Browse some recent OA2 Reviews.
Kristen Strom - Moving Day: The Music of John Shifflett
by Dave Rogers, WTJU
Kristen Strom (soprano, alto, tenor sax, flute, clarinet) offers a beautiful tribute to her late friend and musical colleague by showcasing seven of his compositions and closing with a song of special significance for him. Scott Sorkin (guitar) and Ken Okada (bass) were also members of the quartet, which is completed by Jason Lewis (drums, percussion, vibes). There are several other musicians who guested as well: Dahveed Behroozi and John R.... read more
Daria - Strawberry Fields Forever
by Paul Freeman, Pop Culture Classics
Daria has reimagined Lennon/McCartney songs, giving them jazz twists and often utilizing bossa nova or Afro-Cuban rhythms. Approach the project with open minds and ears and the results will be rewarding. The tunes take on an entirely different feel. The vibrant, inventive vocalist gives "Can't Buy Me Love" a very cool sound. "The Fool On The Hill" is impeccably arranged. "Helter Skelter" really cooks. "She's Going Home" is a moving ballad, as is... read more
Charlie Porter - Hindsight
by Arturo Gomez, KUVO (Denver)
New Music Monday Trumpeter Charlie Porter exploded into the world of recorded jazz in 2018 with his initial CD that garnered rave reviews from listeners and writers alike. For his new recording, "Hindsight," Charlie composed all 9 entries displaying his versatility with different accompanists throughout this sizzling... read more
Chris Parker - Late in Lisbon
by Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
Pianist Chris Parker's Late In Lisbon, which consists of ten of his originals, gets off to a particularly strong start with a heated and tricky 36-bar calypso number, "Calypso Facto," which features fluent and spirited solos from Peter Epstein on soprano sax, Parker, and violinist Rob Thomas. While "The Chimney" is funky, "The Return" (which finds Epstein in top form on alto) is driving and has a catchy forward momentum stated by bassist Tony... read more
Kristen Strom - Moving Day: The Music of John Shifflett
by Rick Anderson, CD Hotlist
John Shifflett, who died prematurely in 2017, was one of the more in-demand bass players on the Bay Area jazz scene, very well-known to the cognoscenti there. What was less well-known was his tremendous gift as a composer. On this album, a shifting combo of his friends have gathered under the leadership of saxophonist/clarinetist/flutist Kristen Strom to pay tribute to Shifflett with a program of arrangements of his tunes, plus his setting of a... read more
Ben Winkelman Trio - Balance
by FILIPE FREITAS, JazzTrail
Melbourne-raised, New York-based pianist/composer Ben Winkelman, an adept of the trio format, odd meters, and Latin scents, teams up for the first time with bassist Matt Penman and drummer Obed Calvaire on his fifth album as a leader.
Balancing composition and improvisation, he crosses the lines between Latin, jazz, and classical, bestowing a distinct feel to each of the 10 tunes that compose the album, which appropriately got the title... read more
Idit Shner & Mhondoro - Heat Wave
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record
Growing out of jam sessions that happened because Eugene, Oregon has a small jazz scene and key players could hear each other over back yard fences, the result is a modern take on classic Oregon world jazz from 50 years ago. More in touch with these times than Oregon's original hippie sensibility, all that really matters is that there's some wild sax moves at the core of it and a good time is really had by all. A great dose of swing for... read more
Liam Sillery - Phenomenology
by Adam Greenberg, All Music Guide
For his fourth album, trumpeter Liam Sillery decided to explore a bit further afield than his previous sets had gone. Walking the line between traditional and free jazz, Phenomenology provides moments of tender melodies and flights of instrumental showcasing alike. The album opens with the title track, starting with nearly but not quite parallel lines between the horns that are at once reminiscent of Miles Davis' tonal work and Albert Ayler's... read more
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