Browse some recent OA2 Reviews.
Debbie Poryes - Loving Hank
by Pierre Giroux, Audiophile Audition
The relationship between pianists Debbie Poryes and Hank Jones would appear to be somewhat tenuous. But that did not stop the San Francisco based pianist from offering a tribute to the late, great, lyrical and impeccable master of the keyboard, under the album title Loving Hank.
Apart from a period in the 1980s, when Poryes made The Netherlands her home base while she taught and played in that country along with several other European venues,... read more
Matt Olson - Open Spaces
by Michael van Gee, Jazz 'N' More (Switzerland)
4-STARS Matt Olson is a professor of saxophone and director of jazz studies at Furman University in South Carolina. His band, with guitarist Matt Dingledine, bassist Shannon Hoover and drummer Justin Watt, comes from Greenville and Adib Young is one of his highly talented students, who is making his debut on "Open Spaces". The ten compositions are a real eye-catcher, as they demonstrate the band's versatility in a very varied and... read more
Florian Hoefner - Songs Without Words
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record
New York based German piano man loves to improvise and he knows how to pick a crew that knows how to follow. He never takes off into the cosmos and has a solid feel for what he does that has been building him a well deserved international reputation making him a real go to guy for insiders. With this being a friendly, accessible work, the word is likely to spread to the street now as well. Well conceived modern stuff that sets a high water... read more
Ben Markley Big Band - Clockwise: The Music of Cedar Walton
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record
Walton is one of those key jazzbos that's coming closer and closer to being forgotten every day so it's extra props we toss to bandleader Markey for making this a big band date rather than a solo piano tribute. Putting back all the joyous swing that was in these tunes originally, this isn't so much a journey through the past as it is an exploration into parts unknown. With the kind of boldness that makes you stand up and cheer, I'll bet you... read more
Ben Morris - Pocket Guides
by Jack Bowers, All About Jazz
4-STARS On Pocket Guides, his debut recording as foreman, Denver-based pianist Ben Morris leads a one-dozen strong quasi-big band with rather unusual instrumentation—two horns, two woodwinds, two violins, mandolin, cello, melodica and rhythm—through eight of his engaging compositions, most of which touch on his Norwegian heritage. To his credit, Morris makes splendid use of every tool in his kit, writing with each of them in mind and... read more
Charlie Apicella & Iron City meet The Griots Speak - Destiny Calling
by Ed Sapiega, Jazz Views (UK)
Traditionally, the griot is the human repository of remembered oral history and traditions regarding West African culture. The griot is a historian, storyteller, praise singer, poet, and/or musician. When the griot speaks, it is from a lifetime of communicating about the ancestors. Here it is about communicating traditions and spurring others to play more creative music.
Charlie Apicella & Iron City is a hard-bop guitar trio. The Griots Speak... read more
Kelley Johnson - Something Good
by Jonathan Widran, JW Vibe
To paraphrase the title from a whimsical British Invasion hit co-written by Carole King, Seattle based vocal interpreter and sassy scatter extraordinaire Kelley Johnson is truly into Something Good on her fifth album - which also marks the start of her third decade as a recording artist.
More than simply an exquisitely arranged set of slightly lesser known gems composed and/or popularized by Stephen Sondheim, Richard Rodgers, The... read more
Jihee Heo - Are You Ready?
by Michael J. West, Downbeat
3 1/2 STARS Pianist Jihee Heo has a beautiful legato touch that builds on sturdy lyricism and lustrous harmonies—but her work also is filled with delicate, detailed figures. That alone would be enough to carry a recording, but the fine Are You Ready? reinforces it with two more extraordinary elements. First, her compositional voice—she wrote all eight of the album's tracks. And second, a remarkably tight and interactive trio with... read more
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