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PIAZZOLLA: Homage á Liége; Escualo; Tanguedia; SZMEREK: Fantazja; Concerto – Elwira Sliwkiewicz-Cisak, accordion with guitar & Tangilio Quintet/Lublin Ch. Orch./Piotr Wijatkowski – DUX

PIAZZOLLA: Homage á Liége; Escualo; Tanguedia; SZMEREK: Fantazja; Concerto – Elwira Sliwkiewicz-Cisak, accordion with guitar & Tangilio Quintet/Lublin Ch. Orch./Piotr Wijatkowski – DUX

by | Apr 21, 2017 | Classical CD Reviews

A fine combination: Piazzolla and Szmerek in interesting works. PIAZZOLLA: Homage á Liége; Escualo; Tanguedia; SZMEREK: Fantazja; Concerto – Elwira Sliwkiewicz-Cisak, accordion with guitar & Tangilio Quintet/Lublin Ch. Orch./Piotr Wijatkowski – DUX 1278 [Distr. by Naxos] (7/8/16) ****: Who knew that there was a composer in Poland who would pair up beautifully with Piazzolla? Leave it to the Poles to come up with such a pairing. Next to Amsterdam, the leaders in European music. First, the Homage a Liege was a concerto which Piazzolla composed for his 64th birthday and was premiered at a guitar festival in Liege, France. The Escualo is one of his most famous tangos and gets a lovely performance. The Szmerek works – while not infused with the Argentine tango like Piazzolla – are lovely to hear and most enjoyable. There are not many accordion concertos and this one is top-rate. Sliwkiewicz-Cisak was a prize winner at a Polish accordion competition in 1985. The sonics are excellent for two-channel stereo. The jewelbox is a SACD-type case with the rounded corners, which creates much confusion; but this is an ordinary CD. So don’t be fooled. —John Sunier

Jovan PAVLOVIC trio – Refleks – Øra Fonogram

Jovan PAVLOVIC trio – Refleks – Øra Fonogram

by | Apr 13, 2017 | Jazz CD Reviews

A stunningly original musical concept featuring string quartet, reeds and accordion trio playing original charts live in Norwegian cafe. Jovan PAVLOVIC trio – Refleks – Øra Fonogram, 54:48 (3/3/17) *****: (Jovan Pavlovic; accordion/ Gjermund Silset; double bass/ Helge Andreas Norbakken; drums/ Oyvind Nussle, Tor Johan Boen; violins/ Lazar Miletic; viola/ Hans Urban Andersson; cello/ Ole Kristoffersen; clarinet/ Jasmina Zivic; flute; Andre Roligheten; clarinet and bass clarinet/ James Lassen; bassoon) It is an agreeable experience to walk into a cafe or restaurant and hear the cheerful tones of the accordion on the small stage at the back. All the better if the musician is accompanied by that ideal companion, the acoustic bass and a suitably-equipped percussionist. One’s appreciation is duly enhanced when the inevitable clarinet player or violinist joins the trio. However, would you not be surprised if, following the guest clarinetist, there strayed in a string quartet that squeezed in behind the percussionist. And would it not be like something out of Dr. Seuss if there followed a bassoonist, a woman with a flute, and a man with a bass clarinet and saxophone? Is this just another gregarious jam session? No, it is not. All carry music stands and busily […]

Eric VLOEIMANS / Holland Baroque Society – Old, New and Blue – Channel Classics

Eric VLOEIMANS / Holland Baroque Society – Old, New and Blue – Channel Classics

by | Feb 26, 2017 | SACD & Other Hi-Res Reviews

Eric VLOEIMANS / Holland Baroque Society – Old, New and Blue – Channel Classics multichannel SACD 35613, 63:05 (12/10/13) *****: (Eric Vloeimans; trumpet/ Marc Constandse; bandeon/ Judith Steenbrink; violin and director) A spectacular collaboration between Dutch genre-hopping trumpeter and Holland’s leading early music ensemble. Dutch jazz has for a long time now distinguished itself from the adjacent Germano-Nordic musical culture through a quality that might best be described as affable eccentricity. While there is no shortage of musical prowess or brainy innovation, what predominates in so many performances I have seen and heard is a lively theatricality, sometimes bordering on the absurd. As long ago as 1967, the ICP Orchestra (Instant Composers Pool) was founded around an original almost game-like concept of improvisation. The founders of the group, Hans Bennick and Misha Mengelberg, played with Eric Dolphy in the heady days of the ‘60s avant-garde and along the way, imbibed the ideals of intensity and freedom. However, in their own interpretation of this radical aesthetic, they evolved counter-balancing notions of comic fun, group interaction, and compositional cleverness equally distributed. So for two generations now, the group has held up the banner of a distinct musical performance, while spinning off many […]

