By Filipe Freitas, JazzTrail Bassist/composer Michael Feinberg releases his eight album as a leader, a successful culmination of the challenges and opportunities imposed by the pandemic. He hired a fantastic group of musicians to play some of his own tunes plus four covers, with Miles Davis’ “Nardis” being the most distinguished of them. His rhythmically … Read More
By Filipe Freitas, JazzTrail The American drummer and bandleader Gerry Gibbs honors his 96-year-old father, the bebop vibraphonist Terry Gibbs, on Songs From My Father, a double-disc record of swinging jazz with no horns involved. The program consists of the latter’s catchier tunes plus one piece by the late pianist Chick Corea, whose appearance here … Read More
By Filipe Freitas, JazzTrail The recently deceased drummer/composer Ralph Peterson will be always remembered as a shrewd, confident player who was utterly expressive in the stories he intended to tell. Peterson died from cancer on March 1st, and Raise Up Off Me is an inspiring last album filled with optimism and empowering message. Most of … Read More
By Filipe Freitas, JazzTrail Virtuosic things are expected to be found when we hear Trio Grande, a collaborative bass-less trio of high-caliber bandleaders with different backgrounds and influences. Read more here.
by Filipe Freitas The Kaleidoscope Quintet, a stellar collaborative project co-led by master saxophonists Dave Liebman and Joe Lovano (also co-leaders of Saxophone Summit), includes vocalist Judi Silvano, bassist Tony Marino and drummer Michael Stephans. A memorable, effusive live performance occurred at Pennsylvania’s Deer Head Inn in 2013 is immortalized by Dancing on the Edge, … Read More
By Filipe Freitas, JazzTrail Charismatic drummer Ralph Peterson, an inveterate swinger with a knack for propulsive straight-ahead jazz and more, makes a strong case with his 25th album as a leader, Onward & Upward. With it, he continues to pay homage to the perennial art of late drummer Art Blakey and his quintessential group Jazz … Read More
By Filipe Freitas, JazzTrail New York-based saxophonist/composer Dave Pietro reflects on the modern human experience on his new outing, Hypersphere, a record that reveals the searching quality of his music. Read this full review here.
By Filipe Freitas, JazzTrail American pianist and composer Julian Shore is in good company on his fourth album as a leader, Where We Started. The album is composed of eight pieces – five originals and three covers – that share a singular personality in spite of their various tempos and moods. Read this full review … Read More
By Filipe Freitas, JazzTrail With one foot in the fusion genre and the other in the harmolodic approach of free-jazz pioneer Ornette Coleman, Boston-based keyboardist Dave Bryant releases Night Visitors, a trio effort where he is joined by bassist Charnett Moffett and drummer Gregg Bendian. Read the full review here.
By Filipe Freitas, JazzTrail Saxophonist Walter Smith III reappears side by side with guitarist Matthew Stevens in the revived In Common group, two years after the release of its eponymous album. In Common 2 remains a quintet but features a reformed rhythm team with emerging pianist Micah Thomas, bassist Linda May Han Oh and drummer … Read More
