Browse some recent OA2 Reviews.
Russell Kranes / Alex Levine / Sam Weber / Jay Sawyer - Anchor Points
by Jack Bowers, All About Jazz
4-STARS No leader is given on Anchor Points, simply the names of the four musicians who comprise the group on its debut recording. This is truly a co-op enterprise by jazz artists who have been performing together for a number of years in and around the New York City area.
The studio session is divided roughly in half, with four numbers by a quartet balancing four others by a drummerless trio, a nod to similar groups once led... read more
Will Goble - Consider the Blues
by Robert D. Rusch, Cadence
CONSIDER THE BLUES is a solid blues bop session recorded 9/5&6/15. The 11 tracks [61:56] are a mixture of 7 originals and standards but what got my attention was the opening track, track she appears on. Woodside is a new name to me, but judging from her brief appearance she seems "Another Man Done," sung by Tabreeca Woodside. This is the only impressive. Tardy is impressive, as expected, this session is well worth your... read more
Adam Shulman - Here/There
by Tree Palmedo, Jazz Society of Oregon
Pianist Adam Shulman's group is another collection of accomplished straight-ahead players, in this case all based in San Francisco. The music here is reminiscent of Joe Henderson's 1960s repertoire, with ample Elvin Jones-esque swing and Afro- Cuban grooves. On the opener, "Grant and Green," which is named after a beloved watering hole near Coit Tower, an angular melody makes way for a burning improvisation from trumpeter Mike Olmos. Tenorman... read more
George Cotsirilos Quartet - Refuge
by Dr. Debra Jan Bibel, Amazon
Music can heal, music can bring solace. (Indeed, the Chinese seal ideograms for music and medicine are nearly identical.) Thus, in these stressful times of pandemic, climate-related environmental threats, socio-political challenges, and now war, we can find comfort in hearing and, in this instance for the George Cotsirilos Quartet, in making music. Refuge, performed by pianist Keith Saunders, bassist Robb Fisher, drummer Ron Marabuto, and the... read more
Afro Bop Alliance - Revelation
by Jack Bowers, All About Jazz
Revelation is the sixth recording by drummer Joe McCarthy's sixteen-year-old Afro Bop Alliance (the last three by the big band after three by smaller incarnations), the first that has come this way for review. As McCarthy's stalwart ensemble is based in the Washington, D.C. area, the supposition is that a number of topnotch armed services musicians may be onboard, an inference that proves correct with names such as Luis Hernandez, Vince... read more
Idit Shner - Tuesday's Blues
by George Fendel, Jazzscene, October 2008
Born and raised in Israel, Idit Shner earned her Doctoral degree at North Texas State and in 2005, somehow landed at the University of Oregon as instructor of saxophone performance. on this album, she leads a quartet on mostly original tunes. I especially liked her title tune, a streaky, challenging, "Tuesday's Blues," and an inspired performance of Jimmy Rowles' "The Peacocks." Much of the remaining program has a Jewish-Israeli flavor, but be... read more
Marco de Carvalho - For The Moment
by Adam Greenburg, All Music Guide
For the Moment is an album of light Brazilian jazz from Rio-based composer/guitarist Marco de Carvalho, now living in Seattle. The mood is thoroughly laid-back (as the third track will confirm), with de Carvalho's light guitar work dominating the proceedings, and some soft drumming from Tad Britton, and Daniel de Carvalho laying the rhythm at the base of the compositions. The backing musicians are a collection of Seattle-ites and Brazilians,... read more
The Here & Now - Break of Day
by Brian S. Lunde, Jazz Review
The Here & Now quintet's debut record, Break of Day, is a fine introduction to some young jazz musicians who began to build their sound during their high school years together in Seattle. But being serious musicians, they didn't settle for the jazz equivalent of a high school garage band; they first went their separate ways to pursue collegiate jazz education at some of the finest music schools in the country including The New School, Julliard,... read more
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