Insight in Jazz

Leon Thomas & Oliver Nelson - In Berlin (1970) {RCA Victor 09026638772 rel 2002}
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© 1970, 2002 Flying Dutchman / Bluebird / RCA Victor / BMG | 09026638772
Jazz / Post Bop / Afro-Cuban Jazz / Soul Jazz

"Leon Thomas in Berlin" is an excellent example of the work of this almost forgotten vocalist. Thomas was very much a maverick in terms of his singing style, his use of the yodel and other effects turned his voice very much into another frontline musical instrument in much the same manner as scat was used by earlier singers . The lasting impression given by this is of a highly Afro - American form of the idiom which was much in fashion in the late 60's and early 70's. In many ways it is a great pity that this vibrant music has fallen so far from grace to be replaced by the mainstream conservatism that is so omni-present in a great deal of the performances which define Jazz at the present time.

On this album, jazz guitarist and singer John Pizzarelli pays simultaneous tribute to the pop music of his adolescence (Steely Dan, Billy Joel, the Allman Brothers, Elvis Costello) and the jazz tradition in which he, as a member of the celebrated Pizzarelli dynasty, was steeped from his earliest years. The album title refers to the fact that the program takes classic pop songs and puts them in jazz settings: thus you'll hear a cool bossa nova arrangement of Joni Mitchell's "Free Man in Paris," a completely natural lounge-lizard setting of Tom Waits' "Drunk on the Moon," and a hard-swinging, boppish version of James Taylor's "Traffic Jam" that sounds like it was written for the Manhattan Transfer and incorporates the Joe Henderson composition "The Kicker."

Ottla is a bird that not only sings beautifully but also vigorously flaps and squawks. Also known as a band that Bert Dockx formed to play together once to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Jazz Lab concert series. Fortunately, Dockx and the musicians he gathered for that anniversary sextet quickly found much enthusiasm and more opportunities to play together. In 2019, what initially seemed like a fleeting experiment transformed into composing, rehearsing, recording an album, and playing more.

In apparent response to the sampling of old Latin jazz records by hip-hop artists, Verve raided its Cal Tjader archive to come up with this fiercely grooving collection drawn from nine of his Verve albums. For all of producer Creed Taylor's '60s penchant for fashioning two- to four-minute cuts aimed at airplay, he allowed Tjader's groups considerable room to stretch out on several of the tracks included here, particularly on the live "Los Bandidos" and the hypnotic collaboration with pianist Eddie Palmieri, "Picadillo." More importantly, Tjader's records with Taylor were more varied in texture than his earlier discs, venturing now and then from his solid Afro-Cuban base into Brazilian rhythms, soul, big-band backings, and '60s pop touches…

Bobby Hutcherson - In The Vanguard (1986) {1999 Reissue - 32 Jazz - 32170}
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© 1986, 1999 Landmark / 32 Jazz | 32170
Jazz / Modern Bebop / Hard Bop / Vibes / Marimba

The reissue of Bobby Hutcherson's live Village Vanguard session from December 5-6, 1986 isn't the first. It's such a fine album that it's been issued quite a few times and has garnered high ratings. 32 Jazz has included Bob Blumenthal's original liner notes in which he lists several from the long list of jazz artists who've recorded live sessions at The Village Vanguard. Hutcherson's hard bop session features a lot of "blowing" by the leader on both marimba and vibes. His rhythm section on this date supports him well and provides an experienced conversation. Speaking of conversations, Fred Jung's interview with Hutcherson provides valuable insight into this session leader who got his start by laying bricks one summer in L.A. to save the money for his first set of vibes.