Music Diary

The word ‘synergy’ is often thrown at any attempt to work together. True collaboration is much rarer, and results in a whole greater than the sum of parts. And that describes my feelings about ‘It’s Not That Far’ from the Matthew Finck-Jonathon Ball Project. Two great musicians with a solid band and great guest makes some magical music. Musical Genre: Jazz Where to buy: iTunes Artist: Matthew Finck-Jonathon Ball Project Description: From the artist: Matthew Finck, guitar, and Jonathan Ball, tenor saxophone, with their new album “It’s Not That Far,” continue the vast and varied range of collaborations between their…

This week I wrote about the QuNeo pad controller from Keith McMillen Instruments;. Here’s the QuNeo in action. As I noted in my review, it offers a level of expression and control not found in most pad controllers even more expensive ones! Check out my hands on review using the QuNeo, an iPad 2 and the Korg iMS-20.

Innovating in a crowded space is never easy, but there is always room for a talented artist to create an impression even within an established genre. That is exactly what Craig Hartley does with his ‘Books on Tape Vol. 1’ piano trio recording. Great compositions, improvisation and playing; my favorite piano trio yet this year. Musical Genre: Jazz Where to buy: iTunes Artist: Craig Hartley Description: From the artist: This album represents an interpretation of some of my musical and life experiences translated into song. included in the liner notes are brief descriptions of my thoughts and inspirations for each…

The O’Farrill Brothers remind me of seeing Harrison / Blanchard in New York City and buying their debut CD ‘Nascence’ – there are interesting songs, a certain rawness and rough edges, an abundance of talent, and apparent influences on display. And like ‘Nascence’, I expect greater and more mature work in the future, but that doesn’t diminish this fun and intriguing recording! Musical Genre: Jazz Where to buy: iTunes Artist: The O’Farrill Brothers Description: The O Farrill Brothers display their astonishing instrumental hard bop virtuosity and a distinctive, coherent ensemble sound with a musical maturity well beyond their young years. Features…

Artists seldom revisit their work, and too often when they do it is a disappointment. Jazz legend John Scofield wanted to take his Uberjam in a new direction, and the resulting UberJam Deux show the mark of everything he had done before or since, and represent a new horizon for the jam-band jazz style he pioneered. Don’t miss it! Musical Genre: Jazz Where to buy: iTunes Artist: John Scofield Description: Uberjam Deux, has been a decade in the gestation, following in direct line of descent from 2002s Grammy nominated Uberjam; not that Scofield has been inactive in the interim, far…

When I first heard of Ray Mazurek it was as an up and coming hard bop trumpet player back in the 90s. Then I discovered his album Synthesthesia and later the sublime Sound Is. So when the folks at Cuneiform asked if I had an interest in checking out the latest released by his São Paulo Underground, I jumped at the opportunity! Description: In its latest incarnation, SPU is a power trio and a post-modern orchestra rolled into one, marked by glistening sonic textures, seductive eletronica beats, unabashedly beautiful melodies, an expansive improvisational palette and fiercely gleeful interplay. A potent…

Dave Liebman & Michael Stephans – Lineage The legacy of Miles Davis continues to loom large over the music world – Kenny Garrett has been prominant as a solo artist as well as with Pat Metheny’s Unity Band, and veterans like Chick Corea, Wayne Shorter, Jack Dejohnette, Keith Jarrett and and others are still major players. Then there is reedman Dave Liebman, arguably the last featured saxophone player before Garrett, as Miles moved away from the sax and towards the guitar for most of the 70s and through the late-80s. Dave Liebman has made major contributions to jazz through the…