the essence of the past without
sounding like a carbon copy. The RIAS (Radio In the American Sector)
under the leadership of trombonist Jiggs Whigham and featuring soloists
Harry Allen (tenor saxophone) and Randy Sandke (trumpet) brings to life
some wonderful charts by well known trumpet players (most of them no
longer with us), and the nineteen members accept the challenge with
authority. The trumpet masters selected for this tribute include: Louis
Armstrong ("I Love Louis") a chart by Randy Sandke based on Armstrong's
"Shine", ("Cloudy") by Bix Beiderbecke, ("Echoes of Harlem") otherwise
known as "Cootie's Concerto" written by Duke Ellington to showcase
Cootie Williams, ("Little Jazz Boogie") written by saxophonist Buster
Harding when he was in Roy "Little Jazz" Eldridge's band in the early
1940's, ("I Can't Get Started") made famous by Bunny Berigan back in
1937, ("Melancholy Rhapsody") from the film "Young Man With a Horn"
which featured Harry James playing on the soundtrack, ("Randy's Rolls
Royce") a late composition and arrangement by Buck Clayton, ("Shaw
'Nuff") by the trumpet king from the Bebop era Dizzy Gillespie (the
trumpet section jumps out at the listener on this, and the sax section
sound like a highly charged Supersax), ("All Blues") by Miles Davis
,(trumpeter Till Bronner captures the magic of the Prince of Darkness on
this performance, ("Turnstile") a Gerry Mulligan composition from the
classic Mulligan/Chet Baker Quartet days, here given a small group
treatment with tenor/trumpet backed only by bass and drums, ("Relaxin'
at Clifford's) another small group rendition written by Sandke for the
memory of Clifford Brown and featuring Sandke, Allen and Trombonist
Whigham and guitarist Ingo Cramer, ("Moontrane") a wonderful Woody Shaw
composition and ("Birdlike") written by Freddie Hubbard. All of the
charts express a deep love for not only the trumpet kings but also the
sound of the big band recorded here. There is never a dull moment, the
soloists express fire and emotion, and the rhythm section is solid
throughout. This particular recording not only got me checking out the
original sessions by the Kings, but also has me placing this CD back on
the sound system in the music room and in the car. More please!
(H.H.)
Nagel-Heyer CD 037 to order
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Highly recommended CD's without
reviews, star rated as follows:
***** excellent.
**** good
Highly Recommended CD's, for your Christmas stocking, without reviews
and star rated as follows:
Rating
| Artist
| Title
| Label & Cat. No.
|
****
| Bernard Primeau
| "Virage"
| Swing'in Time 97001-2
|
*****
| Renee Rosnes
| "As We Are Now"
| EMI 72438 56810 2 8
|
****
| Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir
| "Hamba Ekhaya"
| Justin Time Just 96-2
|
****
| Dizzy Gillespie
| "Bird Songs"
| Telarc CD-83421
|
*****
| Wheeler/Konitz/Holland/Frisell
| "Angel Song"
| ECM 1607
|
****
| Rosenberg Trio
| "The Collection"
| Verve 537 152-2
|
*****
| Steve Turre
| "Steve Turre"
| Verve 314 537 133-2
|
*****
| Howard Johnson
| "Right Now!"
| Verve 537 801-2
|
*****
| Makoto Ozone Trio
| featuring John Scofield
| Verve 314 537 503-2
|
*****
| Jan Harrington
| "Christmas in New Orleans"
| Nagel Heyer NHR SP4
|
****
| John Nugent
| "West of Flatbush"
| NY JAM 1195CD
|
*****
| Pat Metheny
| "Imaginary Day"
| Warner 9 46821-2
|
*****
| McBride/Payton/Whitfield
| "Fingerpainting"
| Verve 314 537 856-2
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Reissues:
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*****
| Wild Bill Davison
| "The Jazz Giants"
| Sackville SKCD2-3002
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*****
| Oscar Peterson
| "Live at CBC Studios"
| Just a Memory 9507-2
|
*****
| Weather Report
| "Heavy Weather"
| Columbia/Legacy CK 65108
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