Browse some recent OA2 Reviews.
Daniel Barry - Walk All Ways
by John Henry, Audiophile Audition
Why does this CD title make me think of Mel Brooks? Unfortunately there's no notes on the jewel box about Daniel Barry and his fine arranging and conducting work with the Seattle Women's Jazz Orchestra, and there's nothing in the note booklet inside either. I suppose many seeing this album in the store would be quick to note the variety of instruments represented among the ten players, and that would give them an idea of the wonderful mix of... read more
Charlie Porter - Hindsight
by FILIPE FREITAS, Jazz Trail
Possessing a refined compositional style and immersive sound, trumpeter/composer Charlie Porter reflects on the present times through a mix of mainstream and neo-bop that deftly combines familiarity and surprise. Hindsight, Porter's third album as a leader, finds him navigating great textures and ambiances with a core quartet - featuring pianist Orrin Evans, bassist David Wong and drummer Kenneth Salters - that, more often than not, is expanded... read more
Laura Welland - Love Is Never Out Of Season
by Don Williamson, Jazz Review
Laura Welland seems to be one of those multi-talented people who can accomplish any task she tackles, including engineering, playing the trumpet and learning the bass from none other than John Clayton. Once Clayton found out that she could sing too -- but of course she could, and play piano too -- he worked with Welland to produce her first CD. Possibly, Welland has found her niche as a vocalist after her artistic search for self identification,... read more
Lynn Baker Quartet - Azure Intention
by John Frederick Moore, Jazziz
Saxophonist Lynn Baker has been a fixture in the Denver jazz scene for nearly 20 years, so don't beat yourself up if the name doesn't ring a bell. The work he's put in over that time has culminated in this largely solid recording of eight original tunes.
Whether on tenor or soprano, Baker's tone is light with just a hint of vibrato. He glides effortlessly through melodies, best exemplified on the ballad "Lament," one of the disc's strongest... 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
Stephen Martin - High Plains
by George W Harris, Jazz Weekly
Tenor saxist Stephen Martin brings a strong mid period John Coltrane to the table with his modal team of Peter Schlamb/vib-p, Ben Leifer/b, David Hawkins/dr and a couple cameo guests on this collection of mostly originals. Martin's tone is rich with a glorious vibrato, getting assertive on "Horizons" and riding over Schlamb's Tyneresque chords on the loping "The Void." Martin is relaxed on the lovely "Easy Living" and moody on the long shadowed... read more
Daniel Jamieson's Danjam Orchestra - Sudden Appearance
by George Fendel, Jazz Society of Oregon
Here's a New York-based big band led by Toronto-born Jamieson. Most of the album consists of his original writing for this ensemble, and it is varied in tempo, mood and style. I liked the linear feeling of "Song for Anna" and the "rush" of "Sudden Appearance." The originals are surrounded by the opener, a very dissonant "Alone Together," and the closer, a richly harmonic version of... read more
Michael Kocour - Wherever You Go, There You Are
by Rotcod Zzaj, Improvijazzation Nation
I can tell you, after listening to only the first 8 bars (or so) of Michael's marvelous piano playing - he's one of the best talents on the scene today! I absolutely loved his Rhodes work on "Pensativa", and have no doubt you will as well. His style is "all natural", with no pretense or high-powered electrical gimmickry, and that in itself makes his artistry something hard to find these days. Michael's rendition of "Freedom Jazz Dance" is... read more
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