While he hasn’t always taken the best care of his voice, at 89, Tony Bennett is still at the top of his game. His remarkable new Jerome Kern tribute disc, The Silver Lining (co-led with pianist Bill Charlap) is a virtual master class of fine interpretation and vocal finesse. In this feature review, Thomas Cunniffe describes the many wonders located on this disc.
MoreFor the Tierney Sutton Band, it’s all about the arrangements. Over the past 25 years, the group has created and developed an enormous book, from which they assemble their live and recorded performances. When they appeared at Denver’s Newman Center, they acquiesced to the concert posters and presented a concert of Sting songs. Thomas Cunniffe reports that the music successfully reached both the jazz and pop fans in the audience.
MoreOne of the cohesive ensembles in jazz, the Tierney Sutton band played a two-night engagement at Denver’s Dazzle nightclub which displayed incredible communication, both among themselves and to the audience. Thomas Cunniffe caught the Sunday night sets and offers this concert review.
MoreTimme Rosenkrantz was a Danish baron with a deep and abiding love for jazz. He spent significant parts of his life in the US, and his memoirs have been translated and collected in the new book Harlem Jazz Adventures. Thomas Cunniffe reviews the volume in this month’s book review.
MoreThe Mosaic Project, Terri Lyne Carrington’s latest CD offers a variety of styles (some coexisting in the same track) performed by an all-star–and all-woman–ensemble. Thomas Cunniffe offers his impressions in this CD review.
MoreThe Baroness Pannonica Rothschild de Koenigswarter was one of a handful of non-musicians who played small but pivotal roles in the history of jazz. The Baroness’ great-niece Hannah has researched Nica’s story for radio and television documentaries, and has now put her findings in book form. Thomas Cunniffe reviews the volume.
MoreTheo Bleckmann is one of the most innovative jazz vocalists on the current scene. He has explored a wide range of music from Charles Ives to Kate Bush. In this exclusive interview with Jazz History Online’s Ellen Johnson, Bleckmann discusses his many collaborations and his use of electronics.
MoreEach of the three tenor saxophonists featured in this month’s instrumental CD reviews have found ways to redefine classic jazz traditions. Geof Bradfield develops the music of folk singers Leadbelly and Blind Willie Johnson, while Jon Irabagon challenges our concept of straight-ahead jazz, and Kirsten Edkins delves into Blue Note and cool grooves with a unique concept of rhythm. Thomas Cunniffe gives his opinions of these three discs.
MoreTeddy Wilson was one of the most prolific jazz musicians of the 1930s, recording with Benny Goodman, Billie Holiday, and many others. No single CD box set could ever cover all of Wilson’s recordings from this period, and Mosaic’s new collection contains some–but not all–of Wilson’s best sides as a leader, including all of his solo tracks, several combo sessions and all of his big band tracks. Thomas Cunniffe reviews the contents of the set in this month’s Retro Review.
MoreThe music of Billy Strayhorn gets a fresh and surprising makeover in the latest CD from trumpeter Terell Stafford. Thomas Cunniffe offers his comments on the disc.
MoreFor this month’s vocal CD reviews, Thomas Cunniffe examines the recordings of several singers who balance teaching and performing. The music of Janice Borla, Rebecca DuMaine, and the group Vertical Voices covers an impressive range of styles, and through their exceptional performances, they prove that they can practice what they teach.
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