Browse some recent OA2 Reviews.
Steve Williams & Jazz Nation - Jazz Nation
by Ed Kopp, Jazziz
It's almost impossible to sustain a touring big band in today's economy, so it's left to regional ensembles to keep the big band tradition alive. Most of these local groups don't play together frequently enough to develop a distinctive personality. But Steve Williams & Jazz Nation sound like a tight fraternity on this intelligent and accessible debut release. In fact, the D.C.-based ensemble compares favorably to better-known contemporary... read more
Extended - Harbinger
by George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly
Every era has bands and artists that create seismic shifts in style. The Bad Plus came around in the 1990s to formulate a new type of piano trio, going away from the "mow, blow and go" of standards to a more cohesive unit. Here's a trio that drinks deeply from these waters.
The trio of Oscar Rossignoli/p, Matt Booth/b and Brad Webb/dr converse back and forth on team composed pieces. A dash of Monkish bop gets elliptical on "When the Internet... read more
Ezra Weiss Big Band - We Limit Not the Truth of God
by Jerome Wilson, All About Jazz
4.5 STARS In 2015 Ezra Weiss began to compose a suite that he intended would be a cautiously optimistic message to his young children about the world they were living in and the challenges and promise they would face as they grew up. By the time this music was completed and recorded in December 2018, its mood and message had changed dramatically. This suite is now an impassioned cry by Weiss on how he and his children might cope with the... read more
LP and the Vinyl - Heard and Seen
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record
The Danny Green Trio adds a blues singer and takes on a new identity as they carouse through 100 years of pop music, including a few ringers of their own, on this set that rolls things around in their own seasoned flour to make it all modern and now, but in a cool way. With an easy rolling sound that's at home in an after work hang out, this is fun music for fun times when an adventure of an evening lies ahead.... read more
Ben Winkelman - Heartbeat
by Burak Sülünbaz, Dark Blue Notes (Istanbul)
Australian-born New York based pianist and composer Ben Winkelman's sixth album Heartbeat will be released on September 15th via OA2 Records. He is accompanied by very high quality musicians on Heartbeat. Israeli-born New York based fusion jazz guitarist Gilad Hekselman, whose lyrical playing style I love, is on guitar, New Zealand-born master bassist Matt Penman is on double bass and Obed Calvaire, known for his work with Jazz At Lincoln... read more
Ben Neuman - Introductions
by Dean Christesen, Richmond Jazz
Neuman slips a waltz arrangement of "Blame It On My Youth" into his debut record, but there's really nothing to blame on his young age. For a 21-year-old, Neuman comes off as an extremely mature player. The risks he takes are exciting both on paper and on the keys, and with time he'll learn to push the boundaries of this music even more. The record takes off briskly with Coltrane's "26-2," and right away, there is something different about... read more
Ben Markley Big Band With Ari Hoenig - Ari's Funhouse
by George W Harris, Jazz Weekly
Pianist/keyboardist Ben Markley leads a 17 piece big band through seven original pieces, all filled with impressive and creative section work and well delivered solos. The horns are big, bold and brassy as they punch through solos by Will Swindler/as and drummer Ari Hoenig on "Birdless" while the leader swings around Hoenig's shuffle on "Bert's Playground". The sections get kinetic as they carom around on "Arrows and Loops" while guitarist Steve... read more
Kelley Johnson - Something Good
by Editor, Jazz Chill
There are many vocalists with lovely voices who mine the Great American Songbook for material; however, very few have the depth and jazz chops of KELLEY JOHNSON. A vocalist and arranger, Johnson doesn't rehash familiar standards. She understands the music from the inside out, and with her spot-on phrasing and silky, rich timbre, she is certainly one of the finest purveyors of sophisticated lyrics on the scene today. Johnson's newest album,... read more
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Ben Winkelman - Heartbeat
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by Marco Cangiano, The New York City Jazz Record