John ABERCROMBIE & John RUOCCO - Tobics: CD  Challenge ∫ John Abercrombie g; John Ruocco cl ∫ reviews - JazzThing 02.08, Christoph Giese: ... 6 bekannte Jazzstandards bilden die Basis, die Abschussrampe sozusagen ... gemeinsam werden sie behutsam und doch voller Drang nach eigener Note interpretiert, ausgeschmückt und zu leisen Kunstwerken verarbeitet ... zwischen den jeweiligen Songs aus dem Real Book packt das Duo aber zumindest kurze, freie Dialoge aus eigenen Händen und Fingern, sind als echter Bruch zuvor erzeugter Stimmungen zu erleben

Harry ALLEN  / Joe COHN Quartet - Hey, Look Me Over: CD  Arbors ∫ Harry Alllen ts; Joe Cohn g; Joel Forbes b; Chuck Riggs dr ∫ reviews - Down Beat 07.07 ****
Harry ALLEN  / Joe COHN Quartet - Guys And Dolls: rec 2007  CD  Arbors ∫ Harry Alllen ts; Joe Cohn g; Joel Forbes b; Chuck Riggs dr; guests: Rebecca Kilgore, Eddie Erickson  voc ∫ reviews - coda 01.08, Tracey Nolan: ... the quartet is so strong in fact, that it is disappointing that of the fifteen tracks on the disc only five are instrumentals ... "Guys And Dolls" is one of the best releases of 2007; and I ain't squirting no cider in your ear

Misha ALPERIN - Her First Dance: rec 2006  CD  ECM ∫ Misha Alperin p; Anja Lechner cello; Arkady Shilkloper frh, flh ∫ reviews - DRS2 Jazz aktuell 12.02.08, Empfehlung Peter Bürli / Vertrieb: Die letzten Aufnahmen des in Moldawien geborenen und in Oslo lebenden Pianisten für ECM stammen von 1998, das  virtuos poetische Soloalbum ‚At Home‘ erschien 2001, das feinsinnig kammermusikalische ‚Night‘ 2002. Alperin vereinigt Elemente der heimtlichen Folklore, seines klassischen Backgrounds und seiner Jazzerfahrung zu einer ganz eigenen Mischung jenseits stilistischer Kategorien. ‚Her First Dance‘ bringt eine Folge von Solos, Duos und Trios. Die mehrheitlich kleinformatigen Stücke lassen an Chick Corea genauso wie an Bela Bartok, an Sergei Prokofjev wie an Keith Jarrett denken. Unübertroffen ist sein selbst in schnellsten Tonfolgen kristallklarer Anschlag, die elegisch getragene, an Glocken gemahnende Harmonik lässt aufhorchen. / Label: Mit „Her First Dance“ stellt der aus der Ukraine stammende, in Bessarabien aufgewachsene, in Moskau zu musikalischer Reife gelangte und seit 15 Jahren in Oslo ansässige Misha Alperin erneut seine Sonderstellung unter den so genannten „Jazzpianisten“ unter Beweis. Außergewöhnlich ist nicht allein die echt russische manuelle Perfektion seiner Non-Legato-Ketten, sondern auch die charakteristisch edelherbe Poesie seiner Kompositionen. Auf der neuen Platte ist er in mehreren Solostücken zu hören, daneben auch in Duos und Trios mit Arkady Shilkloper, Horn, und der Cellistin Anja Lechner. ∫ Querverweise: -> "Night" (ECM 2001) -> "At Home" (ECM 1998) -> "First Impression (ECM 1997)

Chet BAKER - The Complete Tokyo Concert, June 14, 1987: DVD Impro-Jazz  ∫ Chet Baker (tp, voc), Harold Danko (p), Hein van de Gejin (b), John Engels (dr)

Joe BAUER 4 - Family Affairs: rec 2007  CD  jazzwekrstatt berlin ∫ Conny & Johannes Bauer tb; Matthias Bauer b; Louis Rastig p ∫ reviews - JazzThetik 02.08 **** Guido Fischer: ... die von 1 bis 15 durchnummerierten "Privat"-Tracks spiegeln eine Haltung wider, die abseits aller Traditionsbezüge jeden einzelnen Moment mit einer hellwachen Spontaneität elektrisiert, virtuos durchformt und feinsinnig antastet. Dass dabei nicht kollabiert, sondern es mit einer ungeheuren Kultiviertheit im Freigeistigen zugeht, macht diese Familienzusammenführung umso wertvoller / Disc 

