Green Chimneys
Artist: Kenny Barron Trio

In the 1980s, Kenny Barron was recognized as one of jazz's top pianists, a modern mainstream master who two decades later is still in prime form. His 1983 trio date with bassist Buster Williams and drummer Ben Riley, Green Chimneys, originally consisted of six songs highlighted by "Softly As in a Morning Sunrise," "Straight No Chaser," and a... Read More

Round Trip
Artist: Keith Copeland
Jazz Station Runaway
Artist: Jerome Richardson

Jerome Richardson, a valuable reed player since the mid-1950s, has been on a countless number of recordings, often in an anonymous or barely featured role. He has led very few record sessions of his own throughout his career, yet has long been a talented soloist on alto, tenor, flute and soprano. In 1996, when he had the opportunity to lead a... Read More

Northwest Passage
Artist: Oregon

Oregon's first recording in a while features the three surviving original members (Ralph Towner on guitar and keyboards, bassist Glen Moore, and Paul McCandless, who switches between soprano, English horn, sopranino, oboe and bass clarinet) with either Arto Tuncboyaciyan or Mark Walker on percussion. They perform 14 originals that usually avoid... Read More

Snow Leopard
Artist: Richie Beirach

This outing by pianist Richie Beirach has much more variety than his usual sessions. In addition to some introspective pieces, there are also some cookers and quite a few surprises. Beriach is joined by bassist George Mraz, drummer Billy Hart and (on three of the ten selections) violinist Gregor Huebner. He turns "In The Wee Small Hours Of The... Read More

Pastels
Artist: Vic Juris

A good quartet release, featuring Juris on guitar, Phil Markowitz on piano, Jay Anderson on bass, and Matt Wilson on drums. Juris' originals range from the angular free bop of "Mergatroid" to the breezy jazz waltz of "Sim 95," to the dark balladry of "Berlin" and the intriguing 7/4 syncopation of "Bravo Rio" (the latter two performed beautifully... Read More

Front Line
Artist: Jodie Christian

If a city has any type of jazz scene, it has some improvisers who enjoy local hero status -- people who are highly regarded locally but not well-known elsewhere. Local jazz heroes can be found in places that range from Copenhagen to Seattle to Rio de Janeiro; they can be tenor saxophonists like Philadelphia's Bootsie Barnes, singers like... Read More

The Feeling of Jazz
Artist: Harold Danko

This is an unusual CD. Pianist Harold Danko, tenor saxophonist Rich Perry, bassist Scott Colley, and drummer Jeff Hirshfield perform the same seven songs (in the same order) as Duke Ellington and John Coltrane did during the famous recorded meeting in 1962. These renditions are lengthier than the originals, and there is no attempt to imitate... Read More

Medianoche
Artist: Don Grolnick

Medianoche finds Don Grolnick in the company of a hybrid Latin and post-bop supergroup of sorts, with Michael Brecker on tenor, Mike Mainieri on vibes, Dave Valentin on flute, Andy Gonzales on bass, and Don Alias, Steve Berrios, and Milton Cardona on percussion. The idea is simple: authentic Latin arrangements of very hip jazz material like... Read More

Sonny Rollins Plus Three
Artist: Sonny Rollins

Ever since Sonny Rollins signed with Milestone in the mid-1970s, critics who prefer his earlier work have complained that Rollins' sidemen are not worthy of him. For this superb effort, detractors have nothing to complain about, for the immortal tenor is joined by either Tommy Flanagan or Stephen Scott on piano, his longtime electric bassist Bob... Read More

Impressions
Artist: Michael Cochrane

This CD swings from the start. Pianist Michael Cochrane, whose chord voicings are most inspired by McCoy Tyner but are not derivative, displays an extroverted style and is in top form throughout his trio workout with bassist Calvin Hill and drummer Yoron Israel. Highlights include Cochrane's composition "De Fa Vu" (one of his four originals), a... Read More

The Heart Speaks
Artist: Terence Blanchard

Although trumpeter Terence Blanchard gets first billing on this recording, it is very much a joint effort with singer-composer Ivan Lins. Not only are all 13 songs by Lins but he sings on all but the three instrumentals although sometimes just wordlessly in the background. Blanchard often harmonizes with Lins' voice, creating a melancholy and... Read More

Introducing Brad Mehldau
Artist: Brad Mehldau
Community Score: 6.00

Pianist Brad Mehldau's debut as a leader features his straight-ahead style in trios with either Larry Grenadier or Christian McBride on bass and Jorge Rossy or Brian Blade on drums. The well-rounded set is highlighted by tasteful and swinging versions of five standards (including John Coltrane's "Countdown," "It Might As Well Be Spring," and... Read More

Come on Home
Artist: Valerie Capers

Valerie Capers has managed to stay somewhat obscure despite a busy schedule and her obvious talents. When Columbia gave her a rare opportunity to record she made the most of it. Capers sings several of the songs (most winningly Horace Silver's "Come on Home"), but especially notable is her strong, bop-based piano playing; her trio also includes... Read More

Explorations...To the Mth Degree
Artist: Max Roach

Featuring a comfortable duo between one of the kings of bebop, Max Roach, and master genre-bender Mal Waldron, this two-CD set contains a complete concert in honor of the pianist's 70th birthday. (Actually, there is also a bonus track of a cut recorded before the concert.) The 30 pieces are mostly fully improvised and flow into one another... Read More