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Petros KLAMPANIS, doublebass – Chroma – Motema

by Audiophile Audition | Mar 11, 2017 | Jazz CD Reviews

Petros KLAMPANIS – Chroma – Motema 219, 44: 34 (3/10/17) ***: (Petros Klampanis; bass/ Gilad Hekselman; guitar/ Shai Maestro; piano/ John Hadfield; drums/ Keita Ogawa; percussion/ Gokce Erem, Megan Gould, Eylem Basaldi, Migen Selman; violins/ Carrie Frey, Peter Kiral; violas/ Colin Stokes, Sam Quiggins; cello) Gilad Hekselman shines on original arrangements which involve heavy use of a string octet. I first encountered bassist Petros Klampanis on an excellent release by Israeli saxophonist, Oded Tzur, reviewed in Audiophile Audition. The pianist on that recording, the versatile Shai Maestro, appears once again on this recording by Klampanis. The key figure here, though, is Gilad Hekselman, the most persuasive Pat Metheny acolyte of his generation and a incomparable soloist in any context. The Israeli-born guitarist has the same combination of velocity and sweetness as Pat, but is perfectly capable of hitting a switch on his box and shredding with vehemence over thick textures as he does on Little Blue Sun. The material of Chroma is mostly composed and arranged by the bassist. The exceptions are a light and funky tune, “Shadows,” and a much extended version of Hekselman’s “Cosmic Patience” from his remarkable record, Homes. The expansiveness of this chart seems to have […]

Scott Morgan – Songs Of Life – Miranda Music

by Audiophile Audition | Sep 16, 2016 | Jazz CD Reviews

Scott Morgan – Songs Of Life – Miranda Music MMCD 1024, 50:38 ***: A release filled with promise. (Scott Morgan – vocals; Fred Hersch – piano; Matt Aronoff – bass; Ross Pederson – drums; Special Guests – Joel Frahm – tenor sax tracks 3/5/8; Janis Siegel – vocals track 10) An internet search of the name Scott Morgan turns up four wildly different individuals including an American rock and roll musician, a Welsh rugby union player, a Canadian artistic gymnast, and a retired English footballer. However, the Scott Morgan of the debut release Songs Of Life is nowhere to be found. Now that is not necessarily a bad thing. However it can be interpreted that this Scott Morgan has not yet made a blip on the American musical scene, and thus has a great deal of ground to make up. The good news is that the producer and musical arranger for this session is the brilliant pianist Fred Hersch. While this does not guarantee success, it is a better starting point than might have been hoped for or expected. The set list covers a panoply of tunes from popular standards to The Beatles to James Taylor to pianist/composer Fred Hersch. […]

Bobby Avey – Inhuman Wilderness – Innervoice Jazz

by Audiophile Audition | Aug 30, 2016 | Jazz CD Reviews

The human condition becomes musically portrayed on pianist Bobby Avey’s latest. Bobby Avey – Inhuman Wilderness [TrackList follows] – Innervoice Jazz IVJ 102, 45:43 [6/24/16] ****: (Bobby Avey – piano, producer; John O’Gallagher – alto saxophone (tracks 2-3, 6, 8); Thomson Kneeland – bass; Jordan Perlson – drums) It may not be readily apparent when listening to pianist Bobby Avey’s fifth album, Inhuman Wilderness, but Avey has produced a record replete with concept, specifically the tragedy of man’s inhumanity to fellow men and also to the world/nature around them. Avey’s eight originals (which range from over nine minutes long to under two minutes) cover topics such as American military drone operations in the Middle East, to the unwritten stories of people who form the fabric of historical events; from the disproportionate costs of gentrification and escalating rents, to the need for societal changes. Since this 45-minute project has no vocals—this is quartet jazz music, not a spoken word or lyric-driven achievement—Avey and his band convey and communicate via musical cues, themes and stimuli. Avey’s eloquence, compassion and occasional indignation can be heard from start to finish, and are brought into focus by his new quartet: bassist Thomson Kneeland and drummer […]

Melissa Aldana – Back Home – Word of Mouth

by Audiophile Audition | Apr 24, 2016 | Jazz CD Reviews

Family, friendship, love; saxophonist Melissa Aldana knows it’s all a part of home. Melissa Aldana – Back Home [TrackList follows] Word of Mouth Music WOM0006, 52:40 [3/11/16] ****: (Melissa Aldana – tenor saxophone; Pablo Menares – bass; Jochen Rueckert – drums) If you don’t know tenor saxophonist Melissa Aldana you should. In 2013, she became the first female instrumentalist—and the first South American—to win the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition. She has won accolades from other jazz circles, and was bestowed the Altazor Award, a significant prize given out in her home country, Chile. Her earlier recording, 2014’s Melissa Aldana & Crash Trio (on the Concord label) got lavish reviews and notice. She previously apprenticed with Greg Osby and George Coleman. Aldana’s new nearly hour-long album, Back Home, is her fourth release as a leader and second in a trio format. Over the course of nine tracks she, bassist Pablo Menares and drummer Jochen Rueckert evoke feelings of departures and arrival; of saying goodbye to loved ones and conveying joy for people who have influenced her life; and the importance of family and cultural bonds. Several tunes are tributes to individuals who have been or continue to be […]