Ketil BJØRNSTAD / Terje RYPDAL - Live From Leipzig: rec 2007  CD  ECM ∫ Ketil Bjørnstad, Terje Typdal g ∫ reviews - Label: Seit 1999 spielen Ketil Bjørnstad und Terje Rypdal als Duo zusammen, beider Touraktivitäten sind inzwischen stark auf die Zweierkonstellation zugeschnitten. Jetzt endlich, acht Jahre nach Bjørnstads letzter ECM-Veröffentlichung, kommt der Mitschnitt eines Auftritts beim Leipziger Jazzfest vom Herbst 2005 heraus, Dokument einer musikalischen Hochstimmung, die die beiden gestandenen Herren bei Hits wie „The Return of Per Ulv“ mächtig in die verstärkten Saiten greifen ließ. / Vertrieb: Bjørnstad und Rypdal sind Urgesteine der norwegischen Szene. Bjørnstad hat sich als Pianist und Komponist ein eigenständiges Profil erworben und ist darüber hinaus bekannt als produktiver Schriftsteller. Rypdal ist nicht nur ein origineller, Stil prägender Gitarrist zwischen Jazz und Rock, er komponiert auch sinfonische Werke. In den 90er Jahren waren sie zusammen in den Wasser-Zyklen ‚Water Stories‘ und ‚The Sea‘ zu hören. Der Konzermitschnitt aus der Oper Leipzig vom Oktober 2005 bringt die rare Kombination von akustischem Piano und elektrischer Gitarre in einem kraftvollen Set bestens zur Geltung. Die offenen Akkordstrukturen lassen wunderbar viel Raum für die überfliegenden Sounds von Rypdal. Neben neuen Tunes finden sich alte Ohrwürmer wie Rpydals ‚The Return of Per Ulv‘ und einige von Jean-Luc Godard für seine Filme verwendeten cinemaskopische Stücke von Bjørnstad.

Michael BLAKE - The World Awakes; A Tribute To Eli "Lucky" Thompson: rec 2006  CD  Stunt ∫ Michael Blake ts, ss, cl; Sören Kjörgaard kb; Jonas Westergaard b; Kresten Osgood dr; Petr Fuglsang bcl, cl; Kaper Tranberg tp; Lars Bjömkjär vio; Hanrik Dam Thomsen vc; Teddy Kumpel g; Rob Jost frh ∫ reviews - JazzThetik 02.08 **** / Label: Blake - selbst eine variabler Künstler, der von Lounge Lizards bis zur New Yorker Improszene und Theatermusiken viele mitgestaltet hat - widmet dem ebenso wandlungsfähigen Lucky Thompson (1924-2005) eine ganze CD
Michael BLAKE Sextet - Amor De Cosmos: rec CD  Songlines ∫ Michael Blake ts, ss; Brad Turner tp; Sal Ferreras mba, perc; Christ Gestrin p, el-p, etr; André Lachance b; Dylan van der Schyff dr ∫ reviews - Down Beat 02.08 **** (Peter Margasak) / Label-Notizen: Rising Star Jazz Artist of the Year in the 2002 DownBeat critics poll, Michael Blake has been a resident of New York for almost 20 years - but he grew up in Vancouver, and on a visit to his hometown in 2005 he organized two gigs with somewhat younger players from the jazz and creative music scene, most of whom he had not played with before. The upshot is this all-Canadian sextet featuring classical/new music/Latin percussionist Sal Ferreras and several of Canada's most acclaimed and forward-looking jazz musicians improvising on Michael's wide-ranging compositions (there are also two highly expressionistic improv duets between Michael and Chris Gestrin). ... "I feel very satisfied that I wrote this music, some of which is very different from my previous work," Michael adds. Indeed, several of the more highly composed pieces (including "Paddy Pie Face" and "Temporary Constellation") seem like moves towards the realm of contemporary/new music, but Michael always leaves plenty room for improvisers to stretch out in solos and duos. The unusual instrumentation offers novel possibilities for voicings, bringing for example a witty, brilliantly executed free time duet between Sal on marimba and Chris on prepared piano in "So Long Seymour." Despite rather limited time together before the recording, the band really jells. In part this is because most of these players have such a long shared history together: Andre and Dylan are members of Chris' trio and the two of them plus Brad are part of Chris' Stillpoint project (Songlines SA1540); Brad was part of the international quintet Dylan organized on The Definition of a Toy (SA1554) and Dylan and Andre are in Brad's long-running quartet, etc.). Combine their fluent interaction with the challenges Michael sets them (and himself), and the result is a record that revels in creative interplay and speaks with its own unique accent. genre: contemporary Jazz / Disc / Soundclip

Art BLAKEY's Jazz Messengers - Live In San Remo: rec 1963  DVD Impro-Jazz  ∫ Art Blakey (dr), Freddie Hubbard (tp), Wayne Shorter (ts), Curtis Fuller (tb), Cedar Walton (p), Reggie Workman (b)

Paul BLEY / Steve SWALLOW / Barry ALTSCHUL Trio - Closer: rec 1965  CD  ESP-Disk ∫ Paul Bley p; Steve Swallow b; Barry Altschul dr

