The sax man leads an organ trio with plenty of yummy organ playing but leaving the sax front and center. Giving a bunch of chestnuts a new fire down below and letting some originals shine as well this is tasty stuff with a progressive tip. This is a good bet whether organ or sax... read more
News flash: I do not usually care for covers of The Beatles. No way. No how. Not cutesy cover bands; not musicians who try to sound like them; not cover music. The Beatles were unique...sui generis...no toca white man!
And so, when I was approached to review Daria's new album, Strawberry Fields Forever, I was friendly, but not enthusiastic. In the first place, I don't do many music reviews. In the second place, did I mention that I don't... read more
Welcome Chicago trumpeter/composer Greg Duncan to the growing list of jazz artists. His compositional style, paired with his astounding playing will send Duncan toward the top of the list in a short time. Duncan studied at Washington State University and at the University of North Texas. He has toured with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, and is a regular performer at Chicago's Green Mill and Mercury Theater.
Duncan's quintet mixes thoughtful... read more
Vocalist Carrie Wicks has a dedicated stance on placing her original stamp on just about anything she sings, as most evident in "I'll Get Around to It," a nice, flossy blues statement, a Wicks/Nottingham original, by the way, a muse of '30s and '40s after-hours days and nights. Carrie Wicks is a true original in a tradition aptly portrayed by Billie Holiday, Blossom Dearie, Chris Conner, and Anita O'Day.
Her version of Elvis Costello's "Almost... read more
This is the sophomore album from Chicago pianist Tim Green, following quickly on the heels of the surprisingly successful Catching Yourself Gracefully. Here, he's joined again by his trio compatriots (bassist Jim Cox and drummer Phil Gratteau) as well as guitarist Brian Wilkie. Much of the same style is presented here as on the previous album, with carefully chosen works of modern jazz flowing somewhat effortlessly from the hands of the... read more
Gigging in and around Denver, Colorado, composer, arranger, pianist, band leader, side man and tutor, Ben Markley is a busy man. One of his projects has recently come to fruition. Following a first gig working alongside Ari Hoenig, Markley asked the New York-based drummer if he could arrange some of his compositions for big band. Hoenig liked the idea and, post lockdown, the finished article is Markley's new album Ari's Fun-House.
A little over... read more
Each Step is the debut recording by guitarist Nathan Borton. As his website accurately states, Borton draws heavily from the mid-western tradition of bebop and blues. His influences include Wes Montgomery, Grant Green and Kenny Burrell.
The album offers an enjoyable tour through the straight-ahead tradition. There are three standards early on: Cole Porter's "Just One of Those Things," Harry Warren's "The More I See You" and John Lewis'... read more
Silenciosa is a superb solo guitar recital by Joe Pass-Charlie Byrd devotee and Bay-Area veteran George Cotsirilos. Despite the title, this is not a Latin-oriented jazz recording. Mr. Cotsirilos basically very ably performs the Great American Songbook and a classical nylon string guitar. His performance is intelligent and bright with virtuosic flashes as would be thrown off by the aforementioned Pass. The ballads, "My Romance," "Just Friends,"... read more
This is just a small collection of the OA2 Records reviews. Click here to view all reviews or try to Search for your favorite CD title.
Francesco Crosara - Circular Motion
by Patrizia Marinelli, BackDigit Magazine (Italy)
Francesco Crosara - Circular Motion
by Hiroshi Ogawa, Jazz Life (Japan)
Francesco Crosara - Circular Motion
by Yves Dorison, Culture Jazz (France)
Francesco Crosara - Circular Motion
by Oscar Groomes, O's Place
Zach Rich - Solidarity
by George W Harris, Jazz Weekly
Ted Piltzecker - Vibes on a Breath
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect
Jason Keiser - Shaw's Groove
by Michael van Gee, Jazz'n'More (Switzerland)
Stephen Jones & Ben Haugland - Road to Nowhere
by Michael van Gee, Jazz'n'More (Switzerland)
Francesco Crosara - Circular Motion
by Anne Carlini, EXCLUSIVE MAGAZINE
Francesco Crosara - Circular Motion
by Music Editor, Udite Udite (Italy)