CD Hotlist make “The Kung-Fu Masters” a pick of the month…
cdhotlist.com
When jazz tries to get rockish, the result is too often an embarrassing cross between oversimplifed jazz and awkwardly non-idiomatic rock. But when jazz tries to get funky, the results are often much better. Case in point: this adventurous but tight septet date led by saxophonist Sean Nowell, who writes and arranges with a great sense of voicing and structure but who can also take th ...Read More
Bruce Lindsay reviews Noah Haidu “Momentum” for AAJ…
www.allaboutjazz.com
A quick glance at the monochrome photo that adorns the cover of Momentum could lead to the impression that the pianist is George Gershwin. It isn’t, of course, it’s Noah Haidu and this is his second album as leader. Any similarities between Haidu and Gershwin end with the shadowy cover shot—Haidu most definitely looks to more contemporary influences for his ...Read More
Richard kamins reviews Fowser/Gillece “Top Shelf”…
steptempest.blogspot.com
This was one of those weeks when music served as a “healing force, helped to ease the pain of the tragic events in Boston and elsewhere. Driving home from work the other night, I put “Top Shelf” into the player; it’s the 4th PosiTone Records release from the duo of Ken Fowser(tenor saxophone) and Behn Gillece (vibraphone) and the easy-going s ...Read More
Critical Jazz reviews David Ake “Bridges”…
www.criticaljazz.com
You can count the number of labels with a firm commitment to the more straight ahead scene in modern jazz on one hand with Posi-Tone perhaps leading the way with the most dynamic young talent that can easily be considered the future of modern jazz. David Ake and his new release Bridges is certainly proof positive of this point with a virtual all star line up of rising stars a ...Read More
Peter Hum gives his take on David Weiss “Venture Inward”…
blogs.ottawacitizen.com
If you know Snuck In and Snuck Out, the 2010 and 2012 live recordings from trumpeter David Weiss and his Point of Departure quintet, then this recently released studio disc from the trumpeter’s group might induce some déjà entendu.
In paticular, there’s a significant amount of overlap between the Snuck In and Venture Inward, which is not surprising given that al ...Read More
SomethingElseReviews on David Ake “Bridges”…
somethingelsereviews.com
It’s clear from his latest recorded offering Bridges that the pianist and composer David Ake has a lot to say musically, but this being only his third record over a period of fifteen years, he hasn’t had much time to say it. That’s because Ake is also a scholar, author and member of the jazz ensemble EEA with Peter Epstein and Larry Engstrom. He’s made real good ...Read More
Music and More on Noah Haidu “Momentum”…
jazzandblues.blogspot.com
Pianist Noah Haidu leads a solid mainstream trio on this album supported by Ariel de la Portilla on bass and McClenty Hunter on drums. The play a wide variety of original compositions and a few standards that cohere well as a mainstream jazz LP. “Momentum” and “Groove Interlude” are a showcase for Haidu’s percussive uptempo piano playing, dri ...Read More
Marc Myers goes “Top Shelf”…
www.jazzwax.com
In most cases these days, the best new jazz albums sound terrific from their opening notes. I audit about 15 new CDs daily and, in nearly every case, the most inspiring ones are exciting from the get-go. That’s largely because better musicians and their producers know that in today’s world of digital distractions, you have to come out of the gate with your best stuff. ...Read More
JazzWrap on David Weiss “Venture Inward”…
jazzwrap.blogspot.com
Venture Inward is an interesting third outing from David Weiss’ quintet, Point of Departure. Technically, in recording order, this would actually be the first Point of Departure album. The album features the studio versions of tracks that would later be performed on the live albums, Snuck In and Snuck Out. It’s still a solid release that is worth every bit of ...Read More
Dan Bilawsky reviews Fowser/Gillece “Top Shelf”…
www.allaboutjazz.com
The team of tenor saxophonist Ken Fowser and vibraphonist Behn Gillece has been steadily releasing music of a similar nature on the Posi-Tone label since its 2009 debut, Full View, hit the shelves. With this, the duo’s fourth album, Fowser and Gillece continue along the same path with nary a stylistic sharp turn, yet this one manages to stand out because of one import ...Read More