Still Life
Artist: Charnett Moffett

In the 1980s and early 1990s, two groups tried to limit Charnett Moffett's creativity. On one hand, jazz purists wanted him to steer clear of fusion and confine himself to playing hard bop on the upright bass. On the other hand, there were marketing people and NAC radio programmers who urged Moffett to play unchallenging elevator Muzak. But... Read More

Since We Met - JAPAN
Artist: Bill Evans

Thirteen years after his legendary Village Vanguard recordings, Bill Evans recorded at the famous New York establishment again. Using his trio of the era (which includes bassist Eddie Gomez and drummer Marty Morell), Evans explores both familiar ("Time Remembered," "Turn Out the Stars" and "But Beautiful") and new (Joe Zawinul's "Midnight Mood,"... Read More

Oasis
Artist: Chris Cody

The musicians on this CD (pianist Chris Cody, James Greening on trombone and pocket trumpet, guitarist Jon Pease, bassist Lloyd Swanton, drummer John Bartram and percussionist Fabian Hevia) will not be familiar to American listeners, but that is because they are all fixtures of the jazz scene in Sydney, Australia. They have all been in Europe at... Read More

Half Moon Bay
Artist: Bill Evans

Yet more Bill Evans live dates continue to flood the landscape posthumously, but this one was recorded under most inviting and unusual conditions. The locale was Pete Douglas' Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society, a second-floor, 250-seat rumpus room overlooking the Pacific near Half Moon Bay, CA, whose wood-paneled ambience and nine-foot Steinway... Read More

Piano Player
Artist: Bill Evans

Although this 1998 CD may at first glance seem to be a reissue, all but three of the 11 selections had never been released before. The highly influential pianist Bill Evans is heard in five different settings. An unissued (and slightly earlier rendition) of the third section of George Russell's "All About Rosie" (a showcase for Evans with... Read More

Combustication
Artist: Medeski, Martin & Wood
Community Score: 8.00

As the only jazz band to be accepted by the neo-hippies of the HORDE '90s, Medeski, Martin & Wood pulled off the strange coup of being embraced by rock and jazz audiences, who both loved their endless improvisations. They managed to walk the fine line dividing between the two camps, as their funkified soul-jazz was self-referential and cerebral,... Read More

This Time It's Love
Artist: Kurt Elling

After taking the jazz vocal scene by storm, Kurt Elling got in a bit over his head, gaining as many critical kudos as catcalls. On his third disc, he finds a happy medium between romantic rumination and vocal experimentation. The highlight of the disc is "Freddie's Yen for Jen," a stellar jazz experience that comes pretty damn close to... Read More

Pure Imagination
Artist: Eric Reed

Pure Imagination finds pianist Eric Reed offering fresh arrangements of traditional pop songs from classic Broadway and Hollywood productions. Supported by bassist Reginald Veal and drummer Gregory Hutchinson, Reed offers tasteful, inventive versions of such songs as "Maria," "Hello, Young Lovers," "42nd Street," "Send in the Clowns," "Nice Work... Read More

Cream
Artist: Pat Martino

The 32 Jazz compilation Cream collects tracks from some of guitarist Pat Martino's best albums, including Consciousness and his post-brain aneurysm 1987 comeback Return. Although 32 Jazz also reissued most of the albums these cuts come from, having them in one place makes for a nice introduction to Martino's distinctive ambient "machine... Read More

Speak Low
Artist: Jeroen DeRijk

Jeroen de Rijk is a Dutch hand drummer who came to New York City in 1994 for a three-month visit to absorb its jazz scene; there, he met pianist Dado Moroni and bassist Joris Teepe, and ended up recording the eight tracks of this CD in four hours. This is fine, swinging, straight-ahead jazz, freshened up with a conga pop. While de Rijk gets... Read More

Song for the Geese
Artist: Mark Murphy

There is never much doubt that Mark Murphy is a jazz singer. He continues, even after 40 years of recording, to take wild chances on this CD. The first few songs on the set are fairly straightforward (if one can consider an uptempo rendition of "Baltimore Oriole" to be conventional). The music, which includes originals by Donald Fagen and Pat... Read More

Classic Trio
Artist: David Hazeltine

This 1997 album, featuring an impeccable rhythm section of Louis Hayes and Peter Washington, is a tour de force for pianist David Hazeltine's versatile skills as instrumentalist and composer. In addition to four very strong originals, the group tackles challenging compositions by piano masters Bud Powell and Cedar Walton, and offers fresh takes... Read More

I Will Say Goodbye - JAPAN
Artist: Bill Evans

The title refers to the Michel Legrand piece performed twice on the date, and to the fact that pianist Bill Evans was on the verge of switching labels from Fantasy to Warner Bros. For his final Fantasy album, Evans, bassist Eddie Gómez, and drummer Eliot Zigmund perform memorable renditions of such songs as Herbie Hancock's "Dolphin Dance,"... Read More