Joe Weed – The Vultures – TopMusic

Joe Weed – The Vultures – TopMusic

by | Nov 9, 2016 | SACD & Other Hi-Res Reviews

Joe Weed – The Vultures – TopMusic TM-SACD9801.2 stereo-only SACD, 34:33 ****1/2: This is a terrific hi-res release of updated ’50s and ’60s rock/pop instrumentals.  (Joe Weed – guitars, mandolin, fiddle; Jim Boggio – accordion; Todd Phillips – bass; Rob Ickles – dobro-, Joe Craven – percussion; Norton Buffalo – harmonica; Steve Pefley – drums; David Grisman – mandolin; Rich Ertelt – guitar) Hold onto your hats, Joe Weed is going to reinvent surf, rock and pop instrumentals in quasi-bluegrass instrumentation. Even better, this session has been re-mastered to SACD in stereo. With an all-star band (Norton Buffalo/harmonica; David Grisman/mandolin; Rob Ickles/dobro; Todd Phillips/bass; Steve Pefley/drums; Jim Boggio/accordion), Weed breezes through these classics with verve and style. And what better way to get the proceedings started than a cover of the 1960 Ventures hit “Pipeline”. Without sacrificing the pulsating rhythm, Weed leads the group in an organic, breezy take. His guitar lead is precise and clear. Rob Ickle picks up the second verse on dobro. The addition of percussion (not just drums) by Joe Craven and accordion by Jim Boggio is flawless. At 3:15, it is still a small gem. “Apache” had been a hit for The Shadows, a British […]

Slavic Soul Party! – Plays Duke Ellington’s Far East Suite – Ropeadope

Slavic Soul Party! – Plays Duke Ellington’s Far East Suite – Ropeadope

by | Nov 7, 2016 | Jazz CD Reviews

Ellington as you’ve never heard Ellington: let the party begin. Slavic Soul Party! – Plays Duke Ellington’s Far East Suite [TrackList follows] – Ropeadope RAD-314, 52:14 [9/16/16] ****1/2: (John Carlson, Kenny Warren – trumpet; Peter Hess – saxophone, clarinet; Peter Stan – accordion; Matt Musselman, Tim Vaughn – trombone; Ron Caswell – tuba; Chris Stromquist – snare drum, percussion; Matt Moran – tapan, goč, bubanj) East meets West? Simply going by the title of this ensemble’s name, Slavic Soul Party!, you might assume this is an Eastern European band performing western jazz. Think again. This is actually East Coast meets Far East. The nine-member Slavic Soul Party! [they like to use an exclamation point] is a New York City-based group who put a fresh spin on Duke Ellington’s celebrated Far East Suite, issued 50 years ago in 1966. Percussionist Matt Moran (part of the Claudia Quartet, and who has backed Sufjan Stevens and others) formed Slavic Soul Party! in the late ‘90s, and over the years has presented music bursting with bouncy brass and has melded different musical viewpoints into a beguiling brew. Slavic Soul Party! is nearly all brass: two trumpets, two trombones, sax, clarinet and tuba, along with […]

The Claudia Quintet – Super Petite – Cuneiform

The Claudia Quintet – Super Petite – Cuneiform

by | Sep 12, 2016 | Jazz CD Reviews

The Claudia Quartet shares musical sketches from life incorporating travel, song, news, movies and more. The Claudia Quintet – Super Petite [TrackList follows] – Cuneiform, Rune 427, 47:21 [6/24/16] ****: (John Hollenbeck – drums, percussion; Red Wierenga – accordion; Matt Moran – vibraphone; Drew Gress – acoustic bass; Chris Speed – clarinet/tenor saxophone) Some writers prefer the conciseness and tight structure of short stories to the length of novels. There’s a nebulousness to characters and pensive situations where the reader has to fill in some details. One of Raymond Carver’s short story collections was called Short Cuts, and that’s an apt analogy to drummer/composer John Hollenbeck’s 47-minute Super Petite, the eighth release with his long-standing Claudia Quintet. Whereas some jazz artists gravitate to making albums or musical projects prolonged and larger, Hollenbeck took the opposite approach and focused on penning shorter compositions (although one piece on Super Petite is over eight minutes). Hollenbeck states in his liner notes, “Many of these compositions came from studies or ideas that I wanted to practice or explore—and through further exploration, they organically evolved into musical portraits or musical shorts.” Hollenbeck’s work has been and continues to be modernistic, and spans contemporary jazz and […]