Paul BOLLENBACK - Invocation: rec 2007CD  Elefant Dreams ∫ Paul Bollenback g; Randy Brecker tp; Ed Howard b; Chris McNultys voc; Victor Lewis dr ∫ reviews - Down Beat 02.08 **** (Ken Micaleff) / Bill Mikowski: "On this inspired outing, his seventh as a leader, the outstanding guitarist showcases his remarkable facility, warm-toned improvisational flow and rich chordal vocabulary alongside the respected jazz veterans Randy Brecker on trumpet, Ed Howard on bass and Victor Lewis on drums. Chris McNulty contributes ethereal wordless vocals on the gentle samba flavored "Alter Ego" by the late, great pianist-composer James Williams and also on Bollenback's dramatic two-part "Invocation" suite. Other originals like the buoyant, rhythmically-charged opener "Dancing Leaf" and the driving 6/8 vehicle "Songline" further distinguish Bollenback as an accomplished composer as well as a world-class player......" / Soundclips 1 / 2 / 3

Ari BROWN - Live At The Green Mill: rec 2007 CD  Delmark ∫ Ari Brown ts, as, ss, fl, p; Kirk Brown p; Avreeayl Ra dr; ∫ reviews - Down Beat 03.08 Peter Margasak ***° ... delivers gritty Windy City post-bop at its toughest

Dave BRUBECK - Jazz Icons: Filmed 1966 (Germany) and 1964 (Belgium)  DVD Jazz Icons ∫ Dave Brubeck (p), Paul Desmond (as), Eugene Wright (b), Joe Morello (dr) ∫ genre: jazz classics

Roberto CECCHOTTO - Downtown: rec 2007  CD  Auand ∫ Roberto Cecchotto g, loops; Giovanni Maier b; Michele Rabbia perc, dr, loops ∫ reviews - Label: Auand is an independent label devoted to the production of improvised music from all over the World. Energy, Risk, Conviction and the Unexpected are the trade-mark of Auand. Roberto Cecchetto, one of the most intriguing guitar player of the last generation of italian jazz talents, has been a member of Enrico Rava's Electric Five in the 90ies. This album is his very first as a leader. A perfect mix between composition and improvisation with long time collaborators Giovanni Maier on double bass and Michele Rabbia on drums. Cecchetto's elegant use of electronics and loops helps the trio's sound to be strong and up-to-date! / Disc

Stanley CLARKE - The Toys Of Men: rec 2007  CD  Heads Up ∫ Stanely Clarke b, eb; Ruslan Sirota p, kb; Phil Davis kb; Jef Lee Johnson g; Mads Tolling vio; Roland Bu9rner Jr dr; Esperanza Spalding voc ∫ reviews -  Down Beat 02.08 *** / Jazz’N’More 01.08 ***** S.L. Gerosa  / Disc

John COLTRANE - Jazz Icons: Filmed 1960/61 (Germany) and 1965 (Belgium)   DVD Jazz Icons ∫ John Coltrane (ts, ss), McCoy Tyner (p), Reggie Workman (b), Elvin Jones (dr), Wynton Kelly (p), Paul Chambers (b), Jimmy Cobb (dr), Oscar Peterson (p), Stan Getz (ts), a.o.∫ genre: jazz classics

Paolo DAMIANI - Al tempo che farà: rec 2007  CD  Egea Music ∫ Gianluigi Trovesi as, sl; Javier Girotto fl, ss, bs; Diana Torto voc; Danilo Rea p, acc; Bebo Ferra g; Paolo Damiani b. cello; Walter Paoli dr ∫ reviews - JazzThetik 02.08 **** Das Album teilte sich 2007 mit "The Third Man" von Rava/Bollani die Auszeichung / der besten Jazzplatte Italiens / Disc

Miles DAVIS - Miles Ahead: rec 1955/57  CD  Jazz Track ∫ Miles Davis tp; Gil Evans arr, cond, p; Bernie Glow tp; Frank Rehak tb; Willie Ruf frh; Bill Barber tu; Lee Konitz as; Wynton Kelly p; Paul Chambers b; Art Taylor dr; a.o. ∫ reviews - Ralph J. Gleason, Downbeat ***** (1957)  "This is an extraordinarily well done album with absolutely no point at which you can wish for more. Miles' solos throughout have an almost ascetic purity about them. They are deliberate unhurried, and almost inevitable in their time. On Miles Ahead he comes bouncing and skipping in almost as through he were the legendary Piper, dancing his way along leading everyone." / Although Miles Ahead was Miles Davis' first recording with the Gil Evans Orchestra, it was certainly not Evans and Davis' first collaboration. They had known and respected each other since the mid-forties and in 1948-49 they were the two primary architects behind the Birth of the Cool, with respect to both the perennial nonet album and the "cool" sound which became associated with it and which developed into a new jazz style. Gil and Miles' 1948-49 recordings both in the studio and broadcasted live from the Royal Roost in New York are among the true jewels of jazz history. The same can be said about Miles Ahead, a completely refined product in which the arrangements, the repertoire and the mood of every improvisation were carefully selected. This edition utilizes the original album cover, not frequently seen because Miles himself ordered it changed after the initial print.

