Tord Gustavsen Trio, Opening Review Tord Gustavsen Trio has released their ECM Records album Opening. The trio presents a set of Gustavsen originals along with Scandinavian folk melodies. The lineup is Gustavsen on piano, drummer Jarle Vespestad, and for the first time on a Gustavsen album, bassist Steinar Raknes. The album has a definite ECM aesthetic as … Read more
Michael Feinberg, Blues Variant Review Michael Feinberg has compiled a solid ensemble to bring us his latest project titled Blues Variant. The album is his Criss Cross record label debut as a leader. Feinberg is joined by tenor saxophonist and flutist Noah Preminger, pianist Leo Genovese, and drummer Nasheet Waits. In addition, saxophonist David Liebman makes … Read more
Massimo Colombo, Electric Parker Review Massimo Colombo is releasing an exciting set of music called Electric Parker. The Italian pianist teams up with drummer Peter Erskine and bassist Chuck Berghofer to bring ten compositions from the Charlie Parker songbook. Colombo performs on the Fender Rhodes, hence the electric identification in the title. “Scrapple from the Apple” … Read more
Randal Clark, Stargazer Review Randal Clark is a Salt Lake City-based alto saxophonist in demand as both a classical and jazz performer and has appeared at numerous jazz festivals and concerts around the country as a featured performer, as well as releasing albums as a leader. His latest album as a leader is called Stargazer, on … Read more
Noah Preminger, Sky Continuous Review Noah Preminger has released his twelfth and third album as a leader for the Criss Cross jazz label called Sky Continuous. Preminger presents a trio with bassist Kim Cass and drummer Bill Stewart with Sky Continuous. Preminger leads the chordless trio on tenor saxophone through nine selections; eight are his original … Read more
Tim Fitzgerald, Tim Fitzgerald’s Full House Review Guitarist Tim Fitzgerald founded Tim Fitzgerald’s Full House in 2015 to lead a septet with a repertory mission to explore, perform, and record the music of Wes Montgomery. The ensemble is filled with members from the Windy City straight-ahead jazz community, a vibrant scene that tenor saxophonist Von Freeman … Read more
Kenny Shanker, Vortex Review Kenny Shanker has released his latest jazz album featuring an exciting collection of original compositions and jazz standards performed by a responsive ensemble for his third release on Wise Cat Records called Vortex. Shanker is an award-winning composer, saxophonist, pianist, vocalist, and label owner. On Posi-Tone Records, he put out his first … Read more
Alex Sipiagin, Ascent to the Blues Review Alex Sipiagin is releasing his second album on the Posi-Tone Records label called, Ascent to the Blues. The eleven tracks pair Sipiagin’s trumpet with Diego Rivera on tenor saxophone, Art Hirahara on piano, Boris Kozlov on bass, and Rudy Royston on drums and percussion, the Posi-Tone Records house band … Read more
Staccatofy Review Update Hello music lovers! We are posting this note to let our readers know that we are changing our review format. We began our review structure in October of 2017; we wrote a short bio and had a few comments in the Positives section (and sometimes Negative section), followed by the Bottom … Read more
Fergus McCreadie, Forest Floor Review Fergus McCreadie is one of Scotland’s most exciting young talents. McCreadie won the prestigious Peter Whittingham Jazz Award with his trio in 2016, has twice won the Young Scottish Jazz Musician of the year under-17s Prize and is the winner of the Guy Jones Prize, the Joe Temperley Prize from … Read more