by Steve Provizer, The Arts Fuse This recording displays a mastery of the techniques of the jazz vocal group genre: part and contrapuntal singing, ringing harmonies, well-arranged scat, solo scat and vocalese (writing words to jazz tunes and solos). All four singers pull their weight — Amy London, Dylan Pramuk, Pete McGuinness, and the late … Read More
By Steve Provizer, The Arts Fuse For about the last ten years of his life, trumpeter Chet Baker spent a lot more time in Europe than the U.S. Read the full review here.
By Steve Provizer, The Arts Fuse Many vocal releases pass over my transom –most of them by female singers. If it’s not a historical re-release of tracks by one of the elite jazz singers, something has to make the disc stand out to snag my attention. While there’s nothing earth-shaking on singer Leslie Beukelman’s Golden … Read More
By Steve Provizer, The Arts Fuse Jazz doesn’t have many éminences grise. Either a musician’s influence is widely acknowledged, as in, for example, Louis Armstrong and Charlie Parker, or a reputation is maintained by way of a subtler stylistic bleed-through, which is common. There are differences of opinion about the importance of pianist Lennie Tristano. … Read More
Vanessa Rubin Sings Tadd Dameron — Paying Expert Homage Steve Provizer, the Arts Fuse Smartly, Vanessa Rubin has gathered a strong group of collaborators, a number of whom knew Tadd Dameron personally and all of whom know his music well. The Dream Is You: Vanessa Rubin Sings Tadd Dameron, featuring John Cowherd (piano), Kenny Davis … Read More
Steve Provizer, The Arts Fuse Kelly Green and her trio are essentially mainstream players, but they explore a lot of challenging territory within that framework. Volume One is the first album release for vocalist and pianist Kelly Green as a trio with Alex Tremblay on bass and Evan Hyde on drums. They maintain a high level of group communication throughout this superb … Read More
Steve Provizer, The Arts Fuse Younger Arts Fuse readers probably don’t know about the Jackie Gleason-Bobby Hackett collaborations from the late 1950’s-early ’60s. Gleason was a comedian-television star with a musical bent and the money to hire musicians and studio time. He produced a series of what were essentially easy-listening/seduction records, with titles like Songs For Lovers Only and Easy … Read More
