by Ralph E. Miriello, Notes on Jazz In his Best Jazz of 2021 roundup, Ralph Miriello mentions several LLP Album releases from the year, including Wolfgang Lackerschmid and Chet Baker’s Quintet Sessions 1979, Lorne Lofsky’s This Song Is New, Kirk Lightsey’s I’ll Never Stop Loving You, Gonzalo Rubalcaba’s Skyline, Carlos Henriquez’s The South Bronx Story, … Read More
By Jerome Wilson, All About Jazz Small groups featuring piano continue to work their individual brands of magic throughout the jazz world. Here are some examples from the last few months. Read the reviews of Aliens & Wizards (Spike Wilner), First Steps (Philippe Lemm Trio) and Live At Vitello’s (Michael Wolff) here.
By George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly Vitellos is the venerable jazz club/restaurant best known for a) the hang out for the Rat Pack guys where they’d bring their broads up stairs for carousing and music and b) where Robert Blake shot his wife. It’s still a fantastic restaurant, and before the stupid COVID lockdown, hosted … Read More
By José Ramón, La Habitación Del Jazz Michael Blieden Wolff (Victorville, California) es un pianista y actor estadounidense.Comenzó a estudiar piano clásico a los ocho años antes de tocar la batería a los 12. Mientras asistía a Berkeley High School, Wolff comenzó a tocar el piano con los conjuntos de jazz de la Universidad de … Read More
by Lance Liddle, Bebop Spoken Here “Wayne Sorter’s Fall is another piece of poignancy with piano and trumpet once again reflecting a mood that although recorded in 2011 is probably now, ten years later, even more in keeping with the times. The sense of doom continues with The Conversation – clearly Vitellos isn’t a jazz dance venue.” Read the … Read More
By Len Weinreich, London Jazz News Some sketched background: New Orleans-born, Los Angeles-resident Michael Wolff is a pianist affected by Tourette’s Syndrome: “a common neurodevelopmental disorder that begins in childhood or adolescence, characterized by multiple movement tics and at least one vocal tic” (grateful nod to Wikipedia). And Mark Isham (interview here from 2020), trumpeter … Read More
By Jeff Know, Audiophile Audition For jazz fans there is nothing like being in a club listening to live music. The ambiance, acoustics, and the audience response that inspires the band, contribute to the “listening experience” that can not be replicated at home. Because of the pandemic, we have not been able to listen to … Read More
By Wulf Muller Logan Richardson / AfroFuturism – “The albums diverse compositions are enhanced by keyboards, synthesizers and programmed parts, with sound samples used frequently amid heavy grooves. Modern jazz it is, but with a nod to the past.” Michael Wolff / Live at Vitellos – “Wolff and Isham are amazing soloists, backed and pushed … Read More
By Stephen Graham, Marlbank “What appeals here? A combination of factors. Mark Isham’s work from his tenure with Van Morrison on such beautiful albums as Into the Music I know and like, Isham’s own classic modal mastery displayed on Blue Sun I used to play to death, and most topically the trumpeter-composer’s film work with Craig Harris recently on Judas and the … Read More
By Chris Spector, Midwest Record “It’s always fun to catch the debut of a sure fingered new talent that’s on the rise. This Italian sax man has a firm grip on modern jazz and knows how to make his blows. Leading a crew that’s right in step, this is highest order listening jazz that works … Read More
