Blossom Dearie’s style was so subtle that it was hard to describe and even harder to imitate. On her new album Digging Me, Digging You, Amy Cervini captures that elusive style. Thomas Cunniffe offers his thoughts on Dearie and Cervini in this CD review.
MoreIn a continuing effort to relieve the overflowing pile of discs for review, Thomas Cunniffe offers reviews of a tribute to David Baker by the Bloomington (IN) Busulli-Walarab Jazz Orchestra, a brilliant piano trio album led by Frank Kimbrough and an exquisite duet recording by vocalist Kendra Shank and pianist Geoff Keezer.
MoreThere is quite a difference between Ann Hampton Callaway’s cool, intimate studio recordings and her extroverted live performances. While no record company has yet recorded and released a disc of Callaway’s live jazz shows, two recent releases give a glimpse of Callaway’s live persona. Thomas Cunniffe reviews both albums.
MoreSouthern California may be the land of abundant sunshine and insufficient rain, but it is also the home of one of the most vibrant jazz scenes in the US. This month, Thomas Cunniffe reviews new albums by Denise Donatelli, Mark Christian Miller, Carol Welsman, and Mark Winkler which offer superb musicianship (by both the singers and the instrumentalists) and intriguing programs which include unusual song choices alongside the standards and originals.
MoreThis month’s new CDs include a solo set by Dena DeRose, a live quintet recording by Lewis Nash, an exploration of jazz and Brazilian music by Monday Michiru, an album of originals by the Uptown Vocal Jazz Quartet, a wide-open collection by the Hot Club of Detroit and a tribute to Duke Ellington and his saxophonists by an all-star band led by Mark Masters of the American Jazz Institute. Thomas Cunniffe and Amy Duncan provide the details.
MoreOur vocal CD reviews showcase three remarkable young singers who have mastered the jazz language and could either carry old traditions into the next generation or blaze innovative trails. Thomas Cunniffe discusses impressive new releases by Cyrile Aimée, Gregory Porter and Nicky Schrire.
MoreRecorded live at Cecil’s in West Orange, New Jersey, Big Fun(k) Live is the latest album by saxophonist Don Braden and Karl Latham. Ellen Johnson provides an enthusiastic review, hearing the group’s roots in the music of Weather Report, Miles Davis and Grover Washington, Jr.
MorePerhaps the best answer to the age-old question is that big bands never truly went away. Since their first appearance in the 1920s, big bands have been a constant presence on the jazz scene. In this month’s instrumental CD reviews, Thomas Cunniffe examines discs of established jazz orchestras led by Christine Jensen, Pete McGuinness and David White.
MoreEver since King Oliver and Jelly Roll Morton combined forces on a recording of “King Porter Stomp”, jazz musicians have played some of their most intimate performances in the duet format. The past few months have brought several new CDs in this venerable format. Thomas Cunniffe offers capsule reviews of the best new duet releases, including discs by Christian McBride, Ran Blake, Jane Bunnett, Eddie Daniels and Bill Kirchner.
MoreWe first introduced you to vocalist Cyrille Aimée last month on her guest appearance on Doug Munro’s “A Very Gypsy Christmas”. Her solo album, Live at Smalls finds her in a straight-ahead jazz setting, and Thomas Cunniffe reports that her scat singing is on the same high level as her stellar accompanists.
MoreAntonio Adolfo is not very well-known outside of Brazil—yet! His new CD, Chora Baião is a tribute to two well-known Brazilian composers, Guinga and Chico Buarque, and our Latin jazz expert Janine Santana feels that this album may be the one to bring Adolfo greater recognition.
MoreHere at the JHO offices, we have an abundance of CDs waiting for review. For the next two months, we are trying to get as many discs reviewed as possible–not only to relieve the overflowing pile of discs, but to qualify them for next month’s 2016 Summation. Thomas Cunniffe offers reviews of (fairly) recent discs by Richie Cole, Brandi Disterheft, Monika Herzig and Catherine Russell.
MoreJazz musicians pride themselves about being ahead of most audiences, but they must offer some sort of gateway to their music if they expect listeners to follow them on their musical journeys. In this month’s vocal CD reviews, Thomas Cunniffe explores new recordings by Kendra Shank and Sara Serpa that successfully strike the delicate balance between accessibility and progressiveness.
MoreJazz began as an ensemble music, and even after soloists took the spotlight, ensembles have played a major role in the music’s development. This month, Thomas Cunniffe explores how modern ensembles like the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, The Cookers and Coalition work together as bands in their latest recordings.
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