REVIEW: Doyle Bramhall II, 'Rich Man,' Concord Records >>
Charles Mingus once said he didn't so much as play jazz but express the sounds of his life. Doyle Bramhall II has taken that as his credo. Thus, his first CD in 15 years, 'Rich Man' (Concord) is a perfect example. The multi-talented singer/songwriter/producer/arranger is back from extensive travels through Mali and Morocco and it's all within the grooves of this epic 13-track 70+ minutes.
REVIEW: Matt Parker Trio, 'Present Time,' BYNK Records >>
Leave it to Matt Parker to follow up his 2013 'Worlds Put Together' debut-which had his tenor sax augmented by bass, drums, piano, guitar and alto sax-with 'Present Time' (on his own BYNK Records), surrounded by only bass (Alan Hampton) and drums (Reggie Quinerly). It's a brave, bold move. No piano or guitar to fill in the chord changes? Parker also blows some soprano here as well as pounding a big gong.
REVIEW: The Stryker/Slagle Band Expanded, 'Routes,' Strikezone Records >>
Guitarist Dave Stryker and saxophonist Steve Slagle have been playing together since 1986. In 2003, they finally released their self-titled Stryker/Slagle Band debut and have stayed as a quartet ever since...until now. On 'Routes' (Strikezone Records), the quartet doubles to an octet awkwardly called The Stryker/Slagle Band Expanded on a travelogue of their favorite locales.
Clark Terry, Legendary Trumpeter and Jazz Maestro, Dies at 94 >>
Perhaps one of the most popular and influential jazz musicians of his generation, Clark Terry, has passed away. An advocate of jazz education and beyond, he was a mighty 94 years old.
In the Material World: Eric Dolphy's Handwritten Notes on Physics, Psychoacoustics and Other Real Modalities of Free Jazz >>
The enigmatic quality of Eric Dolphy supersedes the strange circumstances surrounding his death. A major proponent of non-Western thinking, particularly regarding America's reception to non-linear jazz forms, the actuality of sound dominated Dolphy's thinking as a student. Thanks to Joe Con, indeed, for putting this up from his archives.
Gunther Schuller Talks Charles Mingus' 'Epitaph' at Make Music New York's New Lecture Series >>
The mystifying precision it takes to master a craft is one often sought through various means. Experience warrants success, but it's not easily or swiftly obtained. And every now and then one needs a guide for the journey. Lucky for you, then, Make Music New York and Gunther Schuller have you covered.
