The New York City Jazz Record
On Bobby Avey
This review appears in the November 2014 issue of The New York City Jazz Record. — Bobby Avey Authority Melts From Me (Whirlwind) By David R. Adler Inspired by a visit to Haiti in 2012, pianist Bobby Avey sought to develop his own musical response to the voudou drumming ensembles he studied. The result is Authority Melts From Me, featuring
On Steve Cardenas
This review appears in the October December 2014 issue of The New York City Jazz Record. — Steve Cardenas Melody in a Dream (Sunnyside) By David R. Adler Though his output as a leader is somewhat sparse, guitarist Steve Cardenas brings a vibrancy and a shrewd air of restraint to every outing — the same qualities he’s shown as a sideman with
On Noah Garabedian
This review appears in the September 2014 issue of The New York City Jazz Record. — Noah Garabedian Big Butter and the Eggmen (BJU) By David R. Adler In giving his debut album the title Big Butter and the Eggmen, bassist Noah Garabedian alludes to a 1926 classic (“Big Butter and Egg Man”) by Louis Armstrong’s Hot Five — the band that
Six Picks: September 2014
My monthly list of recommended CDs, as published in The New York City Jazz Record, September 2014. NOTE: This is the last Six Picks to appear in the paper. From here on I’ll be posting a monthly Top Ten in this space. Jorrit Dijkstra, Music for Reeds and Electronics: Oakland (Driff) Orrin Evans, Liberation Blues (Smoke Sessions) Eric Harland’s Voyager, Vipassana (GSI)
Six Picks: August 2014
My monthly list of recommended CDs, as published in The New York City Jazz Record, August 2014: Melissa Aldana & Crash Trio (Concord) Peter Brendler, Outside the Line (Posi-Tone) Wolfgang Muthspiel/Larry Grenadier/Brian Blade, Driftwood (ECM) Felix Peikli, Royal Flush (Rex) Andrew Rathbun Quartet, Numbers & Letters (SteepleChase) Tamarindo, Somos Agua (Clean Feed)
On Ingrid Laubrock
This review appears in the July 2014 issue of The New York City Jazz Record. — Ingrid Laubrock Octet Zürich Concert (Intakt) By David R. Adler This is an expanded ensemble effort from saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock, but the players from her Sleepthief trio (pianist Liam Noble, drummer Tom Rainey) are tucked away inside the octet. The date starts on a high
Six Picks: May 2014
My monthly list of recommended CDs, as published in The New York City Jazz Record, May 2014: The Bad Plus, The Rite of Spring (Sony Masterworks) Amy Cervini, Jazz Country (Anzic) Brian Charette, Square One (Posi-Tone) Kris Davis Trio, Waiting for You to Grow (Clean Feed) Rufus Reid, Quiet Pride: The Elizabeth Catlett Project (Motéma) Matt Slocum, Black Elk’s Dream (Chandra)
On Dan Weiss
This review appears in the April 2014 issue of The New York City Jazz Record. — Dan Weiss Fourteen (Pi) By David R. Adler Expanding on his trio output and his marvelous tabla-inspired albums for solo drum set, drummer Dan Weiss ventures into large-scale composition with the ambitious Fourteen. The disc’s seven tracks run together without pause, and though the ensemble