Browse some recent OA2 Reviews.
Dean Schmidt - I Know Nothing
by Paul Pelon IV, Audiophile Audition
And the award for the hippest song title of the year goes to? Dean Schmidt for Harry Whodeanie's Magic Impromptu Blues! An instant favorite of mine for 2007, Dean Schmidt's I Know Nothing, resembles solo efforts by Trey Anastasio and Herbie Hancock, yet takes on a bright feel of its own.
Written years ago and after collecting dust in his closet, Dean decided to release the 13 tracks heard here. Produced by Gary Gibson and influenced by too... read more
Rosana Eckert - Sailing Home
by Dr. Debra Jan Bibel, Amazon
5-STARS Texan vocalist Rosana Eckert has produced in this, her fourth album, a collection of personal, sweet, and amusing songs with diverse arrangements: New Orleans funk, bossa nova, sassy soul, romantic folk, Tex-Mex cumbia, and dreamy ballads. With one exception, she wrote the music and nearly all the lyrics, her husband and percussionist Gary Eckert and keyboardist Peter Eldridge contributing otherwise. The tune Waiting, with... read more
Gordon Lee and the Gleeful Big Band - Flying Dream
by George Fendel, Jazz Scene
Pianist/ composer/ arranger Gordon Lee has accomplished something many jazz fans would love to hear accomplished more often - a really good big band album. Compiling a big band, even if only for recording purposes, is a monumental task these days, and giving them charts that challenge and explore is even more of a coup. Lee has assembled a crack group of musicians to play his original charts, and the result is spectacular at times. Trumpets... read more
Florian Hoefner - Songs Without Words
by Staff, BR-Klassik, Bavarian Radio (Germany)
When a young European jazz musician gains ground in the USA it is for a reason. And in this case you will immediately hear the reason.
Pianist, Florian Hoefner, born 1982 in Nuremberg (also known as a member of the very successful German group Subtone) who has been living in New York City since 2008 does not only play the piano in a clear, concise and atmospherically dense way but also writes amazingly beautiful compositions. Both is... read more
Ben Markley Big Band With Ari Hoenig - Ari's Funhouse
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect
The composer, arranger and pianist Ben Markley brings along a large handful of musicians for this occasion, including the drum extraordinaire Ari Hoenig, and it results in 7 giant, boisterous and solo filled tunes.
"Birdless" starts the listen with bright brass alongside swift keys and Steve Kovalcheck's intricate guitar that makes an indelible impact, and "Lyric" follows with John Gunther's tenor sax illuminating the timeless jazz... read more
Hans Luchs - Time Never Pauses
by Gerald Siclovan, Gerald Siclovan
The superb young Chicago guitarist and composer Hans Luchs has recently released his first album, "Time Never Pauses". Luchs is a guitarist of considerable originality, and his unique performance style is echoed in the compositions he has written for this debut, which also includes pieces by Duke Ellington and Cole Porter.
Mr. Luchs has an original, wide-ranging and captivating compositional voice, and the album is interpreted by his band... read more
Charlie Porter - Hindsight
by Paul Rauch, All About Jazz
4-STARS Portland based trumpeter/composer Charlie Porter is back, and following the trend industry wide over the past year, has released a finely crafted collection of pieces attached to a social narrative. Hindsight examines how we act in hindsight dealing with the long term societal struggles of racism, corruption and inequality. While two of the pieces feature the lyrics of Majid Khaliq and Madelaina Piazza, Porter has managed to... read more
Danny Green - Altered Narratives
by Justin Cober-Lake, Dusted Magazine
If the opening of the Danny Green Trio's new album nods to Bill Evans and reflects the way that tradition carries a strong role in pianist Green's compositions and playing, the title Altered Narratives suggests that there's more going on here than just a new entry in the trad jazz storyline.
Any gamesmanship in the album comes across less as a commentary on narrative and more through Green's persistent playfulness. That opening track... read more
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