FEATURE: Downbeat Includes Brandee Younger and Geof Bradfield in Hyde Park Jazz Festival Round-Up

October 16, 2018Features, Reviews
FEATURE: Downbeat Includes Brandee Younger and Geof Bradfield in Hyde Park Jazz Festival Round-Up

Michael Jackson, Downbeat Artists at Hyde Park Jazz Festival Reflect Generational Connections RAVI COLTRANE, BRANDEE YOUNGER, ALLISON MILLER, GEOF BRADFIELD, CHRISTIAN SCOTT ATUNDE ADJUAH In its 12th year, Chicago’s Hyde Park Jazz Festival presented an almost preposterous amount of quality music on Sept. 29, day one of the two-day event that hosted scores of programs in about a dozen disparate … Read More

REVIEW: All About Jazz Reviews Charles Pillow’s “Electric Miles”

October 15, 2018Features, Reviews
REVIEW: All About Jazz Reviews Charles Pillow’s “Electric Miles”

Jack Bowers, All About Jazz So how does trumpeter Miles Davis‘ post-1969 “electric period” translate to a big-band format? About as well as could be expected, thanks to leader Charles Pillow‘s bright arrangements for his New York-based Large Ensemble. Davis’ seminal Columbia albums from 1969-1972—In a Silent Way, Bitches Brew, Live at Fillmore East, Live-Evil, On the … Read More

REVIEW: Textura Reviews Phil Schurger’s “The Waters Above”

October 15, 2018Features, Reviews
REVIEW: Textura Reviews Phil Schurger’s “The Waters Above”

Ron Schepper, Textura Each of the six track titles on Phil Schurger’s second ears&eyes Records release, The Waters Above, holds special significance for the guitarist. For instance, “Anikulapo,” a Yoruban word meaning “He who carries death in a pouch,” resonated with Schurger because of several early brushes he had with death, experiences that crystallized for him … Read More

REVIEW: Argonauta (Italy) Reviews Rob Clearfield’s “Wherever You’re Starting From”

October 15, 2018Features, Reviews
REVIEW: Argonauta (Italy) Reviews Rob Clearfield’s “Wherever You’re Starting From”

Roberto Binda, Argonauta Magazine Un rifugio, uno spazio intimo dove rifugiarsi dal caos della metropoli. Un luogo della memoria, dove tornare e riappropriarsi di quello che nella frenesia del vivere quotidiano rischiava di essere smarrito. Cose importanti come la semplicità e la spontaneità, che per quanto in una dimensione individuale ti rendano più vulnerabile, sono … Read More

REVIEW: Jazz Weekly Reviews Jeff Siegel’s “London Live”

October 11, 2018Features, Reviews
REVIEW: Jazz Weekly Reviews Jeff Siegel’s “London Live”

George Harris, Jazz Weekly Drummer Jeff “Siege” Siegel brings his quartet of Erica Lindsay/ts, Francesca Tanksley/p and UliLanghthaler/b to London for a 2010 gig at the Pizza Express Jazz Club. Siegel uses his sticks, brushes and parts of the drum kit to guide and coax the band to excellent effect. His cymbals create a nice … Read More

REVIEW: JazzTimes Reviews Geof Bradfield’s “Yes, and…Music for Nine Improvisers”

October 10, 2018Features, Reviews
REVIEW: JazzTimes Reviews Geof Bradfield’s “Yes, and…Music for Nine Improvisers”

Dan Bilawsky, JazzTimes The acts of spontaneous creation and development associated with improvisational theater are clearly homologous with the ideals of jazz. Sometimes it just takes a supremely creative spirit like saxophonist/composer Geof Bradfield to illuminate that fact. Alternating between numbers featuring different trio configurations and works for nonet, Yes, and … Music for Nine Improvisers highlights … Read More

REVIEW: Jazzwax Reviews Alex Clough’s “Near Far Beyond”

October 9, 2018Features, Reviews
REVIEW: Jazzwax Reviews Alex Clough’s “Near Far Beyond”

Marc Meyers, JazzWax Alex Clough is a pianist, educator and composer who lives in Jersey City, N.J. When he’s not playing jazz keyboards, he’s accompanying New York’s Metropolitan Opera Guild and the Mark Morris Dance Group or playing other gigs. This terrific album is rock solid and sensitive all the way through. It features Clough (p, el.p), … Read More