Michael Ullman
The interpretations of the covers in this beautifully realized tribute album will bring back memories of the originals in a way that is enlivening rather than nostalgic.
Saxophonist Brian Landrus seems to know what he’s got in this magnificent trio: Fred Hersch on piano, Drew Gress on bass, and Billy Hart on drums.
The Lynne Arriale trio offers the kind of mutual responsiveness that only the best small groups attain.
The songs by Milton Nascimento and Chico Buarque re-imagined on Rio Minas are not necessarily their best known, but all of the performances on this album eloquently testify to saxophonist Jean-Pierre Zanella’s love of Brazil and its people.
What strikes this listener most is the writing’s disjointedly distinctive — sometimes unfathomable — sounds and textures, as well as the music’s unpredictable flow.
Eschewing ostensible flash and musical sleight of hand, Without Deception is a treat for connoisseurs.
The recital of this remarkably self-aware singer was a series of highly literate and musically satisfying mini-dramas.
Overall, Light Blue is an impressive album: its ensembles simultaneously tight and graceful, its solos expressive.
These are two practiced masters at free improvisation. I am confident that many listeners will find them as intriguing and accomplished as I do.
Jazz Albums Review: The ‘Season’ of Newvelle Muri — Adventurous, Sure-Footed, and Strikingly Lyrical
The sound on these discs couldn’t be more clear or precise; the music is low-key, thoughtful, and resolutely melodious.
Classical Music Commentary: Boston’s Lost Opportunity — How the BSO Board Chose Charles Munch over Leonard Bernstein