My monthly list of recommended CDs, as published in The New York City Jazz Record, April 2014: Diego Barber & Craig Taborn, Tales (Sunnyside) Digital Primitives, Lipsomuch (Hopscotch) Billy Hart Quartet, One Is the Other (ECM) Tom Rainey, Obbligato (Intakt) Pete Robbins, Pyramid (Hate Laugh) Ton Trio II, On and On (Singlespeed)
This review appears in the November 2013 issue of The New York City Jazz Record. — Kirk Knuffke Chorale (SteepleChase) By David R. Adler Cornet specialists aren’t in huge supply, but Kirk Knuffke stands out among this unique lot for his versatility and expressive depth. He’s explored Steve Lacy’s music with Ideal Bread and the Lennie Tristano legacy with Ted Brown.
From the April 2013 issue of The New York City Jazz Record: — It’s clear right away that pianist Fred Hersch’s “My Coma Dreams” is not a typical concert experience. Hersch premiered the “jazz theater” piece in New Jersey in 2011; the new production at Columbia University’s Miller Theatre (March 2) was altered but substantially similar. Narrator-vocalist Michael Winther portrayed both
My monthly list of recommended CDs, as published in The New York City Jazz Record, April 2012: Josh Ginsburg, Zembla Variations (BJU) Billy Hart, All Our Reasons (ECM) Brad Mehldau Trio, Ode (Nonesuch) Michael Musillami Trio + 4, Mettle (Playscape) Gregory Porter, Be Good (Motéma) Ben Wendel, Frame (Sunnyside)
This review appears in the May 2011 issue of The New York City Jazz Record. — Billy Hart, Sixty-Eight (SteepleChase) Brian Landrus Quartet, Traverse (BlueLand) Mads Vinding Trio, Open Minds (Storyville) By David R. Adler At 70, Billy Hart is an icon of modern jazz drumming, and his work is far from done. Fueled by a restless creativity, he’s taken