Round Midnight is the latest concept album from vocalist/pianist Karrin Allyson. This collection of intimate ballads features a great variety of songs, but nothing compared to Allyson’s live repertoire. A CD and concert review by Thomas Cunniffe.
Karrin Allyson: “Round Midnight” (Concord Jazz 32662) Read More »
When an artist goes on the road to promote a new album, the sounds which come from the bandstand may be significantly different than what was captured in the studio. In the case of bassist/vocalist Katie Thiroux, those differences came from a change in the personnel of her touring group. Thomas Cunniffe reviews Thiroux’s live performance at the Denver nightclub, Nocturne, and compares the music played there to Thiroux’s new CD, Off Beat.
Katie Thiroux Trio at Nocturne, Denver (October 3, 2017) Read More »
Clark Terry is one of jazz’s greatest mentors. There’s hardly a jazz musician working today that hasn’t been touched by this gentle, wise giant. A new documentary, Keep On Keepin’ On, captures Terry and his gifted student, pianist Justin Kauflin, as they each face numerous obstacles. Thomas Cunniffe provides a sneak preview in this special edition of Sidetracks.
Keep On Keepin’ On (Anchor Bay DVD) Read More »
Jazz history textbooks will all tell you that Miles Davis’ 1959 masterpiece Kind of Blue was important because of its extensive use of modal improvisation. Thomas Cunniffe agrees wholeheartedly with that statement, but wonders if the modes were simply a means to an end. He traces the history of the album through its immediate predecessor, Jazz Track and finds a simple reason for the album’s artistic and popular successes.
Miles Davis: “Kind of Blue” & “Jazz Track” (Columbia CS 8163/CL 1268) Read More »
In what is fast becoming a holiday tradition, Kurt Elling performed a spectacular concert at Denver’s Soiled Dove. This year, he sang two separate sets, one of Holiday music (from his album The Beautiful Day) and the other featuring protest music (from The Questions and the new digital EP, The Questions–LIVE). Thomas Cunniffe reviews both concert sets and the live EP in this Concert Review.
Kurt Elling at the Soiled Dove, Denver (December 12, 2018) Read More »
Although they were born just seven years apart, saxophonists John Coltrane and Frank Morgan reached their artistic zeniths in the last years of their lives. Each of these tremendous saxophonists are the subjects of new documentaries, and Thomas Cunniffe reviews both discs, noting that the films deal with the subject of drug addiction in different ways, but still let their subjects shine.
This month’s vocal releases seem tailored for late-night listening. Cyrille Aimée’s Let’s Get Lost tells the story of a relationship through songs in English, Spanish and French, Stacey Kent’s Tenderly is an intimate recital of standards featuring Roberto Menescal, and Jenny Maybee’s collaboration with trumpeter Nick Phillips, Haiku is an intriguing and moody collection of original pieces and jazz classics. Thomas Cunniffe dims the lights as he reviews these three fine recordings.
In support of her newest album, Circle in a Square, vocalist Lauren Kinhan returned to Denver’s Soiled Dove for a performance which exhibited the depth of her musical world. Thomas Cunniffe, who considers Kinhan’s album her best to date, offers his views on both the CD and the concert.
Lauren Kinhan & The Art of Interpretation (Soiled Dove, Denver; February 5. 2014) Read More »
Think of contemporary tenor players and the names of Shorter, Rollins and Lovato come to mind. While these men are true giants, there are many fine tenor saxophonists worthy of greater recognition. Thomas Cunniffe reviews recent releases by three of these lesser-known talents.
(Lesser-Known) Tenors Of Our Time Read More »
Jazz and politics might seem strange bedfellows, but no one merged the two better than Charlie Haden. With brilliant arrangements by Carla Bley, Haden’s 1969 LP, Liberation Music Orchestra captured the turbulence of its era, and led to three more albums by this landmark ensemble. Thomas Cunniffe examines the original Impulse album in this Retro Review.
Charlie Haden: “Liberation Music Orchestra” (Impulse LP AS-9183) Read More »
The Liberation Music Orchestra has now outlived its founder, Charlie Haden. Under the leadership of its longtime pianist/arranger Carla Bley, they have recorded a new CD, Time/Life, as a tribute to Haden (who appears on two tracks) and a statement about the world’s environmental crisis. Released too late to be included in last month’s review of political big band recordings, Thomas Cunniffe contributes an extended CD review.
Charlie Haden/Liberation Music Orchestra: “Time/Life” (Impulse 479 878) Read More »
With a historically divisive presidential campaign now in its final weeks, politics seeps into everything, even big band jazz. Thomas Cunniffe discusses three new recordings with roots in politics and world events (and not necessarily Trump vs. Clinton). In his review, Cunniffe predicts that the musical qualities present in these recordings by Delfeayo Marsalis, Ted Nash and Darcy James Argue will survive long past the current political cycle.
Politics and the American Jazz Orchestra Read More »
There’s a lot of screaming happening in our world right now, but sometimes, a whisper can be as effective as a scream. The two albums of protest jazz reviewed here generally make their points without raising dynamics. Thomas Cunniffe examines new recordings by Dominque Eade/Ran Blake and Ryan Keberle’s Catharsis.
The Quiet Revolution Read More »
Ralph J. Gleason was a pioneer in music criticism. He published his first reviews in 1934, when he was a student at Columbia University, and by 1950, he was the first full-time jazz critic working for a major newspaper. Gleason’s interests extended beyond jazz into comedy, folk, rock and politics. Thomas Cunniffe reviews two new collections of Gleason’s work which cover the late journalist’s astounding range and perception.
Celebrating Ralph J. Gleason Read More »