Posts Tagged Piano
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May 29, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Bob James Trio: Espresso
Bob James Trio Espresso Evosound Returning to the trio format after a recent lovely foray into duo work with Nathan East, here the master player and composer stretches his fingers across jazz, his first love. Small combo playing has been a huge part of James’ career whether polite (Fourplay) or deep and funky (the classic early 70s albums now […]Archive
May 17, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Marcin Wasilewski Trio: Live
Marcin Wasilewski Trio Live ECM Polish pianist Marcin Wasilewski is a disciple of the great trumpeter/composer Tomasz Stańko – in fact Wasilewski’s rhythm section (Slawomir Kurkiewicz on double bass, Michal Miskiewicz: drums) were former Stańko sidemen too. So this, the trio’s first live album (recorded in 2016, released in late 2018) is dedicated to the memory of their former leader – one of the […]Archive
May 6, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Reese Wynans & Friends: Sweet Release
Reese Wynans & Friends Sweet Release J&R Adventures This Sweet Release is also, no doubt, sweet relief for Reese Wynans, a sideman for some 50 years across a range of rock, blues and roots acts with – most notably – time spent at Stevie Ray Vaughan’s side as part of the Double Trouble band. He also has a story of […]Archive
April 1, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
The Necks: Body
The Necks Body ReR The gentle and then – all of a sudden – furious virtuosity of The Necks is a thrilling thing to discover. And then to rediscover across the albums. Sometimes – as with Open – they’re set in a quiet, understated framing, or, as with the more recent Unfold it’s about working to a format, creating pieces that fit […]Archive
March 4, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Anita Schwabe: Eat Your Greens
Anita Schwabe Eat Your Greens Rattle I wanted to say something like this is a bunch of old-school jazz-heads playing old school jazz ‘heads’ for old schooled jazzheads – and leave it at that. The assignment ticked off. This is good! And jazz fans should check it. Job done. By all the players. And a rewarding listen.Archive
March 2, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Tyshawn Sorey: Pillars
Tyshawn Sorey Pillars Firehouse Records Tyshawn Sorey is the type of multi-instrumentalist and all-around musical force (composer, arranger, conductor, sideman and leader) that it’s nearly impossible for us mere mortals to wrap our thinking-gear around it really. There he is behind the kit making strange, alluring shapes with an improv legend like Roscoe Mitchell or re-inventing post-bop yet again as part […]Archive
February 20, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
UNWIND Chisholm/Meehan/Dyne: Orange
UNWIND: Chisholm/Meehan/Dyne Orange Rattle I first heard Hayden Chisholm (saxophones) – well at least first really took notice on the glorious collaborative album Small Holes In The Silence featuring Hannah Griffin’s voice and Norman Meehan’s piano. The music was sparse, the lyrics drawn from famous New Zealand poems. Griffin and Meehan have an ongoing project in collaboration with Bill Manhire. Chisholm was the silent star of […]Archive
January 16, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Gig Review: Nick Cave (January 15, Wgtn)
Conversations with Nick Cave: An Evening of Talk & Music MFC Tuesday, January 15 It was almost to the day two years ago that Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds played in Wellington as part of the Skeleton Tree tour. It’s always a different show when you see Cave, he’s played in Wellington with truncated […]Archive
January 1, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
The Vinyl Countdown # 345
Michael Houstoun, Piano (1979) This is my favourite $1 op-shop find. For now at least. I love Michael Houstoun – amazing talent, I feel lucky thinking about the number of times I’ve seen him perform. He threatens retirement this year but I always enjoy his playing. I love classical piano and Beethoven too – so it’s […]Archive
November 28, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
Roger Kellaway Trio: New Standards Vol. 3
Roger Kellaway Trio New Jazz Standards, Vol. 3 Summit Records Trumpeter Carl Saunders has worked with big names in music – really big names! -Sinatra…Ella…Paul Anka, Budy Rich, Stan Kenton…he’s been a bandleader, arranger and composer. And a great guy to have on the bench. But he’ll be known to the next generation for his […]Archive
October 25, 2018 by Simon Sweetman