Favorites
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Levinson, Josh
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Chauncey Street
| Review Date: | 06-17-2012 |
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| Category | Bebop |
| Label | Josh Levinson Sextet |
| Producer | Levinson, Josh |
| Instrumental | Trumpet |
| Favorite Release Date | 05-13-2012 |
O's Notes: Josh (t, flugelhorn) leads a swinging sextet through eleven original compositions. Kenny Shanker (ts, ss), and Noah Bless (tb) round out the brass with Jeb Patton (p), Brian Fowler (d) and Peter Brendler (b) making up the rhythm section. They waste no time creating an upbeat mood starting with the title track and establishing a groove that rolls through the entire set. Josh mixes funk, bop and calypso beats along the way while letting each of the musicians step into the forefront. They show a mellow side on "Rain" balancing a very fine set.
| Performance (4/5) |
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| Sound (4/5) |
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TytingvŚg Ensemble
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Let Go: Instrumentals
| Review Date: | 06-03-2012 |
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| Category | Ballads, Blues |
| Label | Ozella |
| Producer | TytingvŚg, Randi and others |
| Instrumental | Instrumental |
| Favorite Release Date | 05-13-2012 |
O's Notes: Randi has a delicate voice and sings beautifully sweet harmonies over eleven original tracks. This is a rerelease of her 2006 album with the same title. It resonates with us, as she is in sync with her band: Anders Aarum (p), Espen Leite (accordion), bassist Jens Fossum, Ola Kvernberg (violin) and Morten Michelsen (cl). There is also an instrumental album with the same songs featuring the TytingvŚg Ensemble. It allows the listener to focus fully on the beauty of the instruments. If Randi's voice doesn't resonate with you, choose the later. In either form, Let Go is a good album with a contemporary European jazz feel that pops.
| Performance (4/5) |
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| Sound (4/5) |
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Cowley, Neil
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Radio Silence
| Review Date: | 04-08-2012 |
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| Category | Fusion |
| Label | HIdeInside |
| Producer | Monks, Dominic |
| Instrumental | Piano |
| Favorite Release Date | 05-13-2012 |
O's Notes: The Neil Cowley Trio features Richard Sadler (b), Evan Jenkins (d) and leader Cowley on piano. The UK based trio plays an eclectic mix of contemporary jazz that spans a wide range of tastes written by Cowley except "A French Lesson" composed by the trio. We enjoyed the title track, "Gerald" and the syncopated "Stereoface". We Found the nearly two minute break in "Portal" to be somewhat disruptive but an interesting effect in Cowley's bag of tricks that did not diminish the overall positive impression.
| Performance (4/5) |
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| Sound (4/5) |
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Ousley, Jamie
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A Sea of Voices
| Review Date: | 04-01-2012 |
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| Category | Pop+Jazz |
| Label | Tie Records |
| Producer | Ousley, Jamie |
| Instrumental | Guitar |
| Favorite Release Date | 05-13-2012 |
O's Notes: Bassist Jamie Ousley leads a trio with Joe Davidian (p) and drummer Austin McMahon. The program is a collection of ten water-inspired contemporary jazz tunes. Ousley allows each of the team space to shine: McMahon on "How Deep Is The Ocean" and Davidian with a strong performance throughout the set. Jamie provides the glue that holds the team together providing a spark with his anchoring bass lines and melodic solos. There is a good balance of pace as well and we enjoyed both fast and slow tunes particularly "With You" and "Alfonsina y el Mar" featuring Gabriel Saientz on piano.
| Performance (4/5) |
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| Sound (3/5) |
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Maret, GrŽgoire
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GrŽgoire Maret
| Review Date: | 04-01-2012 |
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| Category | Bebop |
| Label | eOne |
| Producer | Maret, GrŽgoire and others |
| Instrumental | Harmonica |
| Favorite Release Date | 05-13-2012 |
O's Notes: GrŽgoire Maret is a young jazz musician that plays the harmonica cast in a fresh new light. The sweet sounds that we hear on this self-titled release are light, swinging jazz that welcome the freshness of Spring. He has several collaborations that extended our enjoyment. " The Man I Love" features vocals by Cassandra Wilson. Take 6 stars Mark Kibble and Alvin Chea join Maret on "Prayer"; Marcus Miller (b) solos on "Crepuscule" and the legendary Toots Thielemans plays with GrŽgoire on "O Amor E O Meu Pais". This is a warm inviting set with many treasures.
