Browse some recent OA2 Reviews.
Juli Wood - Synkka Metsa
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record
With an overview that would make you think this set has an ECM vibe to it, this collection of jazz meeting Finnish folk songs is way more daddio than you might imagine. Inspired by Art Farmer's original expatriot forays, Wood and her pals travel into the dark forest ( that's what the title translates to) (unless you'd rather have her travel into the dark woods--something that matches her tone) for a quasi-impressionistic date that isn't really... read more
Josh Moshier & Mike Lebrun - Joy Not Jaded
by Adam Greenberg, All Music Guide
Young jazz tends to go one of two directions in common form -- it can hold strictly to playing through classic ideas as the players get the music of the greats ingrained into them, or it can spin wildly out of control as the players show off their instrumental mastery with little regard for a strong, original melody. The Chicago quartet led by Josh Moshier (on outstanding keys throughout the album) and Mike Lebrun (on sax) takes neither of the... read more
George Cotsirilos - Variations
by Brent Black, CriticalJazz.com
The jazz guitar trio is risky with the end result usually feast or famine with very little middle ground. The George Cotsirilos Trio seemingly owns this format with a warmth and intimacy seldom captured since the Blue Note days of Kenny Burrell. Swing, what is it? How do you know when you are in love? You feel swing, it comes from that sweet spot just past your soul. Bop oriented style guitarists of this ability are a rare breed. Bassist Robb... read more
Edgar Steinitz - Roots Unknown
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record
It's Jewish jazz, but is it? Drawing on the various modes from the various Jewish divisions, it's all cooked up into an interesting brew where even tunes from "Fiddler on the Roof" take on a new take and are more interesting than ethnic Broadway diversions. Not klez, this is a percolating set that jumps with the joy of living and could do more for the middle east than all the diplomacy combined. Wild... read more
Live Edge Trio with Steve Nelson - Closing Time
by George W Harris, Jazz Weekly
Sounds inspired by the Modern Jazz Quartet are delivered by the trio of Ben Markley/p, Seth Lewis/b, Andrew Wheelock/dr and guest Steve Nelson/vibes. The comparison to the MJQ is inevitable, but the sound hear has a bit more muscle as on a bopping take of Horace Silver's "Cape V erdean Blues" and the journey of Wheeler's "Hope" that builds up to a dramatic climax after featuring each teammate in the spotlight. Wheelock's brushes waft on the... read more
Craig Yaremko - CYO3
by Elliott Simon, The New York City Jazz Record
Sax players who can realize each of the distinctly gorgeous tones within the soprano, alto and tenor are tough to find. One horn, usually the soprano, suffers. If you add to this a weighty sound on flute and alto flute Craig Yaremko may be the only player left standing. This brawny sound is perfect for going toe to toe with Matt King�s meaty B3 and is the spirit of the diverse CYO3. With drummer Jonathan Peretz deftly navigating a variety of... read more
Gail Pettis - Here in the Moment
by Peggy Oliver, The Urban Music Scene
When a jazz singer revisits a standard that has been tackled time and again, it is quite the task to express their musical personality without having to alter the integrity of the original. The experienced jazz vocalist should set the tone for his or her self and their accompanists to create a colorful musical canvas for their audiences. As one who has successfully transformed standards into new gems during her short recording career, Gail... read more
Francesco Crosara - Circular Motion
by Claus Friede, KULTUR PORT (Germany)
Seattle-based Italian pianist and composer Francesco Crosara has selected ten of his compositions from the last 40 years to highlight the connection between the early works, with their simplicity and youthful appeal, and the later works, in which he expressed richer harmonic structures and possibilities.
The influences of his early mentors Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock and Dizzy Gillespie, as well as those of his birthplace Milan and the city... read more
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Francesco Crosara - Circular Motion
by Scott Yanow, LA Jazz Scene
Live Edge Trio with Steve Nelson - Closing Time
by Scott Yanow, The New York City Jazz Record
Francesco Crosara - Circular Motion
by Abe Beeson, KNKX (Seattle)
Anthony Stanco - Stanco's Time
by George W Harris, Jazz Weekly
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by Scott Yanow, The Syncopated Times
Jihee Heo - Flow
by George W Harris, Jazz Weekly
Jihee Heo - Flow
by Paul Rauch, All About Jazz
Jihee Heo - Flow
by Stephen Graham, Marlbank (UK)
Francesco Crosara - Circular Motion
by Claus Friede, KULTUR PORT (Germany)
Idit Shner & Mhondoro - Ngatibatanei / Let Us Unite!
by George W Harris, Jazz Weekly