Browse some recent OA2 Reviews.
Jeff Baker - Phrases
by Editor, Amazon
Phrases is a Real Treasure, 5-Stars Let me just say for the record, I am not a big fan of jazz vocal music. Of course there are notable exceptions, mostly consisting of those whose heyday was some time ago (see: Nina, Frank, Nat). But last week, I saw this singer I'd never heard of, Jeff Baker, show up in the new release jazz panel on Apple Music. Seeing dependable Brian Blade attached to the project, I decided to give it a whirl. Man,... read more
Gordon Lee with the Mel Brown Septet - Tuesday Night
by Travis Rogers, Jr., Music Life & Times
Finally, Gordon Lee with the Mel Brown Septet has released the long-awaited sequel to "Gordon Blues," the 1989 sextet recording of the group who won Hennessy Jazz Search competition. In the end, 25 years was not too long to wait for such a splendid recording.
For well 15 years, Portland's Jazz audience has enjoyed Mel Brown's Septet every Tuesday night at the famed Jimmy Mak's Jazz club. With good food and a musicologist bartender, Jimmy... read more
Electric Squeezebox Orchestra - Cheap Rent
by Rotcod Zzaj, Improvijazzation Nation
Some of the most joy-filled trumpet-led jazz you've ever heard on this August 2015 release - Erik's trumpet work is astounding and lively all the way through, and the cast of characters he has with him is far too large to itemize here. On songs like the total-groove 6:40 "Bolenge Shuffle", you'll find your feet wanting to "do the jazz dance"! Erik's horn on the mellow opener, "ESP", definitely has shades of Miles, and will keep your ears glued... read more
Ben Paterson - Breathing Space
by Paul Abella, Chicago Jazz
Pianist Ben Paterson might be relatively new to Chicago's jazz scene (he arrived in 2004), but he hasn't wasted any time getting noticed by many of the people in the know around the town. He's played with Chicago's cream of the crop, from blues man Dave Specter, to singer Elaine Dame, to avant-garde cats like Ernest Dawkins. This kid has made his way around the town, so it's about time that he put out a CD.
At first glance, Paterson's debut... read more
Shawn Maxwell - New Tomorrow
by Robert Rodi, New City Music
Another local bandleader, Shawn Maxwell, is back with a new album and a new, smaller outfit. "Shawn Maxwell's New Tomorrow" doesn't have any trouble establishing an identity apart from 2014's ten-member "Shawn Maxwell's Alliance;" where the earlier album was more of a richly textured ensemble outing, here we've got a stripped-down program designed to show off the chops of its powerhouse players.
"Embraceable Excuses" is a bold, jazz-funk... read more
George Cotsirilos - Variations
by Jason Bivins, Cadence
This is quietly accomplished, mainstream guitar stuff. With solid and slightly understated rhythm work, Cotsirilos� buoyant playing and generally sunny lyricism generally shine. After the brisk, at times dense work of the opener, the slightly lazy �I Know You Know� brims with some fine post-Wes octaves and hints at the melody for �Blame It On My Youth.� At times Cotsirilos has just the slightest trouble on his double-time runs but in general his... read more
Juli Wood - Synkka Metsa
by Rotcod Zzaj, Improvijazzation
Though this is my first listen to Juli's splendid sax work, it's easy to tell by the first 8 notes that she's a master at making those reeds sing... , and with her excellent cohorts (Alejandro Urzagaste - guitar; Clark Sommers - bass and Mike Schlick - drums), she's put together an album that will be on your playlists for a long time to come! Her sound is lush and full of life's breath, especially on tunes like "Taivas on Sininen ja... read more
Mark Buselli - Untold Stories
by DJ Kendo, Jazzploration!
In a word: pleasant!
Don't be fooled by the artwork - it isn't professor jazz and it's not boring straight-ahead, either. Very good players tackle very good, positive music. The opening title track has appealing melody and solos. Pianist Steve Allee's "Slider" could be right off of a 1965 Lee Morgan album. There's nothing wrong with that when it's done well, and it is. Buselli's take on Ellington's "Angelica" winds up being the... read more
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