A two-film retrospective on Zydeco, Blu-rays

A two-film retrospective on Zydeco, Blu-rays

by | Sep 8, 2016 | DVD & Blu-ray Video Reviews

A two-film retrospective shows the joys of Zydeco! Kingdom Of Zydeco – Blu-ray (1994/2016) Cast: Boozoo Chavis; Beau Jocque, John Delafose; Nathan Williams, Sid Williams Studio: MVD Entertainment Group Visual MVD7500BR Director: Robert Mugge Audio: PCM 2.0 Video: 1.33:1 for 1080p HD color TrackList/ Chapters: Do It All Night; Damballah; Gilton; My Pauvre Mamam; Zydeco Boogie Woogie; Joe Delafose; Motor Dude Special; Dog Hill; Gone A La Maison Give Him Cornbread Forty One Days Extras: Iguanas In The House; Introduction To TheKingdom; A Royal Title Length: 71 minutes Rating:    Audio: ****       Video: ****      Overall: ****   Zydeco Crossroads – A Tale Of Two Cities – Blu-ray (2016) Cast: C.J. Chewier; Rosie Ledet; Sean Ardoin; Andre Thierry; Louis Michot; Corey Ledet; Buckwheat Zydeco; Nathan Williams; Chubby Carrier; Rockin’ Dopsie, Jr. and many others Studio: MVD Ent. Group Visual  MVD7923BR Director: Robert Mugge TrackList: Zydeco Boogaloo; I’m Going Home; You’re No Good To Me; Mmmm, Mmmm, Mmmm; Les Barres De La Prison; Got A Party Goin’ On At El Sol’s; Lookin’ For What You’re Looking For; That L’Argent; Jackpot; Tu Le Ton Son Ton; Creole Men; Backbone; Josephine; Zydeco Crossroads; Baby What You Want Me To […]

Erik Friedlander, cello – Rings – Skipstone

Erik Friedlander, cello – Rings – Skipstone

by | Aug 25, 2016 | Jazz CD Reviews

Erik Friedlander once again advances the cello into innovative musical areas. Erik Friedlander – Rings [TrackList follows] – Skipstone SKPST 023, 66:26 [6/10/16] ****: (Erik Friedlander – cello, producer; Shoko Nagai – piano, accordion, electronics; Satoshi Takeishi – percussion) Cellist Erik Friedlander is always pushing forward as a composer, musician and music creator. He’s helped elevate the cello as a lead instrument in the jazz arena. He’s explored different aspects of improvisation, composition and performance. On Friedlander’s latest, the 66-minute Rings (issued on his own Skipstone label), he continues to refine and adapt. This time out, Friedlander utilizes a new trio, Black Phebe (it’s unclear if the name is linked to the bird of the same name) to delve into the cyclical characteristics of musical repetition. Despite the application of reiteration, Friedlander’s 12 original pieces offer an enriching degree of variety, with a spacious scope of textures and moods. Friedlander is a veteran of New York City’s downtown jazz/improvisation scene but also works with artists outside that community. He’s collaborated with American indie folk rock band the Mountain Goats; alt rock singer Courtney Love; as well as jazz players such as Dave Douglas and John Zorn. The other Black Phebe […]

Jeff Lederer & Brooklyn Blowhards – Brooklyn Blowhards – little music

Jeff Lederer & Brooklyn Blowhards – Brooklyn Blowhards – little music

by | Jun 8, 2016 | Jazz CD Reviews

Wailing saxes and whaling songs wend together in this year’s most unique jazz offering. Jeff Lederer & Brooklyn Blowhards – Brooklyn Blowhards [TrackList follows] little music 616892358640 52:20 [4/8/16] ****: (Jeff Lederer – tenor and soprano saxophone; Petr Cancura – tenor saxophone; Kirk Knuffke – clarinet, slide trumpet; Brian Drye – trombone; Art Bailey – accordion; Stephen LaRosa, Matt Wilson, Allison Miller – concert percussion, ship’s bell, chum bucket, chain; Mary LaRose – vocals (tracks 5, 7, 10, 12, 14); Gary Lucas – guitar (tracks 5, 10, 12)) The notion of linking Albert Ayler, traditional sea chanties and Herman Melville’s novel, Moby Dick, may appear like something from a late-night dream. But it’s a reality. Saxophonist Jeff Lederer has created what is surely the most unique jazz album of the year. His group (and the band’s self-titled release) is Brooklyn Blowhards. The record is available as digital download, CD or vinyl. This review refers to the CD. The project’s gestation occurred when Lederer’s friend and musical collaborator, drummer/percussionist Matt Wilson, told Lederer how Ayler’s 1967 recording, Love Cry, “sounded very folk-like… almost like sea chanties.” Years later, cornetist Kirk Knuffke (also part of the Brooklyn Blowhards) introduced Lederer to the […]