OA2 Records Reviews

Hans Luchs - Time Never Pauses
by Gerald Siclovan, Gerald Siclovan

The superb young Chicago guitarist and composer Hans Luchs has recently released his first album, "Time Never Pauses". Luchs is a guitarist of considerable originality, and his unique performance style is echoed in the compositions he has written for this debut, which also includes pieces by Duke Ellington and Cole Porter.

Mr. Luchs has an original, wide-ranging and captivating compositional voice, and the album is interpreted by his band... read more

Jeff Baker - Monologue
by Karl Stober, JazzTrenzz

As the song states "A Nightingale Sang In Berkley Square", and should continue to do so, in every square, studio and venue, this young man can find an open mic. Jeff Baker just reincarnates standards, bringing a new appeal to them. This young talent is just a pure pleasure to experience, take the time to do so as well.

Mr. Baker's second project released by OA2 Records is a dynamic and refreshing recording that offers not only the vocal... read more

Nathan Eklund Group - Coin Flip
by Adam Greenberg, All Music Guide

As Nathan Eklund rolls through a set of original compositions with a strong band from the New York scene, the trumpeter's fourth album does a fine job of melding eras of jazz. While the compositions are all new, the playing suggests two time periods simultaneously ? the focus on technique of contemporary instrumental jazz, and the virtuosity and power of the classic jazz era. The result is something of a modern post-bop. Pieces like "Happy's... read more

Markus Rutz - Blueprints - Figure Two: New Designs
by Jeff Cebulski, Chicago Jazz Magazine

These days, sometimes people need something that entices them—no, forces them—to breathe deep and relax. Music is often one way to achieve that. In listening to trumpeter Markus Rutz's second Blueprints album, Figure Two: New Designs, I realized Rutz and his band have provided a pleasing soundtrack to my need to defuse and wind down from the anxiety of the times, but without giving up my jazz imagination.

Given that the bulk of this... read more

George Cotsirilos - Past Present
by George Fendel, Oregon Jazz Scene

I'm always a bit wary of guitar albums. Will a jazz guitarist really show up? Certainly one did in George Cotsirilos. He plays gimmick-free guitar, and his trio, with Robb Fisher on bass and Ron Marabuto on drums, cooks up several nicely conceived originals, moving with ease between swinging post bop to shimmering ballads. And always using space effectively, surely the sign of a veteran player. Three standards played wonderfully well included... read more

Paul Tynan & Aaron Lington - Bicoastal Collective: Chapter Five
by j. poet, DownBeat Magazine

Players Forge "Bicoastal" Partnership

When the Bicoastal Collective launches into a tune, audience members soon get the sense that they're being pulled into a distinctive sonic space. The ensemble features five saxophones, four trumpets and four trombones, in addition to a rhythm section of guitar, bass, drums, and piano. At this year's San Jose Jazz Summer Fest, the band played some of the music from their new album, Bicoastal... read more

Nadav Snir-Zelniker - Thinking Out Loud
by Adam Greenberg, All Music Guide

The Origin label and its sister label OA2 have a knack for unearthing jazz drummers and making them into bandleaders, utilizing the more rhythmically intense compositions that stem from a leader in that position as something of a hallmark. Nadav Snir-Zelniker, a drummer from the New York scene, combines here with pianist Ted Rosenthal and bassist Todd Coolman. While they tackle a series of standards and new compositions alike, the mix of... read more

Idit Shner - Live at the Jazz Station
by George W Harris, Jazz Weekly

Alto saxist Idit Sner displays a warm and rich tone as she leads her quartet of Torrey Newhart/p-org, Garrett Baxter/b and Ken Mastrogiovanni/dr through a swinging set at Oregon's The Jazz Station a couple years back.

The team is West Coast Cool as they Shner pops through "Yesterdays" to open things up, and Newhart's organ gets into a funky mood as the rhythm team shuffles through "Shake It Till You Hear It Sizzle". The trio shows its wares... read more

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