Dena DeROSE - Live At Jazz Standard, Vol. 1: rec 2007  CD  MaxJazz ∫ Dena DeRose voc, p; Martin Wind b; Matt Wilson dr; Joel Fahm ts (1 tr)  ∫ reviews - Down Beat 02.08 **** / San Francisco Chronicle: "...an exceptionally gifted pianist as well as a sultry and intelligent singer, she has the audience at her feet" / New York Times :  “Dena DeRose sings jazz as if she had been at it her whole life long, and then some. She interprets standards in a deliciously laconic, no-nonsense manner, accompanying herself on piano with hard swinging grace.”∫ Soundclip

Dave DOUGLAS & Keystone - Moonshine: rec 2007  CD  Greenleaf Music ∫ Dave Douglas tp; Gene Lake dr; Brad Jones b; Adam Benjamin Fender; Marcus Strickland sax; DJ Olive ttbl∫ reviews - Down Beat 04.07 **** ∫ Douglas ∫ Disc

Eliane ELIAS - Something For You / Eliane Elias Sings & Plays Bill Evans: rec 2007 CD  Blue Note ∫ Eliane Elias p; Marc Johnson b; Joey  Baron dr ∫ reviews - Label: ... über die gesamte Länge des Albums gelingt es ihr, die Essenz der verstorbenen Pianolegende Bill Evans zu treffen und doch ihre ganz eigenen Talente als Komponistin, Interpretin, hervorragende Solistin und auch Sängerin hervorzuheben ... das Trio konzentriert sich mit Hingabe auf exquisite Interpretationen von Stücken, die entweder von Bill Evans' eigenem Schaffen inspiriert wurden oder ohnehin von ihm stammen, darunter auch einige Stücke, die bisher nie offiziell aufgenommen, geschweige denn veröffentlicht wurden ... hat die Klasse eines wegweisenden Tribute-Albums / Disc

Duke ELLINGTON - Complete Indigos: rec 1957  CD  Jazz Beat ∫ Duke Ellington p, comp, arr; Clark Terry tp; Cat Anderson tp; Johnny Hodges as; Paul Gonsalves ts; Jimmy Woode b; Sam Woodyard dr, a.o. ∫ reviews - Label: As the original liner notes for the Indigos album clearly states, the Ellington orchestra not only performed in concert halls - presenting extended suites to be listened to from the comfort of a plush theatre seat - it was also a legendary dance band, accustomed to playing very personal versions of the most celebrated standards as well as the numerous compositions by its leader. It must be said, however, that the prolific Ellington book well outnumbered the renditions of tunes from Tin-Pan- Alley. Therefore, Duke and his long-time partner Billy Strayhorn's treatment of well known songs like "Willow Weep for Me", "Tenderly" and "Dancing in the Dark", always makes for an exciting listening experience. This edition put together for the first time ever all the material from the Indigos sessions, including two tunes omitted from the album and all of the alternate takes.
Duke ELLINGTON - Such Sweet Thunder: rec 1951/56/57  CD  Essential Jazz Classics  ∫ Duke Ellington (p, comp, arr), Clark Terry (tp), Cat Anderson (tp), Johnny Hodges (as), Paul Gonsalves (ts), Jimmy Woode (b), Sam Woodyard (dr), a.o. ∫ reviews - Label: "Listening to Such Sweet Thunder you are ashamed to think of all the relatively trivial releases on which five-star ratings have been squandered." Leonard Feather / The complete original album Such Sweet Thunder, Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn's musical vision of the works of William Shakespeare. As a bonus we offer three extra tracks from the same sessions that were not included on the original LP, as well as two other complete Ellington suites: The Harlem Suite & The Controversial Suite.
Duke ELLINGTON & His ORCHESTRA - A Drum Is A Woman: rec 1957  CD  Jazz Track ∫ Duke Ellington p, comp, arr, narr; Clark Terry tp, Cat Anderson tp; Johnny Hodges as; Paul Gonsalves ts; Betty Glaman harp; Himmy Woode b; Sam Woodyard dr; a.o. ∫ reviews -  Jack Tracy, Down Beat ***** (1957): "A Drum Is a Woman is the most ambitious project attempted by Duke Ellington in years. It is a capsule history of the Negro in America, it is a history of the Ellington orchestra, and it is a folk opera that simply cries for decent stage presentation. But for more than any of these, it is a revealing self-portrait of Duke Ellington."

Steve EVANS Quartet - 2 Sets: rec  2007  CD  ESC ∫ Steve Evans voc; Leandor Lopez Varady p; Jake Vinsel b; Noritaka Tanaka dr ∫ reviews - Label: Steve Evans is a new name. This young vocalist lives and works in Chicago, which immediately forces one to remember his famous countryman Kurt Elling, but Steve sings completely differently. His manner of singing is completely different, too, he is vocalizing in a completely unique fusion of acadenceemic technique and the power of the voice, of jazz intonation and repertoire, primarily oriented toward the creativity of the best bards of rock. This is the ambitious release by fast up and coming US-vocalist Steve Evans. On "Two Sets" Steve Evans and his astounding quartet explore the music of Nick Drake, Tom Waits, Arto Lindsay, Van Morrison, and Benjamin Britten among others. Steve Evans originally intended to release a live recording of his quartet, but "technical difficulties" intervened. So instead he imposed strict restrictions on his studio process in the hopes of recreating the conditions necessary to have a "live" sound. And it worked. Two great sets - all acoustic - all live recorded without an audience. And Evans swings hard with a clear tenor and plenty of sass, even on ballads, and he mixes up the standard repertoire by making room for songs by such great songwriters like Nick Drake, Tom Waits and Van Morrison. /

