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Eddie Henderson – Be Cool – Smoke Session Records 

Eddie Henderson – Be Cool – Smoke Session Records 

by | Jul 13, 2018 | Jazz CD Reviews

The many dimensions of cool explored with elegant style Eddie Henderson – Be Cool – Smoke Session Records SSR-1802 76:56****: (Eddie Henderson – trumpet; Donald Henderson – alto saxophone; Kenny Barron – piano; Essiet Essiet – bass; Mike Clark – drums) The 77-year old trumpeter Eddie Henderson, has a backstory quite unlike most jazz musicians of his generation, or any other generation for that matter. His mother was a dancer at the original Cotton Club in Harlem. His father sang with Billy Williams and The Charioteers, a well-known singing group. Growing up he received an informal trumpet lesson from Louis Armstrong, and later on ( age 17) he played a gig with Miles Davis who was one of his early influences . He graduated from Howard University in 1968 with a medical degree. He continued his medical education as well as starting a general practice in San Francisco from 1975-85  In the early 1970s he was part of Herbie Hancock’s Mwandishi band. This musical and life journey continues as Henderson explores the many dimensions of cool in his newest release Be Cool. The band that Henderson has assembled for this adventure is filled with suppleness as exemplified by saxophonist Donald […]

Andy Zimmerman – Half Light – Newvelle Records 

Andy Zimmerman – Half Light – Newvelle Records 

by | May 19, 2018 | Jazz CD Reviews, SACD & Other Hi-Res Reviews

When beauty is paramount… Andy Zimmerman – Half Light – Newvelle Records NV014LP – Audiophile Vinyl – ****1/2 (Andy Zimmerman – tenor sax; Dave Douglas – trumpet – Kevin Hays – piano; Matt Penman – bass) Newvelle Records continues their third season of subscription audiophile vinyl releases with tenor saxophonist, Andy Zimmerman, and his drummer less quartet. Half Light, has a consistent theme of romantic lyrical explorations. Newvelle has a vision of letting their artists follow a path of complete freedom. Standards can be reintroduced, but it is with a fresh open mind. Here, Zimmerman explores lyrical beauty without the ballast and underpinning of a drummer. Bassist, Matt Penman, provides the bottom end with panache and full involvement, much like Scott LaFaro provided for Bill Evans. Dave Douglas, on trumpet, both provides a blending partner as well as a burnished soloist, often times with a mute. Pianist, Kevin Hays, using the same Fazioli piano as did Jack DeJohnette, on a previous sumptuous Newvelle release, is front and center with  sparkling choruses that both support and invigorate the front line horns. I can’t emphasize enough the stunning acoustics captured by Marc Urselli at East Side Sound in New York City. Marc […]

Snapshots: ANTHONY PLOG, TRUMPET = Chamber Works for Trumpet by  Verne Reynolds; Alan Hovhaness; Fisher Tull; Eugene Bozza; Frank Campo; Anthony Plog; Georges Enesco; Leroy Southers. Crystal Records 

Snapshots: ANTHONY PLOG, TRUMPET = Chamber Works for Trumpet by  Verne Reynolds; Alan Hovhaness; Fisher Tull; Eugene Bozza; Frank Campo; Anthony Plog; Georges Enesco; Leroy Southers. Crystal Records 

by | Feb 11, 2018 | Classical CD Reviews

A lovely collection of trumpet music, mostly contemporary, all well played Snapshots: ANTHONY PLOG, TRUMPET. Verne Reynolds, Music for 5 Trumpets (performed by Anthony Plog and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Trumpet section); Alan Hovhaness, Sonata for Trumpet and Organ (Anthony Plog, trumpet; Ladd Thomas, organ); Fisher Tull, Three Bagatelles (Anthony Plog, trumpet; Sharon Davis, piano); Eugene Bozza,  Caprice (Anthony Plog, trumpet; Sharon Davis, piano); Frank Campo, Duet for Equal Trumpets (Anthony Plog, Russell Kidd); Anthony Plog, Fanfare for Two Trumpets (Anthony Plog, Russell Kidd); Anthony Plog, Animal Ditties – based on poems by Ogden Nash (Anthony Plog, trumpet; Sharon Davis, piano; Hal Smith, narrator); Georges Enesco, Legend (Anthony Plog, trumpet; Sharon Davis, piano); Leroy Southers, Three Spheres (Anthony Plog, trumpet; Ken Wolfson, bassoon; Sharon Davis, piano). Crystal Records  CD CD362 TT: 62:28 *** 1/2 Crystal Records has always been a strong advocate of contemporary music and has a large collection of brass music as well. I have several of their discs in my personal collection. So I was glad to see this new disc from Crystal featuring Anthony Plog, one of the greatest trumpet players of our generation, along with the trumpet players from the Los Angeles Philharmonic Brass section. […]

Dave Douglas with The Westerlies and Anwar Marshall – Little Giant Still Life – Greenleaf Music

