http://www.audaud.com DVD Reviews, CD Reviews, SACD Reviews - Audiophile Audition en-us http://www.audaud.com/article.php?ArticleID=7711 Dave Anderson – Clarity – Pony Boy PB50163-2, 59:28 ****: (Dave Anderson – soprano and alto saxophone, producer; John Hansen – piano; Chuck Kistler – bass; Adam Kessler – drums; Thomas Marriott – Flugelhorn (track 2)) When people consider Seattle, they might think of the jet plane industry, computer software firms or rain. Saxophonist Dave Anderson – along with a number of similar artists – is adding a new perception to the Emerald City: an area with a maturing jazz community. Anderson’s commi... 07/29/2010 http://www.audaud.com/article.php?ArticleID=7707 Danilo Perez – Providencia - Mack Avenue Records – MAC1052, 50:22 *****: (Danilo Perez - acoustic piano, Fender Rhodes, percussion, melodica; Ben Street - bass; Adam Cruz - drums, steel pan; Jamey Haddad - percussion; Ernesto Diaz - congas; Rudresh Mahanthappa - alto saxophone; Sara Serpa - vocals; Matt Marvuglio - flute; Barbara Laffitte - oboe;  Amparo Edo Biol - French horn; Margaret Phillips - bassoon; Jose Benito Meza Torres - clarinet) Starting a musical career at the age of three c... 07/29/2010 http://www.audaud.com/article.php?ArticleID=7703 Michael Dease – Grace – Jazz Legacy Productions JLP 1001009, 72:37 ****: (Michael Dease – trombone, valve trombone, soprano sax (track 12), tenor sax (track 5); Cyrus Chestnut – piano; Rufus Reid – bass; Claudio Roditi – Flugelhorn; Roy Hargrove – trumpet, Flugelhorn; Sharel Cassity – alto saxophone, alto flute; Eric Alexander – tenor saxophone; Mark Whitfield – acoustic guitar; Yotam – acoustic and electric guitar; Rodger Squitero, Circle Rhythm – percussion, vocals) The trombone often does n... 07/27/2010 http://www.audaud.com/article.php?ArticleID=7695 Abdullah Ibrahim & WDR Big Band Cologne – Bombella – Sunnyside Records SSC1251, 74:30 ****½: (Abdullah Ibrahim - piano; Paul Shigihara - guitar; John Goldsby - bass; Hans Dekker - drums; Andy Haderer, Wim Both, Rob Bruynen, John Marshall & Klaus Osterloh - trumpets; Ludwig Nuss, Dave Horler & Bernt Laukamp - trombones; Mattis Cederbers - bass trombone; Heiner Wiberny & Karolina Strassmayer - alto saxophone, flute and clarinet; Olivier Peters & Paul Heller - tenor saxophone, ... 07/26/2010 http://www.audaud.com/article.php?ArticleID=7694 Keith DeStefano & Puzzlebox – A Place to Be – self-released [www.puzzleboxjazz.com], 73:20 ****: (Keith DeStefano – bass; Mark Allen – baritone saxophone; Joe Falcey – drums; Maxfield Gast – soprano saxophone (tracks 2, 4, 8), alto saxophone (tracks 1, 3, 6, 8, 9); Steven Gokh – tenor saxophone; Anam Owili-Eger – piano; Larry Toft – trombone; Stan Slotter – trumpet, flute (tracks 2, 4, 7); Bobby Zankel – alto saxophone (track 5); Thomas Razler – tenor saxophone (tracks 7, 9)) Philadelphi... 07/26/2010 http://www.audaud.com/article.php?ArticleID=7689 The David Leonhardt Trio - Bach to the Blues (Improvisations on Classical Themes) - Big Bang Records BBR 9584 [www.davidjazz.com] ****½: (David Leonhardt, piano; Matthew Parrish, doublebass; Alvester Garnett, drums) It seems that jazz treatments of classical themes are coming back into the jazz mainstream as they had in the 1930s and 40s.  Many recent CDs have had a track that is an improvisation of a classical tune.  Pianist David Leonhardt has decided to do an entire album on this ... 