Morton FELDMAN - The Viola in My Life: rec 2001  CD  ECM ∫ Marek Konstantynowicz va, Cikada Ensemble, Members of the Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Christian Eggen ∫ reviews - Label: Während beim Jazz Europa den Ton angibt, dreht sich in der New Series im Februar alles um Amerikanisches. Morton Feldmans 1970 und 1971 entstandener Zyklus „The Viola in My Life“ stellt insofern einen Wendepunkt im Schaffen des Meisters dar, als er die graphische Notation hier zugunsten einer genauen Fixierung der Parameter aufgibt. Nachdem er die ersten drei Teile für Solobratsche und wechselnde Ensemblebesetzungen vorgesehen hatte, schuf er im vierten nach eigener Aussage so etwas wie eine „Übersetzung“ des bereits verwendeten Materials in den orchestralen Maßstab. Marek Konstantynowicz ist der Solist unserer Aufnahme, daneben ist das norwegische Cikada Ensemble zu hören und, im vierten Teil, das Norwegische Radioorchester unter Christian Eggen. / Vertrieb: Der Komponist Morton Feldman ist zusammen mit John Cage eine der wichtigsten Stimmen der amerikanischen Neue Musik Szene. Sein vollkommen eigenständiges musikalisches Denken zeichnet sich durch weiträumige Zeitverläufe, minimale Entwicklungsbogen und reiche Klangfarben aus. Der Zyklus ‚The Viola In My Life‘ stammt von 1970/71 und hat nichts von seiner Faszination und gleichsam improvisatorischen Frische verloren. Das Werk des charismatischen Aussenseiters wurde im Verlauf der Zeit zunehmend wichtiger, gerade auch in seiner Verbindung zu den bildenden Künsten. Es zählt heute zu den zentralen Oeuvres der neuen Musik. Das Cikada Ensemble, eine Erweiterung des gleichnamigen Streichquartetts, und sein langjähriger Bratschist Konstantynowicz bieten eine beredte Interpretation. Ihre letzte Einspielung mit Werken von Cage / Maderna und Saariaho erhielt international begeisterte Kritiken.

FERNANDEZ-PARKER-GUY-LYTTON / Topos: rec 2006  CD  MAYA Recordings ∫ Evan Parker ts, ss; Agusti Fernandez p; Barry Guy b; Paul Lytton dr ∫ reviews - Down Beat 03.08 Shaun Brady: **** / Jazz’N’More 01.08 ****/ Disc

Paolo FRESU Quartet - Stanley Music!: rec 2007 CD  Blue Note ∫ Paolo Fresu tp, flh, eff; Bebo Ferra g; Paolino Dalla Porta b; Stefano Bagnoli dr ∫ reviews - JazzThing 02.08 Olaf Maikopf: ... leider bewegt sich Fresu mit seinem neuen Devil Quartet nur zaghaft in heissen Gefilden ... nach dem temperamentvollen Opener "Another Road To Timbuctu" bewegt sich die Band aber zu relaxt ... auch der unterschwellige Funk bei "Moto Perpetuo" ist leider nur ein Strohfeuer ... bis auf ein spielfreudiges Medley zelebriert das Quartett nur noch farblosen Schönklang /   DRS2 Jazz aktuell 05.02.08, Empfehlung Jürg Solothurnmann / JazzThetik 02.08 **** / Soundclip

Michael GASSMANN 4 - News From Home: rec 2006  CD  Splas(H) ∫ Michael Gassmann tp; Marcel Schefer p; Herbert Kramis b; Andy Brugger dr ∫ reviews - DRS2 Jazz aktuell 05.02.08, Empfehlung Jürg Solothurnmann genre: contemporary swiss jazz  

Stan GETZ & Gerry MULLIGAN - Getz Meets Mulligan In HiFi: rec 1957  CD  Jazz Track ∫ Stan Getz ts; Gerry Mulligan bs; Lou Levy p; Ray Brown b; Stan Levey dr ∫ reviews - John A. Tynan, Downbeat **** (1957) "A Getz-Mulligan meeting on record was, one supposes, inevitable sooner or later. In capturing both saxists for a joint date, in supplying them with a rhythm section of top calibre, it was produced a worldwide jazz album".