Dave Douglas with The Westerlies and Anwar Marshall – Little Giant Still Life – Greenleaf Music

by | Jan 15, 2018 | Jazz CD Reviews

Trumpeter Dave Douglas goes all-brassy and bold. Dave Douglas with The Westerlies and Anwar Marshall – Little Giant Still Life [TrackList follows] – Greenleaf Music GRE-CD-1058, 53:11 [10/20/17] ****: (Dave Douglas – trumpet, producer; Anwar Marshall – drums; The Westerlies: Riley Mulherkar – trumpet; Zubin Hensler – trumpet; Andy Clausen – trombone; Willem de Koch – trombone) There are few trumpeters who would attempt an all-brass music project. Dave Douglas is that kind of musician. In 2009 Douglas released the debut of Brass Ecstasy, an ensemble which included a French horn, trombone, tuba, trumpet and one drummer. The nature of that work continues to stimulate Douglas. He’s returned to a similar pathway with the 53-minute Little Giant Still Life, which features Douglas on trumpet; drummer Anwar Marshall (who is part of Philadelphia’s Fresh Cut Orchestra) and The Westerlies (a former Seattle quartet now based in NYC) which consists of trumpeters Riley Mulherkar and Zubin Hensler, and trombonists Andy Clausen and Willem de Koch. The Westerlies have issued two albums (their sophomore outing was a tribute to fellow Seattleite Wayne Horvitz) and have collaborated with roots/Americana band Fleet Foxes. Many of Douglas’ 12 originals on Little Giant Still Life (including the […]

Marc Copland – Better by Far – InnerVoice Jazz

Marc Copland – Better by Far – InnerVoice Jazz

by | Dec 30, 2017 | Jazz CD Reviews

Marc Copland – Better by Far – InnerVoice Jazz IVJ 103, 62:29 [Spring 2017] ****: Pianist Marc Copland’s quartet makes it better. (Marc Copland – piano; Ralph Alessi – trumpet; Drew Gress – double bass; Joey Baron – drums) Pianist Marc Copland is and has been a persistently clear example of the lyrical side of jazz piano music. On Copland’s many releases as a leader and projects with other artists (see John Abercrombie, Bob Belden and more) he has become well-known for his modern harmonic jazz which is also typically accessible to general jazz listeners. In other words, Copland is innovative without sacrificing listenability. Copland’s quartet outing, Better by Far (on his own InnerVoice Jazz imprint) is a fine follow-up to his 2015 CD, Zenith, which had Ralph Alessi on trumpet, Drew Gress on bass and Joey Baron on drums. The four intuitive players are together again on the 62-minute, nine-track Better by Far. The album was issued with little fanfare in Spring, 2017—an official release date, in fact, was not provided—but the music speaks for itself. There are five Copland compositions; three credited to the quartet; and a Thelonious Monk tune. In total, the music blends subtlety and shimmer, […]

Jonathan SARAGA: Journey to a New World – Fresh Sounds New Talent 

Jonathan SARAGA: Journey to a New World – Fresh Sounds New Talent 

by | Dec 21, 2017 | Jazz CD Reviews

Jonathan SARAGA: Journey to a New World – Fresh Sounds New Talent 535, 72.05 (10/1/17) ***½:  Feisty, uptempo post-bop ensemble with agile soloing by Fresh Sound New Talent trumpeter in front. (Jonathan Saraga; trumpet/ Remy Le Boeuf; alto sax/ Aki Ishiguro; guitar/ Chris Pattishall; piano/keyboards/ Rick Rosato;bass/ Kenneth Salters; drums) There is scarcely a person who has done more to promote the Jazz of our time (and not only our generation) than Jordi Pujol, who indefatigably works to bring new jazz artists to public attention. It is always with keen appreciation that I audition a new recording on his Fresh Sound New Talent label. On this occasion, we have a bright trumpet player, Jonathan Saraga, leading a sextet on mostly his own compositions. Things start off promisingly on Uprising. The front line exudes confidence in assertive solos and intricate twining sax/trumpet theme, while the rhythm section gives good account on a propulsive swinging beat that allows a very inventive drummer (Kenneth Salters) latitude for many-handed embellishments and wily accents. Saraga has a bright tone, quick articulation, a penchant for old-school sonic effects, and smeared, pungently bent notes. Alto Remy Le Boeuf demonstrates an extroverted style, but also a fine skill […]

Wadada Leo Smith (solo trumpet) – Solo: Reflections and Meditations on Monk – TUM 

Wadada Leo Smith (solo trumpet) – Solo: Reflections and Meditations on Monk – TUM 

by | Dec 14, 2017 | Jazz CD Reviews

Wadada Leo Smith (solo trumpet) – Solo: Reflections and Meditations on Monk  – TUM CD 053, 55:37 [10/20/17] *****: Putting Monk in a new light. If you’re looking for a new way to appreciate Thelonious Monk’s music, listen to Wadada Leo Smith’s Solo: Reflections and Meditations on Monk. This is nearly an hour of solo trumpet: eight tunes, four by Monk and four Smith originals inspired by Monk. Smith explains, “Most people would never realize that I am closer to Thelonious Monk than to any other artist. What connects us is a vision of composition and its forms.” Smith’s attraction to Monk’s solo recordings began five decades ago. Solo: Reflections and Meditations on Monk is the culmination of Smith listening to and studying Monk’s group and individual performances. Smith applies a degree of comparison and contrast throughout. He interprets a Monk composition, and then follows (for the most part) with a related original. This provides a conceptual flow as well as an instinctive musical path. The music on the CD was taped in late 2014 and summer 2015 at a Finnish studio and the engineering has a warm, bright tonality perfectly suited to solo trumpet. Smith begins with a 9:20 […]