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Reporter: Mike Greenblatt

'REVIEW: Vijay Iyer/Wadada Leo Smith, 'A Cosmic Rhythm With Each Stroke,' ECM Records

Genius sometimes has its limitations. In the case of brilliant pianist Vijay Iyer and his self-admitted hero, trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith, you have to turn your insides out to get behind what they're laying down on 'A Cosmic Rhythm With Each Stroke.' Usually, everything, and I mean everything, on this great German label headed by the esteemed Manfred Eicher, is worth worth listening to. Yet I had trouble with this one.
  • 'REVIEW: Leslie Pintchik, 'True North,' Pintch Hard Records

    Pianist/composer Leslie Pintchik is a unique talent who's been gigging between New York City and Boston with her trio for years. 'True North' (Pintch Hard Records), her seventh, has a samba feel in most of its six originals and four covers, in which she utilizes her expert sidemen in sextet, quartet and trio settings.
  • 'REVIEW: Matt Criscuolo, 'The Dialogue,' Jazzeria Records

    Sweet. Real sweet. Alto saxophonist/composer Matt Criscuolo's seventh release, 'The Dialogue' (Jazzeria Records) is a straight-up affair of blowing some John Coltrane ("Giant Steps"), Duke Ellington ("Prelude To A Kiss") and Wayne Shorter ("Fall") as well as five originals as played by guitarist Tony Purrone, drummer Will Calhoun and bassist Dave Anderson.
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