StepTempest weighs in on Jacam Manricks “Cloud Nine”…
steptempest.blogspot.com
For his second release on the Positone label (and 4th overall), alto saxophonist Jacám Manricks, a native of Brisbane, Australia, has assembled quite a cast to play his music. Guitarist Adam Rogers, organist Sam Yahel, drummer Matt Wilson and, on one cut, trumpeter David Weiss, do exactly what one might expect, play with fire and intelligence. Wilson keeps the rhythms f ...Read More
Dan Bilawsky on “Cloud Nine”…
www.allaboutjazz.com
The euphoria-based title of Jacam Manricks’ latest album makes perfect sense. After all, who wouldn’t be on cloud nine with a band like this?! For his fourth album, the Australian-born, New York-based saxophonist mingles with three modernist elites who help to shape and define his sound. While Manricks’ compositional prowess could easily allow him to fully sc ...Read More
Bruce Lindsay chimes in on Steve Davis “Gettin’ It Done”…
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=42443
Calling trombonist Steve Davis a veteran is probably inappropriate—after all, he was a mere 44 year-old when he recorded Gettin’ It Done in October, 2011. However, he has such a wealth of experience, such a command of his instrument and such a rich back catalog of recordings that based on his body of work rather than his birthday such a ...Read More
Brent Black reviews the new Steve Davis CD “Gettin’ It Done”…
www.criticaljazz.com
The latest and most appropriately titled release from trombone wizard Steve Davis proves that both Davis and his label Posi-Tone are if nothing but consistent in releasing some of the finest in straight ahead jazz. Variety, texture and some out of sight cover art make Gettin’ It Done a most impressive release with producer Marc Free getting that classic Rudy Van Gelder ...Read More
SomethingElse reviews the new Steve Davis CD…
http://somethingelsereviews.com/2012/07/07/half-notes-steve-davis-gettin-it-done-2012/
Former Jazz Messenger Steve Davis might not have the name recognition of his Blakey forbear Curtis Fuller, but he’s no less a talented trombone player. We last examined his handiwork on Images: The Hartford Suite from a couple of years ago and now he’s set to release his second album since then, Gettin’ It ...Read More
Lucid Culture reviews Orrin Evans “Flip the Script”…
lucidculture.wordpress.com
Orrin Evans’ New Trio Album Is One of the Year’s Best
Pianist Orrin Evans has been on a creative rampage lately. Recorded at a single marathon session at a Brooklyn studio this past February, his latest album Flip the Script, a trio project with Ben Wolfe on bass and Donald Edwards behind the kit, does exactly that. It’s his most straightforward album under ...Read More
Brent Black is on “Cloud Nine” with Jacam Manricks …
http://www.criticaljazz.com/2012/06/jacam-manricks-cloud-nine-posi-tone.html
Cloud Nine should easily make my year end best of list! Jacam Manricks musical stock is an arrow pointing straight up. Aside from Cloud Nine as his fourth release as a leader, Manricks is compositionally outpacing a great number of his contemporaries and when you toss in his well respected status as an educator then yo ...Read More
StepTempest reviews the new Steve Davis CD…
steptempest.blogspot.com
Trombonist-composer-educatorSteve Davis teaches at Hartt School of Music’s Jackie McLean Institute and The Artist Collective. Mentored by saxophonist McLean, Davis (born in Binghampton, NY and raised in Worcester, MA) stayed in Hartford but has traveled around the world. He was in the final edition of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, toured and recorded with ...Read More
The JazzWord of Steve Davis “Gettin’ It Done”
thejazzword.blogspot.com
Gettin’ it Done is a strong sextet outing with solid three-horn arrangements and inspired soloing. The ring leader of the ensemble is veteran trombonist Steve Davis whose straight-ahead, swinging original tunes are both ear-catching and memorable. Tunes such as the up-tempo title track, a minor blues with blistering solo turns from alto saxophonist Mike DiRubbo, Dav ...Read More
Downbeat includes Orrin Evans “Flip the Script” in its Editor’s Picks…
www.downbeat.com
Orrin Evans, Flip The Script (Posi-Tone)
Orrin Evans is a pianist, composer and bandleader whose reputation has been steadily rising, particularly with his Captain Black Big Band. But on his latest recording,Flip The Script, we find Evans equally powerful in the trio setting. From the first tune, “Question,” my personal answer was “Hell, yeah!” And that’s the way I fel ...Read More