CD reviews
On Antonio Sanchez
This review appears in the March 2013 issue of The New York City Jazz Record. — Antonio Sanchez New Life (CAM Jazz) By David R. Adler Antonio Sanchez, Pat Metheny’s drummer of choice, is steadily building his presence as a leader, and up to now he’s made clear his taste for two-saxophone lineups with no chordal instrument. His 2007 debut Migration
On Curtis Macdonald
This review appears in the February 2013 issue of The New York City Jazz Record. — Curtis Macdonald Twice Through the Wall (ind.) By David R. Adler Twice Through the Wall, the second offering from altoist Curtis Macdonald, is an EP with a running time of just 20 minutes. Far from hurrying through it, Macdonald paces himself, devoting the first
On Dave King
This review appears in the December 2012 issue of The New York City Jazz Record. — Dave King I’ve Been Ringing You (Sunnyside) By David R. Adler Trios loom large in drummer Dave King’s career: consider two of his best-known musical endeavors, the Bad Plus and Happy Apple. The piano, too, is central to King’s identity as a player and
Year of the Snake
This review appears in the October 2012 issue of The New York City Jazz Record. — Fly Year of the Snake (ECM) By David R. Adler From its eponymous Savoy debut in 2004 to its ECM breakthrough Sky & Country in 2009, the collaborative trio Fly has never lacked for spontaneity, compositional depth and fully rounded musicianship. But with Year
On Luis Perdomo
This review appears in the September 2012 issue of The New York City Jazz Record. — Luis Perdomo Universal Mind (RKM) By David R. Adler On Universal Mind, his fourth outing as a leader, pianist Luis Perdomo embraces a hard-swinging piano trio aesthetic, mixing it up with bassist Drew Gress and Jack DeJohnette. It’s a logical move: his 2006 disc
On Isaac Darche
This review appears in the August 2012 issue of The New York City Jazz Record. — Isaac Darche Boom-Bap!tism (BJU) By David R. Adler Guitarist Isaac Darche’s sophomore effort, the follow-up to his 2010 debut One More Shot, is a concise and compelling organ trio set with Sean Wayland on Hammond B-3 and Mark Ferber on drums. It’s steeped in
On Orrin Evans
This review appears in the August 2012 issue of The New York City Jazz Record. — Orrin Evans Flip the Script (Posi-Tone) By David R. Adler Pianist Orrin Evans is on a hot streak. For evidence look to his recent Posi-Tone releases Freedom, Faith In Action and Captain Black Big Band, not to mention his sideman turn with Ralph Bowen
On Matt Munisteri
This review appears in the July 2012 issue of The New York City Jazz Record. — Matt Munisteri Still Runnin’ Round in the Wilderness: The Lost Music of Willard Robison, Volume One (Old Cow) By David R. Adler Willard Robison is best known in jazz circles as the composer of the widely played standard “Old Folks.” Otherwise, he is sadly