Chicago finally gets its due – in this great series that previously gave us the Philadelphia Experiment and Detroit Experiment projects! This time around, though, the lineup is even more top-shelf – filled with the kind of artists who really make us proud to be part of the Windy City – many of them players with slightly different styles and approaches, which is what makes the record such a great break from the usual! Pianist Greg Spero heads up the group, and the septet features work from Makaya McCraven on drums, Jeff Parker on guitar, Joel Ross on vibes, Marquis Hill on trumpet, Darryl Jones on bass, and Irvin Pierce on tenor – working together with a style that's nicely unified, and which has some of the soulful currents of other projects in this series from Ropeadope. That mode is maybe a bit different than you're used to hearing from McCraven, is a perfect showcase for the more soulful side of Parker's talents, and is right on the money for Marquis Hill – on tunes that include "The Chant", "Sizzle Reel", "Cloud Jam", "Always Be", "Double Take", "Maxwell Street", "For Too", "Straight Shooter", and "Tiny Beat". ~ Dusty Groove
On Full Circle, vocalist Gary Brumburgh revisits his early career as a musical theater artist with fresh jazz interpretations of songs from iconic shows like Cabaret, Company, Fiddler on the Roof, Oklahoma! and others. This is Brumburgh’s third album as a leader and follows Moonlight (2018) and Up Jumped Spring (2008). Brumburgh performed in musical theater for close to two decades. Having appeared on stages across the country in dozens of shows, Brumburgh approaches lyrics much like an actor prepares for a role. In musical theater, lyrics are often used to advance a story. They suggest a scene setting and a character with specific emotions and motivations. Brumburgh’s training as an actor allows him to imbue lyrics with a distinct persona and highly personalized interpretations. That is why The Jazz Owl says, “Brumburgh’s voice is warm and emotion-filled, completely immersed in the feel of the song, and as stated over and over, so very believable.” The songs on Full Circle are not only some of Brumburgh’s favorite musical theater songs but are also from shows in which he performed. Pianist and arranger Jamieson Trotter fashioned these musical theater songs with a creative, new jazz patina. Full Circle is Brumburgh’s homage to his roots in musical theater. But this album is not a tour down memory lane. With its updated jazz arrangements coupled with Brumburgh’s warm voice and deep connection to the lyrics, Fill Circle is a project that casts a new light on some of the most popular and beloved songs from the Broadway stage.
Yannick Rieu was the 18th recipient of the Oscar Peterson Award, celebrating the quality of his art and his outstanding contribution to the development of jazz in Canada. As early as 1988, DownBeat Magazine ranked him among the 20 most talented saxophonists in the world, alongside the likes of Branford Marsalis, Joe Lovano and Courtney Pine. Since then, Rieu has toured the globe, collecting praise and awards for his recordings and his live performances.With his new album Qui Qu’en Grogne, Rieu invites us to revisit his musical origins and early influences with a new collection of songs grounded in the classic jazz quartet tradition. What begin as simple melodies expand as the group improvises together, becoming more elaborate, moving a step beyond the listener’s expectations. Musical conversations intertwine, achieving a truly unified sound. For this new recording, Rieu has assembled a unique combination of established and emerging musicians: pianist Gentiane Michaud-Gagnon, drummer Louis-Vincent Hamel, and bassist Guy Boisvert. As the name suggests, Génération Quartet is about the dialogue between two generations of musicians, who through several years of shared experiences have developed a chemistry and sound that is entirely their own. With one foot set firmly in the jazz tradition’s rich past and the other in its future, this group’s music is imbued with poetry, mystery, and beauty - this album is an evocative exploration of the human experience.
A pretty fantastic album from Theon Cross – the London-based jazz musician whose main instrument is the tuba, and who's given some really wonderful contributions to a range of different projects! Here, though, Theon really knocks it out of the park – still using his familiar instrument, but emerging maybe more as a soul-based musician too – vocalizing a bit, and bringing in a fair bit of electronics to keep things moving with a crisply crackling vibe throughout! The use of the tuba in these circumstances is wonderful – the depth of a bass part, but sometimes flowing out with more melodic moments too – and the whole record is one that will really blow away any expectations at all you might have for both Cross and his instrument. Titles include "Watching Over", "Forward Progression II", "Play To Win", "Universal Alignment", "The Spiral", "Trust The Journey", "We Go Again", and "Roots". ~ Dusty Groove
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