Dem Bones
April 2005 By Harvey Siders
Exploration
Capri Records
The recording sabbatical for Grachan Moncur III has ended. For the first time since 1977 the trombonist/composer has released an album as a leader: Exploration (Capri). Not that Moncur abandoned the jazz scene; for more than two decades he focused on teaching...
April 2005 By Harvey Siders
The Spirits Up Above
HighNote Records
The Spirits Up Above (HighNote) is Steve Turre's all-star trek to the shrine of Rahsaan Roland Kirk. A collection of eight Kirk originals and one by trombonist Turre, who worshipped Kirk from his early teens, growing up to study and play with his mentor...
April 2005 By Harvey Siders
Meant to Be
Criss Cross Jazz
Meant to Be (Criss Cross) shows Steve Davis to be a double threat-as a composer and as a trombonist. All the tracks are originals, revealing Davis' inventive ear for harmony and passion for melody. His postbop phrasing and smooth tone result in an updated...
April 2005 By Harvey Siders
Inspiration
Wide Hive
When trombonist Phil Ranelin defected from Detroit's Motown studio sessions to the West Coast in the '70s, he added new influences and mentors culminating in the release of Inspiration (Wide Hive). Since those who advanced his career include the likes of...
April 2005 By Harvey Siders
In the Pocket
Capri Records
Trombonist John Hines claims "in the pocket" means "that moment in music where everything lines up, fits neatly into place." Ask trumpeter/flugelhornist Hugh Ragin, he'll claim it's the "spirituality of the molecules." But then, he's collaborated with Sun...
April 2005 By Harvey Siders
With Malice Toward None: The Music of Tom McIntosh
IPO
Tom McIntosh doesn't take one friggin' solo on his latest release, With Malice Toward None (IPO). Perhaps the explanation lies in the CD's subtitle: The Music of Tom McIntosh. At the moment, the manuscript pen is what he plays best. Admittedly his playing...
April 2005 By Harvey Siders
Slammin' the Infinite
French jazz critic Hugues Panassie often quoted Charlie Parker's observation "bop is no love-child of jazz; it is something entirely separate and apart." That neatly segues to Steve Swell's latest creation, Slammin' the Infinite (Cadence). Classification...
April 2005 By Harvey Siders
New Standards
MeisteroMusic
Nothing unusual about a musician taking the plunge and moving to Europe to enhance his career-especially Ed Neumeister, premier plungermeister, who honed his growling in the best possible context: the Ellington band under Duke's son Mercer (1981-1996). His...
April 2005 By Harvey Siders
Eric Felton Meets the Dek-Tette
V.S.O.P.
Is Eric Felten a trombonist who sings or a singer who plays trombone? His chops are equally versatile, as he demonstrates on his latest release, Eric Felten Meets The Dek-Tette (VSOP), but not equally distributed over the 13 standards taken from the Great...
April 2005 By Harvey Siders
Sound the Alarm
DT 8:18
Shout bands, mainly from the Southeast, have been dominating the gospel circuit since the late '20s. Their instrumentation is usually comprised of very low horns plus trap set, and one or more members sing. There's no set pattern to the music, and the only...