Stan GETZ And The Oscar PETERSON Trio: rec 1957  CD  Jazz Track ∫ Stan Getz ts; Oscar Peterson p; Herb Ellis g; Ray Brown b ∫ reviews - Label: In 1986, Mel Martin asked Stan Getz the following question: "What would you like to say to all the saxophone players reading this interview?" The saxophonist's answer was instantaneous: "Switch to piano! No; really, if you like an instrument that sings, play the saxophone. A good quartet, listening closely to each other, is like a good conversation among friends interacting to each other's ideas." What we have here is not a good quartet, but an excellent one. In fact, it is the result of a well rehearsed trio: Oscar Peterson's celebrated unit with guitarist Herb Ellis and bassist Ray Brown, plus the beautiful sound of Stan Getz's tenor sax. Peterson and Getz display their truly creative interplay on these sides. This album constitutes their only studio album in a quartet format. The absence of drums adds a magical atmosphere to the warm sound of Getz's saxophone on the ballads, while on the swing tunes, Peterson's skill with his left hand combined with Ellis' rhythm guitar work leave no free space for a drummer.

Dennis GONZALEZ - Dance Of The Soothsayer (Live At Tonic): rec 2007 CD  clean feed ∫ Dennis Gonzalez tp; Ellery Eskelin ts; Mark Helias b; Mike T.A. Thompson dr ∫ reviews - Down Beat 03.08 Peter Margasak ***° / Jazz’N’More 01.08 ****

Brad GOODE - Nature Boy: rec 2007  CD  Delmark ∫ Brad Goode tp; Jeff Jenkins p; Johannes Weidenmueller b; Todd Reid, dr ∫ reviews - DRS2 Jazz aktuell 05.02.08, Empfehlung Jürg Solothurnmann / Label: Jazz trumpeter Brad Goode is a former Chicagoan who now resides in Colorado, where he teaches at the University of Colorado at Boulder. He led the house band at The Green Mill for a dozen years and made numerous appearances at The Jazz Showcase with Joe Henderson, Eddie Harris, Lee Konitz, James Moody, Red Rodney, Ira Sullivan and others. Of his previous Delmark CD, Down Beat said "Goode shows more range of expression than ever on Hypnotic Expression (Delmark 567) ***°. Nature Boy contains 12 songs including four new Goode compositions. Also available: Shock Of The New (Delmark 440).

Stéphane GRAPPELLI - Swinging with Django Reinhardt: 5CD-Box  Harmonia Mundi ∫ Stéphane Grappelli (vio), Django Reinhardt (vio), Joseph Reinhardt (g), Roger Chaput (g), Louis Vola (b), a.o. ∫ reviews - Label: Stéphane Grappelli represents a whole century of jazz in himself.Although his own style remained close to swing, he followed every stylistic change and development of jazz; and as though to emphasize all this, his nomadic but brilliant lifestyle symbolizes jazz in its cultural and social role.From the street and backrooms of cafés to the most prestigious concerthalls in the world, via silent film theatres and clubs, the biography of this outstandingly talented musician reads like a biography of jazz itself. Given that the violin was not in any way one of jazz's favourite instruments,and that jazz is first and foremost an Afro-American type of music, the white European violinist Grappelli is an exception all the way down the line!

Barry GUY / Mats GUSTAFSSON / Raymond STRID - Tarfala: rec 2007  CD  MAYA Recordings ∫ Barry Guy b; Mats Gustafsson fluetophone, ss, ts, bs; Raymond Strid perc ∫ reviews - Label: Listening to the tapes of this live concert from Culturen Västerås, persuaded me that certain attributes of the playing of Mats Gustafsson and Raymond Strid are indeed bound with “Terroir”. There is probably a useful Swedish word describing this, but the French word nevertheless seems appropriate in describing a sense of place, something earthy and powerful. My thoughts moved to volcanoes and in particular glaciers, which of course abound in Sweden. The explosive power of the volcano leaving behind often exquisite settlements of minerals and crystals and the inexorable slide of the glacier, sometimes tearing, other times honing, but always moving in a solid mass onwards, expresses my feelings for these musicians way of playing. But there is lightness within this weight and solidity, which in a way reflects the transparent and crystalline structures that we witness in these two earthly formations of volcano and glacier.

Charlie HADEN - The Private Collection: rec 1987 / 88  DCD Naim Records ∫ Charlie Haden b; Ernie Watts sax; Alan Broadbent p; Billy Higgins or Paul Motian dr ∫ reviews - Jazz’N’More 01.08 *****

