Heroes
Artist: J.J. Johnson

A collection of mostly original material, J.J. Johnson's Heroes features an attractive blend of instruments and players. The two versions of "Carolyn" which bookend the album are positively gorgeous, while "Thelonious the Onliest" captures the quirky spirit of its namesake. The "Wayne" on "In Walked Wayne" is Wayne Shorter, who pushes his tenor... Read More

Don't Step on Your Neck
Artist: Hard-Bop Saxophone Quartet

Despite its name, The Hard-Bop Saxophone Quartet performs in a variety of jazz styles, not just hard-bop. Hailing from Fargo, North Dakota, the group is at its best at its quirkiest, particularly when performing some of the highly original arrangements of its members. While the individual players (Mark Watkins, Russ Peterson, Paul Liversdage,... Read More

This One's for Bill
Artist: Kenny Drew, Jr.

This tribute to Bill Evans is a winner from start to finish because Kenny Drew Jr. is able to show a hint of the late pianist's influence without going overboard. Except for the title track, a swinging original by Drew, the songs are either written by Evans or very much associated with him. Evans' "Remembering The Rain" is a pretty ballad that... Read More

Man with a Horn
Artist: Eric Alexander

Eric Alexander can playthe tenor saxophone. Armed with love for the masters and the ability to take their sonic images into his own realm, he is reaching the goal of attaining a personal sound. His tone, ideas and embellishments lie string straight ahead and swinging. His capacity for bluesy, soulful outbursts or fluttery Coltrane-like... Read More

Friendly Fire
Artist: Joe Lovano

The teaming of Joe Lovano and Greg Osby, two of the most exciting saxophonists of the '90s, is kind of a dream come true, and it's a pleasure to say that Friendly Fire doesn't disappoint. True, it may not be as adventurous as some listeners may have hoped for, but it's undoubtedly vibrant hard-bop with an evident adventurous streak. Lovano and... Read More

Winard
Artist: Winard Harper

Exploring his African roots and jazz branches, drummer Harper kicks it good on this wide ranging program. There's plenty to satisfy the most discriminating hard bop fan, and percussive spice that offers contrast. Harper is joined by up-and-coming tenor saxophonist J.D. Allen and trumpeter Patrick Rickman, bassist Eric Revis, the great pianist... Read More

Duke's Place
Artist: George Mraz

On this CD, Mraz has chosen eleven of Duke Ellington's most enduring evergreens, and alternates every other track with either pianists Renee Rosnes or Cyrus Chestnut. They do play together on the title cut, though it's hardly noticable you're hearing "dueling" pianos. There's little stylistic difference between the two on this recording, (vast... Read More

Remembering Wes
Artist: Melvin Rhyne

Quiet intensity personified...if that is the way you like your jazz, specifically your organ combos, then Rhyne is your B-3 main man and this is his shining hour in a tribute to his now legendary bandmate, the late guitarist Wes Montgomery. Everything on this CD is ultimately appealing -- its sound, immaculate vision, unabashed groove, scholarly... Read More

Head to Head
Artist: Jerry Weldon

Tenor saxophonists Jerry Weldon and Michael Karn share many of the same influences including Dexter Gordon, Sonny Stitt, Sonny Rollins, Hank Mobley and Joe Henderson. Karn has a slightly harder tone but the two tenors are quite complementary and of equal talent. For this hard bop outing from Criss Cross, Weldon and Karn are joined by pianist... Read More

Explosive!
Artist: Milt Jackson

This is such a logical combination. When vibraphonist Milt Jackson and the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra appeared together at the Jazz Bakery near Los Angeles during the same period as when this CD was recorded, Jackson (who usually frowns when he plays) could not stop smiling. He loved both John Clayton's arrangements and the sound of the... Read More

More Than You Know
Artist: Dexter Gordon