Tales From Prague 2
In the latest installment of his ongoing series Tales From Prague, Skip Wilkins recalls his experiences at the Choral Festival in Lomnice.
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Tales From Prague 3
In the latest installment of his ongoing series Tales From Prague, Skip Wilkins tells about the various jazz clubs in the city. One hosted a jam session with a sitting US President (guess which one). Several cater to the local jazz fans while others attract international tourists. Includes several photos of the venues.
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Too Good to Leave Behind
Every month, the JHO mailbox is stuffed with more CDs that we can possibly review. In what has become as much of a holiday tradition, here are capsule reviews of worthy vocal and instrumental discs that we couldn’t bear to leave on the shelf. Featured artists include Jackie Allen, Randy Brecker, Sara Caswell, Sinne Eeg, Mark Guiliana, Sarah Jerrom, Lauren Kinhan, Dave Liebman, Chuck Owen, Roswell Rudd, Martial Solal, and Fay Victor.
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Toshiko Akiyoshi/Lew Tabackin: “Road Time” (RCA Victor 22242)
One of the finest ensembles of the 1970s was the Los Angeles big band co-led by Toshiko Akiyoshi and Lew Tabackin. Their double LP, Road Time documented their 1976 tour of Japan, and netted the group a Grammy nomination. Amy Duncan examines this out-of-print classic in this month’s Retro Review.
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Tales From Prague 1
In the first installment of his ongoing series Tales From Prague, Skip Wilkins tells of his first experiences playing in Europe, the summer jazz workshop in North Bohemia where he teaches, and his quintet, comprised of American and Czech musicians.
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Tales From Prague 4
In this month’s Tales From Prague, Skip Wilkins hits the road and recalls his experiences playing outside of Prague. Skip also tells of the new friends he has made, both on and off the bandstand.
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Tommy Flanagan’s Composer Tributes
Between 1975 and 1993, pianist Tommy Flanagan recorded six tribute albums featuring, in turn, the music of Duke Ellington & Billy Strayhorn, Bud Powell, Harold Arlen, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk and Thad Jones. Thomas Cunniffe explores these albums in this month’s Historical Essay.
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Tony Bennett/Bill Charlap: “The Silver Lining” (RPM/Columbia 14574)
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.
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Tierney Sutton Band at the Newman Center, Denver (January 11, 2018)
For 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.
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Tierney Sutton Band at Dazzle, Denver (May 6, 2012)
One 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.
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Harlem Jazz Adventures (by Timme Rosenkrantz)
Timme 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.
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Terri Lyne Carrington: “The Mosaic Project” (Concord 33016)
The 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.
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The Baroness (by Hannah Rothschild)
The 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.
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Tenors of our Time
Each 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.
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