07/24/2010 http://www.audaud.com/article.php?ArticleID=7685 Rafi Malkiel – Water – Tzadik 8151, 55:27 [Distr. by E1] ****: (Rafi Malkiel – trombone, euphonium, tuba, aguaphonium; Anat Cohen – clarinet; Avishai Cohen – trumpet; Chris Karlic – bass clarinet, tenor saxophone; Itai Kriss – flute; Gili Sharett – bassoon; Jack Glottman – piano; Pablo Mayor – piano (track 2); Dave Hertzberg – bass; Daniel Freedman – drum set; Benny Koonyevsky – percussion; Nestor Gómez, Shane Shanahan – percussion, water, aguaphonium; Mauricio Herrera – congas, timbales; Antho... 07/23/2010 http://www.audaud.com/article.php?ArticleID=7684 Johnny Griffin - Live at Ronnie Scott’s - In and Out Records IOR CD 77095-2 (Germany), 60:49 ****: (Johnny Griffin, tenor sax; Roy Hargrove, trumpet, flugelhorn; James Pearson, piano (track #1 ); Paul Kuhn, piano (track #5); David Newton, piano on all other tracks; Reggie Johnson, bass;  Billy Cobham, drums) Diminutive in size, but a giant on the tenor sax for over six decades, Johnny Griffin was nicknamed “The Little Giant.” He was known both for playing lightning fast as well as approac... 07/23/2010 http://www.audaud.com/article.php?ArticleID=7683 Randy Klein/Oleg Kireyev/Chris Washburne – Sunday Morning – Jazzheads JH1179, 52:31 ****: (Randy Klein, piano; Oleg  Kireyev, saxophone; Chris Washburne, trombone.) As an accomplished composer, producer, record executive, performer and creative force in a broad spectrum of arts, Randy Klein has made an enormous contribution to the music scene. He has composed numerous documentary scores (many of them award-winning), a poetry adaption cycle, and various theatre music. He has recorded sever... 07/23/2010 http://www.audaud.com/article.php?ArticleID=7679 Gerald Clayton - Two-Shade - Emarcy B0013958-02, 68:42 ****: (Gerald Clayton, piano; Joe Sanders, bass; Justin Brown, drums) Gerald Clayton’s latest release on Emarcy, Two-Shade, describes itself in the linear notes as being an exploration of different musical styles “not just in a patchwork format” but rather creating a “harmonic whole”. The album not only achieves this aesthetic goal but transcends it by being ‘two-shade’ on an emotional level. The most superb tracks on the album have emotio... 07/22/2010 http://www.audaud.com/article.php?ArticleID=7676 Billy Childs Ensemble feat. the Ying Quartet - Autumn: In Moving Pictures (Jazz-Chamber Music Vol. 2) - ArtistShare AS 0104, 1 hour *****: (Billy Childs - composer & piano; Larry Koonse - acoustic guitars; Bob Sheppard - alto & soprano sax, Bb clarinet; Carol Robbins - harp;  Scott Colley - bass;  Antonio Sanchez & Brian Blade, drums; The Ying String Quartet; Winds: Pamela Vliek Martchev, Gerard Reuter, Teag Reaves, Judith Farmer) Frank Glover - Abacus - Owl Studios OWL0... 07/21/2010 http://www.audaud.com/article.php?ArticleID=7674 The Zeke Martin Project - U4RIA - G Funk Money Wiz, 37:31 ***½:(Zeke Martin - drums, Sean Berry - saxophone, Yusaku Yoshimura - keyboards & harmonica, Rozhan Rasman -bass and Nina Pralour - vocals on Summertime) Putting together seven jazz songs to cover, while adding a splash of funk may sound difficult to some jazz audiophiles. The Zeke Martin Project deliver such an album with ease and splendor that even the wary jazz cover fan will appreciate each track on U4RIA for what it is - simply ... 