HASLER / PAEFFGEN / AUDETAT - The Story Of Major Tom: CD  Meta Records ∫ Gilbert PAEFFGEN perc, dr; Pierre Audétat sampler; Werner HASLER electronica, tp ∫ reviews -  DRS2 Jazz aktuell 12.02.08, Empfehlung Peter Bürli / Jazzpodium 10.07, Ullrich Steinmetzger: Der Trompeter Werner Hasler aus Bern leitet mit Manufaktur eine potentielle Lieblingsband und hat darüber hinaus ein Faible für Ausflüge ins Offene. Mit dem Japanischen Elektroniker Sunao Inami hat er Files getauscht. Daraus ist eine kuriose und doch sehr suggestive Platte entstanden, obwohl sie sich im richtigen Leben nur zehn Minuten lang begegnet sind. Mit der arabischen Sängerin Kamilya Jubran betreibt er ein experimentelles uns sehr erfolgreiches Duo, wobei er ausschließlich als Elektroniker agiert. Wichig ist ihm beim Springen aus den Schubaden das spielerische Demontieren jeglicher Klischees. Also ist der mit ganz ähnlichen Intentionen arbeitende Sampler-Artist Pierre Audédat aus Lausanne ein guter Partner. Auch er ist geübt in vorurteilslosem, unverhofften Instant Composing. Diesen futuristischen Bastard voller bizarrer, mal sperriger, mal durchaus songnaher Klangfindung grundiert und akzentuiert der Berner Schlagzeuger Gilbert Paeffgen, der vom Krautrock bis zur Begleitung der Operndiva Barbara Hendricks erfahren ist, sich mit keltischen und afrikanischen Rhythmen auskennt und auch das traditionelle schweizerische Hackbrett für sich entdeckt hat. Mal scheinen Don Cherry’s Duos mit Ed Blackwell auf, mal Gamelan-Musik von übermorgen. Beliebig sind die Trio-Resultate deswegen nicht, vielmehr sind sie ein munterer Abenteuerspielplatz, voll mit ebenso irritierenden wie präzisen Teilen, die sich zu einer seltsamen suggestiven Klanglandschaft addieren, weil keins der konzisen Stücke ins Geschwätzige wegdriftet / Disc

Milt JACKSON - Plenty, Plenty Soul: rec 1956/57  CD  Essential Jazz Classics  ∫ Milt Jackson vib; Julian "Cannonball" Adderley as; Frank Foster ts; Sahib Shihab bs; Horace Silver p; Percy Heath b; Art Blakey dr ∫ reviews - This release contains Milt Jackson's complete album Plenty, Plenty Soul, plus two of the three sessions from his LP Ballads & Blues, included here in their entirety. "There should be some exceptional merit badge for this sort of thing - Five Stars Plus or Too Good to Rate." - Ralph J. Gleason on Plenty, Plenty Soul, Down Beat 1957 ***** "Milt throughout is remarkable - even his rests pulsate." - Nat Hentoff on Ballads & Blues, Down Beat 1957 ****°

Etta JONES / Houston PERSON - Don't Missunderstand:  CD  HighNote ∫ Etta Jones voc; Houston Person ts; Sonny Phillips org; Frankie Jones dr

Hank JONES - Solo Piano: rec 1956  CD  Fresh Sound ∫ Hank Jones piano / Disc
Hank JONES / Wendell MARSHALL / Kenny CLARKE - The Trio: rec 1955  CD  Fresh Sound ∫ Hank Jones p; Wendell Marshall b; Kenny Clarke dr

Quincy JONES - The Quincy Jones ABC/Mercury Big Band Sessions: released 2008  CD  Verve ∫ Soundclip

Sean JONES - Kaleidoscope: rec 2007  CD  Mack Avenue ∫ Sean Jones flh; Sachal Vasandani, Carolyn Perteete, DJ Walter, Kim Burrell, Gretche Parlato voc; Tia Fuller fl; Brian Hogans as; Walter Smith III ts; Antoine Drye tp; Orrin Evans p; Alton Merrill Fender, p, Luques Curtis b; Mike Boone el-b; Obed Calvaire dr; Jay Ashby perc ∫ reviews - Down Beat 03.08 **** John Ephland: "Kaleidoscope" offers intelligent pop eclecticism / Audio-Sample: -> "Jukebox"

Valerie JOYCE - The Look Of Love; The Music Of Burt Bacharach: rec 2007 Chesky Records ∫ Valerie Joyce voc; David Hazeltine p; Paul Gill b; Tony Reedus dr ∫ reviews - "The Look of Love" is Valerie Joyce's much anticipated follow-up to her Chesky debut, featuring elegantly chic original arrangements of the classic pieces in Burt Bacharach & Hal David's catalogue. This super audio CD was recorded in multi-channel surround sound using Chesky's state of the art minimalist miking techniques and the world's finest custom-made electronics to assure the purest, most natural sounding recording available. "Joyce's angelic voice holds a tranquil, ethereal quality that wafts upward with a lighter-than-air mystique..." - Audio USA / Label: Valerie Joyce has been performing as a musician on the Seattle music scene since 1994. Born in Japan to an American father and Japanese mother, she was exposed to classical music through her mother's piano playing and extensive record collection. After college, she moved to Seattle where she regularly appears with a variety of jazz ensembles. genre: mainstream vocal jazz / Soundclips 1 / 2

Bassekou KOUYATE & NGONI BA - Segu Blue: CD  Out | Here ∫ Bassekou Kouyate, Kasse Mady Diabate, Lobi Traoré, Lassana Diabate ngoni; Zomana Tereta, Ami Sacko voc ∫ reviews - Down Beat 02.08 **** Peter Margasak: ... the ngonis form a gorgeous lattice of sound with hypnotic arpeggios and improvised curlicues weaving in and around one another. Segu Blue is one of the finest albums of Malian music in years, and when it's all said and done, it works because of rapport and communication, not the lineup / 'Segu Blue' voted Album of the Year at the BBC Radio 3 Awards / Kouyate / Disc

