Time Out Take Five is the second of a regular jazz column by Glide contributor Doug Collette, who will be taking snap-shot reviews of recent jazz albums. This edition, looks at legends Dave Brubeck, McCoy Tyner, Pat Metheny and Joshua Redman, along with the Deep Blue Organ Trio.
Having just released a brand new album, the children’s themed “Let’s Go Everywhere”, it would be easy to think Medeski, Martin and Wood would be playing the Chuck E. Cheese circuit. Instead, this ever-evolving three- piece is focusing its energy on the ambitious goal of rewriting the “traditional” rules of touring.
Thirty-five years ago, Chick Corea and Gary Burton’s Crystal Silence began to unite the improvisational spirit of jazz with a classical formalism. The fruits of that collaboration continue with a sequel, The New Crystal Silence that is a logical extension of the original work of the duet, right down to its evocative cover art.
Photos by David Oppenheimer of Maceo Parker at the Orange Peel in Asheville, NC on 2/10/08.
Good humored, self-effacing and articulate in his music and personal demeanor, Jason Moran is one of the most challenging artists of contemporary jazz. The presentation of the concept piece co-authored with Alicia Hall Moran, “Milestone,” on January 19th at the Flynn Mainstage wasn’t exactly a high-tech multimedia production but it was provocative nonetheless, underpinned by musicianship equally passionate and complex.
After back-to-back accomplished albums with the Benevento/Russo Duo—Best Reason to Buy the Sun (2005) and Play Pause Stop (2006)—Marco Benevento strikes out on his own with Invisible Baby. While once again roaming across genres, Benevento still maintains firm jazz roots, producing an updated organ trio sound injected with darker, post-rock elements.
Medeski, Martin and Wood might seem one of the last viable prospects to share one of Levon Helm’s Rambles at his studio/barn in Woodstock. But it’s the joy of playing, far more than chosen musical style, the former Band drummer shares with these three contemporary jazz wizards.
The real stars of the early show this New Year’ weekend were the same as 2006 but at an even higher level. Bassist Victor Wooten and drummer Dave Weckl simply astound with the fluidity imagination and detail in their playing.
The Duo should not be judged by their album outputs, they are first and foremost a live act. Their performance at Higher Ground, although not one of their “epic” shows, was surely another whirlwind of unclassifiable rock and jazz that proved they are one of today’s elite instrumental rock units going.
Producer Aaron Levinson and Ropeadope Records founder Andy Hurwitz return with another genre-bending musical tribute to a specific cultural breeding ground. But unlike Philadelphia Experiment and Detroit Experiment, this one spotlights a single neighborhood, Harlem, one of the most artistically fertile areas in the country. Structured as an imaginary AM radio transmission, “hosted” by Harlem DJ muMs—and featuring a talented house band—Harlem Experiment weaves an aural tapestry of funk, blues, jazz, salsa, hip-hop and beyond.
