Jazz
While perhaps not more than the sum of its parts — that would be hard to imagine — the music on this tribute disc has its own vitality and stands well on its own.
Singer Allan Harris clearly loves Eddie Jefferson’s music and performs it with sincerity and chops.
The music and performances on this delightful trio album are blithe and profound, a combination that should charm many listeners.
For my taste, some of the songs on Kurt Elling’s The Questions simply aren’t challenging or interesting enough.
A listener’s response to this album would largely depend on whether or not the sound of Jeff Denson’s voice and the instrumentation strike a chord.
Sometimes Pharoah Sanders came back and played like a primordial saxophone deity, cutting into the rhythm section like an act of penetration.
The players are striking out into the unknown: you may find the journey inspiring and you may sometimes find yourself lost in the woods.
Composer/pianist Anthony Coleman’s meticulous crafting made every second worthwhile.
Mostly the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival ends up being about the multiplicity and infinite variety of cultures and traditions, including generic funk.
Arts Remembrance: Sonny Rollins, Jazz’s ‘Saxophone Colossus,’ Dies at 95