Rifftides

Recent Listening In Brief: Linda May Han Oh, Aventurine (Biophilia) The album title, aptly, seems to suggest adventure. Indeed, the CD contains plenty of that attribute in the bassist-composer’s instrumentation, textures and rhythmic values. The name was suggested, however, by a certain shiny translucent mineral that seems to glow from within, as does much of Ms. Oh’s music in this collection. The inspirations for her compositions, her choices of fellow performers and the way she writes and … [Read more...]

Recent Listening: Jason Palmer, Rhyme and Reason (GiantStepArts) In his early work with saxophonists Noah Preminger and Grace Kelly and many others, trumpeter Jason Palmer made it clear with his substantial tone, wide range and flexibility that he had the potential to become one of the new century’s outstanding trumpeters. His debut on producer and photographer Jimmy Katz’s GiantStepArts label, is the latest proof that Palmer has attained that distinction—and then some. Joined by the veteran … [Read more...]

The family of vibraphonist Dave Samuels has confirmed that he died in New York City on April 22. Best known for his association with the jazz-fusion band Spyro Gyra, Samuels had battled a long illness. His family did not disclose the cause of death. A Grammy award winner, Samuels was best known for more than three decades as a member of the crossover jazz-fusion band Spyro Gyra. He was 70 years old. Before joining Spyro Gyra, Samuels was a member of the Gerry Mulligan sextet during the period of … [Read more...]

We spent much of this Easter Sunday driving slowly through hills covered with hundreds of acres of apple and cherry trees gloriously abloom. Spring is here in full flower, with enchanting vistas that include glimpses of Mount Adams and Mount Rainier. This post comes late in the holiday, but the Rifftides staff hopes that your Easter has been equally inspiring. “Easter Parade” is hardly a jazz standard, but Irving Berlin gave it a wonderful melody and a harmonic structure that encourages … [Read more...]

The recent post featuring the Clifford Brown-Max Roach Quintet in the 1950s led a couple of Rifftides readers to suggest that we hear more of Brown’s sparkling trumpet playing. He became a major jazz artist before his death at 26 in an automobile accident in 1956 and has been a major influence on every generation of trumpet players since. Let’s listen to his composition “Tiny Capers,” with Clifford leading an ensemble that also includes Zoot Sims, tenor saxophone; Bob Gordon, baritone sax; Stu … [Read more...]

John Coltrane, Coltrane ’58: The Prestige Recordings (Craft) Every few years, curators of the great saxophonist John Coltrane’s extensive body of recordings come up with yet another retrospective of his work. Craft Recordings is now the overseer of Coltrane’s massively productive years with the Prestige label. The company has reissued a five-disc album of music that he made in 1958. That was when Coltrane rejoined Miles Davis as part of the classic sextet that also included alto saxophonist … [Read more...]

The Rifftides series of occasional visits to jazz bands of the United States armed services continues with the US Army’s Jazz Ambassadors. In a concert at the Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth, Texas, singer Alexis Cole joined the Ambassadors in trumpeter Clifford Brown’s “Joy Spring.” That classic composition was one of the showpieces of the quintet that Brown co-led with drummer Max Roach in the 1950s. The tune has become a part of the modern jazz repertoire. This version features vocalist … [Read more...]

Hakan A. Toker, Messing Around…With The Classics (Navona) For several months since this CD arrived, I have occasionally looked at the cover photo and concluded that there must be more rewarding things to do than listen to a musician who poses upside down atop a piano giving a victory sign with his right hand and playing what may be a C-D-E triad with his left. Well, I finally listened, and guess what? It’s an entertaining collection by a pianist with enormous technique and good time feel … [Read more...]

There is no way that Rifftides can keep up with the flood of new jazz albums put on the market by record companies and—in the new world of relatively low production costs—by dozens of independent musicians. The best that we can do is be alert for exceptional releases and bring them to your attention. Sometimes that means brief notices about music of quality that deserves even greater attention. That is the case in today’s catch-up effort about the veteran bassist John Patitucci’s latest album. … [Read more...]

If you live in Los Angeles or will be there later this month, here’s good news from the L.A. County Museum Of Art (LACMA). On April 26th The Bill Holman Band will open the museum’s season of summer jazz concerts. Word from the Holman organization is that, inspired by the continuing success of the band’s Brilliant Corners album, the repertoire will include a variety of Thelonious Monk compositions. Holman’s writing for Brilliant Corners won a Grammy that year. He has had fifteen Grammy … [Read more...]

The Jazz Journalists Association has announced its slate of 2019 Jazz Heroes, people who have made significant contributions to the health, well-being and exposure of jazz in their cities and towns. The list includes performing artists, presenters, broadcasters and—well, of course—journalists. In the extensive list you are likely to find someone you know. Click here, scroll down, and meet the 22 new honorees. They are an impressive, hard-workng bunch. … [Read more...]

A couple of months ago, I mentioned that I had been given the privilege and pleasure of writing the liner notes for Scott Robinson’s new album. Today, he announced that the CD has been released. His notice includes background about the project, a link to a promotional video and a link to the company that is releasing Tenormore. Reading what Scott wrote, you may get the feeling that he’s happy with the results. He should be.   Today is the official release day for my new CD, Tenormore. … [Read more...]

David Friesen, My Faith, My Life (Origin) Friesen’s virtuosity brought him to prominence as a bassist nearly fifty years ago. He has remained one of the instrument’s most adventurous players through a career including associations with Duke Jordan, Marian McPartland, John Handy, Denny Zeitlin, Paul Horn and other major jazz artists. This two-CD album presents him on the first disc playing his compositions on the Homage bass, an instrument he developed. On some tracks in that CD he overdubs on … [Read more...]

When the 1960s jazz avant garde was cranking up, George Russell (1923-2009) set an example, as was his way. It had been more than two decades since the intrepid composer captured the attention of the jazz world with his 1947 “Cubano Be-Cubano Bop” for the Dizzy Gillespie big band. He had gone on to compose and arrange for leaders as varied and influential as Artie Shaw, Buddy DeFranco and Lee Konitz. Russell’s Lydian Chromatic Concept of Tonal Organization became an influence among serious … [Read more...]

Logan Strosahl, Sure (Sunnyside) Piping at the high end of the flute’s range, guttural near the tenor sax’s low end, sliding, slurring and sometimes punching notes on alto saxophone, Strosahl is intense and full of surprises with his trio. His music is laced with classical allusions and marinated in jazz feeling. He, bassist Henry Fraser and drummer Allan Mednard create moments in this album in which they come remarkably close to what few groups in the history of improvised music have truly … [Read more...]

The jazz bands of the United States military services have long histories of impressive achievement. There are high levels of musicianship in the big jazz bands of the Marine Corps, Army, Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard. Now and then, Rifftides samples performances by these service bands. Frequently, established name musicians from civilian life join them in concert as featured soloists. Let’s see and hear the veteran Los Angeles trombonist Andy Martin with the US Air Force’s Airmen Of Note. … [Read more...]

  There is much to like about this version by vibraphonist Cal Tjader of Clare Fischer’s modern classic “Morning.” It is from a brief period in the 1970s when Fischer was a member of Tjader’s band. The recording opens with an aware audience greeting Fischer’s electric piano introduction with the enthusiasm that one might show in encountering an old friend, and that’s what the tune seems to be to these listeners. Fischer is also featured in a compelling solo. Of the several versions of … [Read more...]