Steve Provizer
The Window contains an inspired pairing — between singer Cécile McLorin Salvant and pianist-organist Sullivan Fortner.
Trumpeter Arturo Sandoval is a big personality and in this performance he was almost as much raconteur, comedian and ringmaster as musician.
Although his choice of material doesn’t always work for me, for my money, Kurt Elling is the most important jazz vocalist of the last twenty years.
The author of this Sonny Rollins bio promises us “A Journey into his World of Spirituality” — and that sets high expectations.
Vocalist Allegra Levy is at her strongest when purveying certain specific moods — melancholy, playful, even lightly ironic.
Lionel Loueke is a unique voice, who has managed to bring a number of influences together without weakening or undermining any of them.
At this time in the Boston jazz scene, there are no ongoing spaces for big bands and, predictably, the number of such ensembles has shrunk.
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.
Jazz Commentary: Response to “The Jazz Bubble”
Arts Fuse Jazz critic Steve Provizer responds to Dale Chapman’s book The Jazz Bubble: Neoclassical Jazz in a Neoliberal Culture.
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