Browse some recent OA2 Reviews.
Afro Bop Alliance - Una Más
by John Barron, TheJazzWord.com
The Afro Bop Alliance, based in Annapolis MD, is an energetic big band specializing in contemporary approaches to the rhythms of Latin American music with a strong jazz emphasis. Led by drummer Joe McCarthy, the group won a Latin Grammy Award in 2008 for their release with Vibraphonist Dave Samuels and the Caribbean Jazz Project. The alliance is poised to garner further acclaim with its latest project, UNA M�S, a well-conceived session... read more
Tim Green & Trio Cambia - Change Of Seasons
by Derrick Bang, The Davis Enterprise
Trio Cambia's Change of Seasons is an intriguing critter for a couple of reasons. First, it's not quite a holiday album, as its title suggests, these eight tracks include holiday tunes, seasonal church hymns and even a few pop standards. Second, front man Tim Green and his two sideman - Mark Maegdilin and Jake Vinsel - alternate instruments and therefore deliver several variations of their "trio" sound.
Green trades off between piano... read more
Danny Green Trio Plus Strings - One Day It Will
by Doug Ramsey, Rifftides
Pianist Green's earlier album Altered Narratives put strings with his trio on three tracks. The melding with a string quartet worked nicely. One Day It Will carries the idea to album length, with excellent arrangements by Green and smooth interaction among a string quartet and the trio featuring bassist Justin Grinnell and drummer Julien Cantelm. Among many highlights: the evocative languor of Green's "October Ballad," Cantelm's accents... read more
Daria - Strawberry Fields Forever
by Chris Spector, Midwest Review
After a decade with Dan Hicks, Daria has reinvented herself as a gal. Mixing jazz with southern hemisphere jazz/world and a bunch of swing, Daria comes across as our kind of gal. Do the Beatles need another set of reinvention? Only if it's as smart and sassy as this set. Putting you on the edge of your seat to expect the unexpected, the most hardened Beatles purist will find nothing to carp about here. A winner throughout by a pro who cares... read more
Francesco Crosara - Circular Motion
by George W Harris, Jazz Weekly
Playing piano and synthesizer, Francesco Crosara mixes and matches trios with bassists Clipper Anderson/Farko Dosumov and Osama Afifi with drummers Mark Ivester/D'Vonne Lewis and Xavier Lecouturier respectively on this album of originals.
On keyboards, there's a Stevie Wonder meets Weather Report feel to "One Day Honey One Day Onions" and the deep dig of the soulful "Sarava" with some tasty electronic bass by Dosumov on "Julia's Tango". Some... read more
Debbie Poryes - Loving Hank
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record
Since there's nothing here written by Hank Jones, and a bunch of the songs here aren't associated with Jones, this is Poryes doing her tribute to his sound and vibe. Showing the love, this is a fine reminder of the cat that was so good but seemed to spend much of his career making others look good. A winning set that is a sure bet for sitting down jazz fans, this is a mighty fine piano trio work... read more
Libby York - DreamLand
by Jeff Cebulski, Chicago Jazz
Libby York has developed a gradually progressive following over a nearly 25-year career, with five albums spaced through that time, each with an impressive supporting cast that demonstrates her popularity among seasoned players. Among them are Bobby Schiff, Warren Vache, Renee Rosnes, Frank Wess, Russell Malone, Howard Alden, and Billy Drummond. Real jazz fans will recognize the quality of association.
What's the appeal? While York is among... read more
Will Goble - Consider the Blues
by Lance Liddle, BeBop Spoken Here (UK)
Another Man Done Gone, a traditional chain gang song features guest singer Tabreeca Woodside who brings a Nina Simone feel to this protest song. A voice ideally suited to the material. Tardy shows on tenor. However, it's on Johnson's Magic Umbrella where Tardy shows that he's anything but tardy when it comes to dealing out a mind-blowing tenor solo! I found myself standing up and clapping even though I was the only one in the room! I don't even... read more
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