OA2 Records Reviews

Shawn Maxwell - Music in My Mind
by Filipe Freitas, Jazz Trail

Shawn Maxwell's New Tomorrow returns two years after the release of their eponymous album on OA2 Records. The new CD, Music in My Mind, features ten electric originals performed by the original septet - Maxwell on alto sax, clarinet and flute; trumpeters Victor Garcia, Chad McCullough and Corey Wilkes; keyboardist Matt Nelson; bassist Junius Paul; and drummer Phil Beale - plus a few new additions that envision diversification through their... read more

Shawn Maxwell - New Tomorrow
by Dave Rogers, WTJU - Richmond

Shawn Maxwell (alto sax, flute) began his recording career in 2004 and since that time has fronted a variety of formats from large to small groups. For this disc, it's basically a quintet with rotating trumpeters: Victor Garcia, Chad McCullough, and Corey Wilkes. The other players are Matt Nelson (keys), Junius Paul (bass) and Phil Beale (drums). On this date, he has sought a balance between strict composition and improvisation, the goal being... read more

Jay Lawrence - Thermal Strut
by Dr. Judith Schlesinger, All About Jazz

Drummer Jay Lawrence has a long and serious resume which includes teaching, composing, arranging, and working with everyone from Sammy Davis and Cher to Phil Woods and James Moody. While he's been on more than ninety recordings, this is his first as a leader -- and it's a corker.

This is partly because Lawrence couldn't have chosen better shipmates for his maiden voyage: Lynn Seaton, an always-in-demand bassist whose playing is unusually... read more

William Flynn - Seaside
by Aldert Toornstra, Dr. Jazz Magazine (Netherlands)

De in Kansas City werkzame gitarist William Flynn kreeg in januari 2017 via het fonds "Escape to Create " de gelegenheid zich een maandlang terug te trekken aan de kust van Florida. In een ontspannen omgeving kon hij zich even los maken van zijn docentschap aan de Wichita State University en van alle andere dagelijkse beslommeringen. Het doel van deze isolatie was om de aandacht volledig te richten op het creatieve proces en de al aanwezige... read more

Josh Moshier & Mike Lebrun - Joy Not Jaded
by Dan McClenaghan, All About Jazz

The Millennials are here.

Keyboardist Josh Moshier and saxophonist Michael Lebrun, a pair of Chicago-based jazz artists born in the 1980s, delve deeply into the jazz world with Joy Not Jaded. On this fine, high-energy set, the pair and their band craft a modern-leaning sound that remains true to the post-bop tradition.

The set of all original material?five tunes from Moshier's pen, six from Lebrun's?opens with Moshier's "King's Road,"... read more

Paul Tynan & Aaron Lington - Bicoastal Collective: Chapter Five
by j. poet, DownBeat Magazine

Players Forge "Bicoastal" Partnership

When the Bicoastal Collective launches into a tune, audience members soon get the sense that they're being pulled into a distinctive sonic space. The ensemble features five saxophones, four trumpets and four trombones, in addition to a rhythm section of guitar, bass, drums, and piano. At this year's San Jose Jazz Summer Fest, the band played some of the music from their new album, Bicoastal... read more

Stan Bock Ensemble - Night Grooves
by Zach Dundas, Willamette Week

First, you call your album Night Grooves, which--face it--carries hefty cheese potential. Not bad in and of itself, but the danger abides. Then you decide to write most of the songs yourself. And this is jazz we're dealing with a genre relentlessly (to its own detriment) enamored of standards. But why not throw in a few covers, too? And why not choose a Thelonius Monk tune, only one of the most iconic jazz pieces? And a compositIon by the... read more

Debbie Poryes - Loving Hank
by Robert Rusch, Cadence

DEBBIE PORYES presents LOVING HANK [OA2 22146] a trio [Peter Barshay-b, David Rokeach-drm] recording from 4/4&5/17 of 6 originals and 6 standards [62:02]. Poryes plays with a light touch and pretty much stays in major key. Her ode to Hank Jones, the title track, is perhaps reflective in thought but not in style. Erik Jekabson is on the title track only and joins the group on flugelhorn. This is a very together trio that acts seamlessly as one,... read more

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