Christopher Zuar Orchestra – Musings – Sunnyside

by Audiophile Audition | Apr 16, 2016 | Jazz CD Reviews

Keep an eye on Christopher Zuar… Christopher Zuar Orchestra – Musings – Sunnyside SSC 1434, 55:17 ****1/2: (Christopher Zuar – composer, arranger, conductor; Dave Pietro, Ben Kono, Jason Rigby, Lucas Pino, Brian Landrus – woodwinds; Tony Kadleck, Jon Owens, Mat Jodrell, Matt Holman – trumpets; Tim Albright, Matt McDonald, Alan Ferber, Max Siegel – trombones; Pete McCann – guitar; Frank Carlberg – piano, Fender Rhodes keyboards; John Hebert – bass; Mark Ferber – drums; Rogerio Boccato – percussion; Jo Lawry – voice) A pleasant development over the last 10-15 years is the progression of the blending of jazz with classical overtones. The artist that is responsible for mentoring the lyricism found in this genre was Bob Brookmeyer. Going back to his work with the European New Arts Orchestra in the late 1990s, Brookmeyer wrote and arranged works of complex beauty. He taught at the New England Conservatory of Music and was a strong influence on Maria Schneider, who has gone on to Grammy winning fame. The latest artist to help carry on this musical blend is the 29-year-old composer, Christopher Zuar, who studied with Brookmeyer. Zuar’s initial release, Musings, just released April 1, is a masterful blend of modern classical […]

Matt Kane & the Kansas City Generations Sextet – Acknowledgement – Bounce-Step

by Audiophile Audition | Apr 13, 2016 | Jazz CD Reviews

Drummer Matt Kane proves that, yes, you can go home again. Matt Kane & the Kansas City Generations Sextet – Acknowledgement [TrackList follows] – Bounce-Step 88295524038, 64:10 [3/4/16] ****: (Matt Kane – drums; Ben Leifer – bass; Andrew Ouellette – piano; Michael Shults – alto saxophone; Hermon Mehari – trumpet; Steve Lambert – tenor saxophone) Author Thomas Wolfe wrote, “You can’t go back home.” The phrase has entered the American vernacular as a metaphor for how it’s impossible to return to one’s childhood; how memory rose-colors our past into nostalgia; and how it is sometimes not possible to realize how things change. But, in fact, people can “go back home” if they embrace the past and how it affects the present and future, and understand the difference between what was and what is. That idea is an inspiration for drummer Matt Kane’s latest project, the 64-minute Acknowledgement. Kane is based in New York City, but was born in Hannibal, MO and studied jazz at the University of Missouri–Kansas City, before relocating to NYC. He never forgot his roots, and when he felt he was ready and had the concept he wanted, he returned to where he began. The result is […]

Ken Fowser – Standing Tall – Posi-Tone

by Audiophile Audition | Jan 19, 2016 | Jazz CD Reviews

Ken Fowser shines in his first release as recording leader…

Bennie Wallace – Moodsville – Prestige/ Groove Note

by Audiophile Audition | Dec 25, 2015 | SACD & Other Hi-Res Reviews

Bennie Wallace – Moodsville – Prestige/ Groove Note GRV1010-1 two 45 rpm vinyls, 50:53 ****: Saxophonist combines traditional jazz plus hi-resolution. (Bennie Wallace – tenor saxophone; Peter Washington – doublebass; Mulgrew Miller – piano; Lewis Nash – drums) Jazz saxophonist Bennie Wallace draws heavily on his Tennessee roots. From his early days with the high school jazz orchestra, he understood the varied tempo signatures and moods of American post-bop jazz. Wallace has played with Barry Harris, Buddy Rich and Ray Anderson. His most significant recording output has come as a band leader. His albums have included Tommy Flanagan, Kenny Barron, Jack DeJohnette, Dr. John, Stevie Ray Vaughan, John Scofield, Elvin Jones and Chick Corea. For nearly four decades, Wallace has explored jazz from many stylistic perspectives. Wallace’s latest release, Moodsville pays homage to the great Prestige and Moodsville label sessions of the late 1950s. This double 45 rpm. vinyl has been recorded in full analog technology with accessible results. Utilizing a classic jazz quartet, (tenor, piano, double bass and drums) Wallace offers melodic interpretations of standards and complex jazz compositions. Side A opens with a cover of “I’ll Never Smile Again”. For anyone familiar with Harry James’ big band version […]