Browse some recent OA2 Reviews.
Charlie Apicella & Iron City meet The Griots Speak - Call to Action / Call to Prayer
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect
The composer and drummer Charlie Apicella brings along The Griot Speak and Iron City for these spiritual and cosmic tracks that illustrate a very worldly vision of jazz.
"Call to Action: An Invocation of Those Who Came Before" starts the listen with William Parker's mesmerizing bass and Juma Sultan's playful percussion for the soothing opener, and "Call to Action: With One's Elders" follows with a busier approach of flute via Daniel Carter... read more
Kelley Johnson - Something Good
by Ron Weinstock, In a Blue Mood
There is a warmth and a genial, sensual quality to Kelley Johnson's vocals. Her latest CD, "Something Good," has her wonderful interpretations of ten musical gems backed by a trio, including her husband, John Hansen on piano, Michael Glynn on bass, and Kendrick Scott on piano. Jay Thomas adds his horn (saxophone or trumpet to three songs.
She has such a delightful voice as she cleanly delivers the lyrics with flawless pitch, and fluid... read more
Rich Pellegrin - Three-Part Odyssey
by John Barron, The Jazz Word
The Rich Pellegrin Quintet explores improvisational freedom within the confines of compositional structures on Three-Part Odyssey, the ensemble's debut for OA2 Records. For this project, Pellegrin, a Seattle-based pianist, took special consideration in choosing band members who could meet specific technical demands while wandering confidently in a musical landscape of wide-open space. As the title suggests, the disc is divided into three... read more
Darden Purcell - Love's Got Me in a Lazy Mood
by Illiam Sebitz, 5 Finger Review
Darden Purcell's third studio release, Love's Got Me in a Lazy Mood, is a meticulously crafted set of mid-century jazz elegance. Purcell and her ensemble, led by the inventive arrangements of guitarist Shawn Purcell, bring a modern vitality to the Great American Songbook and beyond. Featuring standout contributions from vibraphone virtuoso Joe Locke, the album is a vibrant exploration of standards, Latin-tinged gems, and even an... read more
Paul Tynan & Aaron Lington - Bicoastal Collective: Chapter Three
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record
Here's a post bop set with it's own special sauce that's going to sneak up and catch you from behind. With a veneer that feels like a minimalist vibe, it's anything but. Turns out this is a sly, contemporary blowing date. Surrounding themselves with improvisers that don't normally play together but find the common ground to click here, this set of originals has what it takes to make you pay attention to something new and different without... read more
Extended - Harbinger
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record
In which we find the answer to the question of whether a 'Nawlins piano trio can show New York angularity without dipping into second line territory. Looks like the answer is yes. Without going all loft on us, this trio has great simpatico that keeps them on point instead of wandering off but they retain their sense of freedom as well. Finding a sweet spot and zeroing in on it as a crew, this bunch opens the ears nicely to new possibilities... read more
Afro Bop Alliance - Una Más
by John Barron, TheJazzWord.com
The Afro Bop Alliance, based in Annapolis MD, is an energetic big band specializing in contemporary approaches to the rhythms of Latin American music with a strong jazz emphasis. Led by drummer Joe McCarthy, the group won a Latin Grammy Award in 2008 for their release with Vibraphonist Dave Samuels and the Caribbean Jazz Project. The alliance is poised to garner further acclaim with its latest project, UNA M�S, a well-conceived session... read more
Afro Bop Alliance - Revelation
by Editor, Drumhead Magazine
On Revelation, we hear Grammy Award winning drummer/leader Joe McCarthy and colleagues reaching still higher levels of technical excellence and compositional adventure. From start to finish on Revelation is the Clave in all its elasticity and permutation, animated by a rhythm section of consummate clarity and finesse. McCarthy's lithe interplay with percussionist Roberto Quintero is beautifully captured by the mics and in... read more
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