07/21/2010 http://www.audaud.com/article.php?ArticleID=7673 Pete Robbins – siLENT Z Live – Hate Laugh Music HLM 001, 59:44 ***1/2: (Pete Robbins – alto saxophone; Jesse Neuman – cornet, pedals (tracks 1 – 4); Cory Smythe – piano (tracks 5 – 8); Mike Gamble – guitar, pedals; Thomas Morgan – bass; Tyshawn Sorey – drums) New York alto saxophonist Pete Robbins believes in contrasts. On Robbins’ first concert recording, siLENT Z Live, he guides two different versions of his quintet siLENT Z for an hour’s worth of tonal disparities, adapting dissimilar genre... 07/21/2010 http://www.audaud.com/article.php?ArticleID=7672 Bob Lark and Friends - Cathy’s Song - Jazzed Media JM 1050, 55:11 ****: (Artists include: Bob Lark, flugelhorn and muted trumpet; Jim McNeely and Ron Perrillo, piano; Phil Woods, alto sax;  Rufus Reid and Eric Hochberg, bass; Bob Rummage, drums; plus strings on Tracks 1,5, & 9; and additional horns on Tracks 4 & 7) We’ve dug Bob Lark’s lyrical trumpet and flugelhorn playing for some time. His CDs with Phil Woods, and those leading the DePaul University Jazz Big Band with guest art... 07/21/2010 http://www.audaud.com/article.php?ArticleID=7666 Holly Hofmann & Bill Cunliffe - Three’s Company - Capri Records 74099-2, 51.4 min. *****: (Holly Hofmann, flute & alto flute; Bill Cunliff, piano; Regina Carter, violin; Alvester Garnett, drums; Ken Peplowski, clarinet; Terell Stafford, trumpet) I’ve long been a fan of jazz flute, and there’s not too many of them around. Phil Woods rates Holly Hofmann, along with Hubert Laws, as the top flutists in jazz today. Holly is married to pianist Mike Wofford and often works with him in a quart... 07/19/2010 http://www.audaud.com/article.php?ArticleID=7665 David Weiss & Point of Departure – Snuck In – Sunnyside SSC 1256, 61:20 ****: (David Weiss – trumpet, producer; J. D. Allen – tenor saxophone; Nir Felder – guitar; Matt Clohesy – bass; Jamire Williams – drums) Trumpeter David Weiss pays homage to his sixties inspirations on his newest outing, Snuck In, recorded at New York City venue The Jazz Standard with his current combo Point of Departure. On this mainly live club set (there is one studio track) Weiss and his quintet perform music asso... 07/19/2010 http://www.audaud.com/article.php?ArticleID=7662 Retta Christie with David Evans and Dave Frishberg – Retta Reacords RR002, 42:29****: 
Retta Christie with David Evans and Dave Frishberg, Volume 2 – Retta Records RR003, 39:26 ****: (Retta Christie - vocals, brush snare drum; David Evans - tenor saxophone, clarinet; Dave Frishberg - piano.) The context of the term popular music has become muddled. However, in the hands of Retta Christie, it simply means great music with a penchant for personal connection. Raised in Olney, Oregon, Rett... 07/19/2010 http://www.audaud.com/article.php?ArticleID=7651 Ken Fowser & Behn Gillece – Little Echo – Posi-Tone PR8068, 51:45 *****: (Ken Fowser, tenor saxophone; Behn Gillece, vibraphone; Rick Germanson, piano; Ugonna Okegwo, bass; Quincy Davis, drums) Ken Fowser and Behn Gillece, two very promising young artists on the Posi-tone label, have added another feather to their cap with Little Echo, their first album made up entirely of new compositions. Fowser on tenor sax and Gillece on vibraphone lead the band, backed by Rick Germanson on piano, Quin... 07/17/2010 http://www.audaud.com/article.php?ArticleID=7650 Hal Galper – E Pluribus Unum – Origin 82557, 66:50 ****: (Hal Galper. piano; Jeff Johnson, bass; John Bishop, drums) Hal Galper has often worked best with small bands. He flourishes when working with a simple trio of piano, with drum and bass, especially in the last few decades. On his latest release with Origin E Pluribus Unum: Live In Seattle he reunites with bassist Jeff Johnson from 2006’s Furious Rubato and brings in drummer John Bishop for a wonderful night including several compositions... 