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BEN MONDER - Oceana (2005)
As much an experience in hypnotic textures as a voyage through aquatic depths, Ben Monder's Oceana captures an essential mood and holds it for a full seventy minutes. That's no small feat, but the...
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WAYNE KTRANTZ - Krantz / Carlock / Lefebvre (2009)
Although notable for being guitarist Wayne Krantz's first studio recording in fifteen years this is, as the title plainly suggests, very much a trio outing. Previously, Krantz, bassist Tim Lefebvre and...
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MIGUEL ZENÓN - Esta Plena (2009)
Following the release of his previous album, 2008's Awake, Miguel Zenón was awarded both a Guggenheim Fellowship and a MacArthur Fellowship "genius grant," the latter alone putting half a million bucks...
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GUNTER HAMPEL QUINTET - Heartplants (1965)
"Heartplants" was the first longplayer of the woodwind and vibraphonist Gunter Hampel, born in 1937. The participating musicians influenced the development of German jazz for decades - and still do so...
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GIANLUIGI TROVESI OTTETTO - Fugace (2003)
Italian composer and clarinet master Gianluigi Trovesi has realized his own dream. For over a decade his recordings have included bits and pieces of the American jazz and blues he heard as a child and...
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TOSHIKO AKIYOSHI - Toshiko Akiyoshi At Maybeck (1995)
It figured that Toshiko Akiyoshi would come up with one of the more individual solo albums in the Maybeck series (of which this is Vol. 36). Like most of her colleagues, she comes from out of the bop...
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TOSHIKO AKIYOSHI-LEW TABACKIN BIG BAND - Insights (1976)
Toshiko Akiyoshi co-led (with her husband Lew Tabackin) one of the most exciting post-bop bands for several decades until finally disbanding it early in the 21st century. These 1976 studio sessions...
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JULIUS HEMPHILL / PETER KOWALD - Live at Kassiopeia (1987)
Out of the blue comes this double disc set featuring two distinguished alumni, both sadly now departed, of two parallel streams of musical pioneering. German bassist Peter Kowald was one of the authors...
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CECIL McBEE SEXTET - Music from the Source (1997)
Other than a 1974 set for Strata-East, this post-bop effort was bassist Cecil McBee's earliest recording as a leader. With Chico Freeman (heard on tenor and flute) as the most impressive soloist, McBee...
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STEVE LACY & STEVE POTTS - Flim-Flam (1986)
This live 1986 duet date between both Steves in the Steve Lacy sextet on soprano saxophones is, for intent purposes, a swinging affair. While there are edges and some outrageous improvisation, Steve...
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JULIUS HEMPHILL / ABDUL WADUD - Oakland Duets (1992)
This live set taken from two concerts in 1992, shortly before saxophonist Julius Hemphill's death due to complications from diabetes, is the absolute statement from these two artists who played...
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RUDRESH MAHANTHAPPA - Black Water (2002)
Following a commission award from the American Composers Forum in 2002, alto saxophonist and educator Rudresh Mahanthappa draws more specifically on his Indian ancestry to compose the suite that makes...
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TOMASZ STANKO QUARTET - Lontano (2006)
Can a recording be appreciated or understood without knowing the full history of the performer?The answer is, of course, yes and no. In this case, yes, the music on Lontano creates a coherent sound...
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ARTHUR BLYTHE - Hipmotism (1991)
Altoist Arthur Blythe is heard in various settings on this CD, ranging from a full septet with baritonist Hamiet Bluiett, guitarist Kelvin Bell, vibraphonist Gust William Tsilis, Bob Stewart on tuba,...
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ARTHUR BLYTHE - Calling Card (1995)
Recorded live at the Village Vanguard in 1993 (as was the very fine RETROFLECTION), CALLING CARD presents Arthur Blythe with traditional jazz accompaniment. Each of the musicians is sensitive and...
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RAY BROWN - Something for Lester (1977)
This excellent trio session forms a sort of transition between bassist Ray Brown's work with the Oscar Peterson Trio and his own small-group sessions of the '80s and '90s. With pianist Cedar Walton and...
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SAL MOSCA / WARNE MARSH QUARTET VOL. 1 (1981)
This music was recorded live by me at the Village Vanguard in 1981. I think it is some of the best music of this century. My thanks to Mickey and Steve Silverman for producing these CDs, and to Dan...
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VINCE MENDOZA - Blauklang (2008)
Vince Mendoza's transformation from performer to composer, arranger and conductor has fully flowered over the years with pop singers (Björk, Sheryl Crow, Elvis Costello,) but also as a contemporary...
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DICK HYMAN & NIELS-HENNING ØRSTED PEDERSEN - Elegies, Mostly (1995)
With the phenomenal technique of both Dick Hyman and Niels Pedersen, it's surprising to hear them together in such a low key setting; that doesn't mean that this CD is dull! Hyman was clearly in a...
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MULGREW MILLER & NIELS-HENNING ØRSTED PEDERSEN - The Duets; A Selection of...
Track01. C Jam Blues (Duke Ellington)02. Sophisticated Lady (Duke Ellington)03. Pitter Patter Panther (Duke Ellington)04. I Got It Bad (Duke Ellington)05. What Am I Here For (Duke Ellington)06. Mood...
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