Michael Ambrosino, 33third.org Zach Brock Playing Against the Grain Modern Jazz violin players face a stigma that many of their peers do not. While saxophones or trumpets are seen as synonymous with Jazz, the violin remains the iconic reference to other musical art-forms. Think of folk, bluegrass, country and of course classical music, and violins … Read More
by Andrew Gilbert, Mercury News Long before musicians started thinking of themselves as embodying a brand, Art Blakey established an imprimatur that conveyed instant gravitas. As the leader of the Jazz Messengers, the drummer spent nearly four decades running his band as a proving ground for the music’s most formidable young improvisers and composers. He … Read More
by Matt Micucci, Jazziz Internationally acclaimed clarinetist/composer Oran Etkin will release Finding Friends Far from Home: A Journey with Clara Net on August 30. Etkin founded the Timbalooloo method of introducing children to music and this new record is a continuation of his innovative music education work. Recorded and filmed on location in Zimbabwe, Turkey, Czech Republic and … Read More
Dave Sumner, Bandcamp Zach Brock/Matt Ulery/Jon Deitemyer Wonderment This may be their first official release as a trio, but the collaborations between bassist Matt Ulery, drummer Jon Deitemyer, and violinist Zach Brock have a rich history, resulting in some of the most compelling music of the new century. Where each contributed a guiding hand to large ensemble … Read More
By: Matt Micucci, Jazziz New Louis Armstrong European Live Recordings Out Soon: Dot Time Records will release Armstrong in Europe on CD/digital as part of its Legacy Series on September 27. This is the fourth Armstrong release of the series and it features the audio from two recordings of quintessential European performances by the great … Read More
Matt Micucci, Jazziz Jazz School: Education News Oran Etkin’s Upcoming Multicultural LP Introduces Young Children to World Music:Musician/composer Oran Etkin will release his forthcoming album, Finding Friends Far From Home: A Journey with Clara Net, on August 30. This new release is part of Etkin’s Timbalooloo program, which introduces young children to music. The album straddles … Read More
Matt Micucci, Jazziz Vocalist Catherine Russell released her seventh album as a leader, Alone Together, on March 1 via Dot Time Records. The album finds her searching for the truth concealed in the works of some of the best composers and lyricists of the Great American Songbook and the acclaimed songwriters of the Swing and R&B … Read More
R.J. Deluke, All About Jazz “Drumming is as natural to me as breathing.” —Ralph Peterson Drummer Ralph Peterson has been on the jazz scene for some 35 years or more, carving out a career as a performer and an educator that would be the envy of many. His main influence is the legendary Art Blakey, and … Read More
Friedrich Kunzmann, All About Jazz “It’s important to me to play with musicians who I feel are deeply connected to the emotional content of the music we make.” Among today’s protagonists, breaking the boundaries between what vocal jazz should and folk or singer-songwriter music can be—Gretchen Parlato, Esperanza Spalding or Rebecca Martin come to mind—Boston-born and raised Emma Frank is deservedly … Read More
by George Kanzler, Hot House Ben Wolfe’s Fatherhood is the bassist’s musical eulogy to his father, Dan, who died last year. But it is in no way maudlin or a downer. Rather, it is a celebration, featuring a vibrant and changing cast of musicians on nine originals and one standard. Seven of the tunes feature a string … Read More