07/17/2010 http://www.audaud.com/article.php?ArticleID=7642 The Nigel Kennedy Quintet - …Shhh! – EMI Classical 50999-6-08502-2, 53:44 [7/16/10] ***: (Nigel Kennedy - electric violin, keyboards; Tomasz Grzegorski - tenor sax, soprano sax, bass clarinet, vocals; Piotr Wylezol - piano, Hammond organ; Adam “Szabas” Kowalewski - contrabass, electric bass, vocals; Krzysztof Dziedzic - drums, vocals; Xantone Blacq - percussion; Boy George - vocal (one track); John Themis - guitar.) Certainly not uncommon, Nigel Kennedy, a classically trained musician, experie... 07/15/2010 http://www.audaud.com/article.php?ArticleID=7641 Steve Turre - Delicious And Delightful - High Note HCD 7210, 57:32 ****: (Steve Turre, trombone & shells; Billy Harper, tenor saxophone; Larry Willis, piano; Russell Malone, guitar; Corcoran Holt, bass; Pedro Martinez, Bata & djembe drums; Dion Parson, drums) On his latest release on High Note Records, Steve Turre surrounds himself with some familiar faces and, while keeping the relaxed and easy rhythms of his 2008 release Rainbow People, explores a variety of different compositions. T... 07/15/2010 http://www.audaud.com/article.php?ArticleID=7630 Jon Gold – Brazil Confidential – Zoho Music ZM 201004, 60:04****½: (Jon Gold - piano, keyboards; Harvie S, bass; Mauricio Zottarelli - drums; Jorge Continentino - woodwinds; Scott “Scottinho” Anderson - guitars; Ze Mauricio - percussion; Anat Cohen - woodwinds; Zach Brock - violin; Andrew Sterman - flute; Bryan Murray - woodwinds; Luiz Ribeiro - guitar; Tatiana Parra & Leah Siegel, vocals; Katie Scheele - English horn; Lauren Riley Rigby - cello.) Jon Gold has evolved a very long way to a... 07/14/2010 http://www.audaud.com/article.php?ArticleID=7622 Matthew Kaminski – Taking My Time – Chicken Coop Records CCP 7014, 75:04 ***1/2: (Matthew Kaminski, Hammond B3 Organ with Leslie 21 System Speaker; E.J. Hughes, tenor saxophone; Micah Cadwell, guitar; Charles Loehle, guitar; Charlie Robinson, guitar; Justin Chesarek, drums; Mike Hinton, drums; Emrah Kotan, drums.) There appears to be a surge of Hammond B3 in the new jazz community. There players have passion for instrument technique and music academics.  Matthew Kaminski is a rising star... 07/10/2010 http://www.audaud.com/article.php?ArticleID=7616 Dr. Lonnie Smith - Spiral - Palmetto PM 2142, 49.2 min. *****:(Dr. Lonnie Smith, B3; Jonathan Kreisberg, guitar; Jamire Williams, drums) This terrific B3 session caught my ear when it first came across my desk but I hadn’t gotten around to reviewing it yet. I was jogged into action by seeing that it has now reached No. 1 airplay position on the Jazz Week radio chart.  The turbaned Hammond handler was now getting played more on jazz stations across the U.S. than any other artist.  So h... 07/09/2010 http://www.audaud.com/article.php?ArticleID=7610 Lee Ritenour – Lee Ritenour’s 6 String Theory – Concord Records CRE-31911-02, 68:02 *****: (An all-star lineup of musicians incl. Lee Ritenour; B.B. King; Robert Cray;  Keb’ Mo’; Taj Mahal; John Scofield; George Benson; Slash; Steve Lukather; Vince Gill; Johnny Lang; Joey DeFrancesco; Andy McKee; Pat Martino; Joe Robinson; Neal Schon; Mike Stern; Joe Bonamassa; Tomoyasu Hotei; Gutherie Govan; Tal Wilkenfeld; Shon Boubul, and many others)With fifty years in the music profession, what does ... 07/07/2010