Urs LEIMGRUBER - Solo: 13 Pieces For Saxophone: rec 2007  CD  LEO Records ∫ Urs Leimgruber sax ∫ reviews - Jazz’N’More 01.08 ****

Daniel LEVIN Quartet - Blurry: rec 2006, released 2007  CD  hatOLOGY ∫ Daniel Levin cello; Nate Wooley tp; Matt Moran vib; Joe Morris b ∫ reviews - DRS2 Jazz aktuell 22.01.08, Empfehlung Jürg Solothurnmann ∫ genre: free, impro

LIEBMAN / TARENZI / BENEDETTINI / ARCO - Dreams Of Nite: rec 2007  CD  Verve ∫ David Liebman ts, ss; Roberto Tarenzi p; Paolo Benedettini b; Tony Arco dr ∫ reviews - Down Beat 02.08 ***°  / Thom Jurek Courtesy of All Music Guide: "Veteran saxophonist, flutist, and composer Dave Liebman leads this stellar Italian group in a live outing recorded in 2005. The band consists of the great Tony Arco on drums, bassist Paolo Benedettini, and pianist Roberto Tarenzi. The quartet roots its sound deeply in the modal investigations of Miles Davis and the inquisitive yet expressive improvisational explorations of Coltrane circa A Love Supreme. This isn't idle praise; it's simply what the music bears out. The interplay and listening between bandmembers — and in particular the rhythm section — are remarkable. Liebman, who has played many different kinds of jazz with more people than even he can count over these last 30-plus years, moves effortlessly from full-blown modal articulations on the soprano to deep bluesy tenor playing and back to the soprano to improvise on Turkish and Jewish folk melodies in his solos. The reading of Davis' "Fran-Dance" here is executed exceedingly well over nine minutes, with some lovely soloing by Liebman on soprano and beautiful chromatic work by Tarenzi. That said, the full measure of the band's power comes from the compositions of its various members: Arco's stellar "Feel," near the beginning of the disc, reveals just how much freewheeling improvisation can happen inside a tune based on open eighth notes. On Tarenzi's "Unsteady," rhythmic patterns shift quickly and often while Liebman navigates them effortlessly in his solo, and Tarenzi takes all of them into his without losing the rhythm section for even a moment as the modal tune unfolds. No matter where the soloists drift, they always seem to come back at the same moment. Benedettini's bass playing is almost movingly sensitive, not just to time, but to dynamic and emotive textures. Arco is a dancing kind of drummer, playing different tensions with each hand, pushing just enough of the beat ahead or behind to create a different opening for the ensemble to pursue. Check out the support Liebman gets on his closing title track, where the beat seems to open up just as he's getting ready to solo; they offer him a sturdy ledge to let his own interpolative scales and angles turn back on themselves before foraging further, yet the melody in the head is never lost and the rhythm becomes circular at the tune's most adventurous moments. Though these men play together sporadically, the excitement they generate here makes them sound as if they've been a unit for decadencees. " / Liebman

Charles LLOYD - Rabo de Nube: rec 2007 CD  ECM ∫ Charles Lloyd ts/fl/taragoto, Jason Moran p, Reuben Rogers b, Eric Harland dr/perc ∫ reviews - 09.04.08 Auftritt bei CULLY JAZZ (s/Veranstaltungen) Label: Charles Lloyd wird am 15. März seinen 70. Geburtstag feiern können. ‚Rabo de Nube‘ bringt keine nostalgische Rückschau auf eine an Höhepunkten reiche Musikerlaufbahn, sondern präsentiert einen Energie geladenen Konzertmitschnitt vom 24. April 2007 am Off Beat Festival in Basel. Sein neues Quartett bot einen denkwürdigen Auftritt, der die Anwesenden zu Begeisterungsstürmen hinriss und lange nachhallte. Lloyd war neben seinem fulminanten Saxophon– und Flötenspiel immer ein herausragender Bandleader. Die jungen Musiker, sie könnten beinahe seine Enkel sein, erhalten viel Raum und gleichzeitig bringt Lloyd seine ganze Erfahrung ins Spiel. Insbesondere die Pianisten seiner Karriere sind Legende - die Liste reicht von Phineas Newborn und Joe Zawinul bis Keith Jarrett, von Michel Petrucciani und Bobo Stenson bis Brad Mehldau und Geri Allen. Unbeeindruckt von seinen Vorgängern setzt Jason Moran deutlich neue Akzente. Sein breites musikalisches Spektrum ist traditionsgesättigt und neugierig offen, sein originär perkussives Spiel und sein pointiert harmonisches Denken führen immer wieder zu dramaturgisch überraschenden Wendungen. Waches Interplay und brillant vielfältige Solos aller Bandmitglieder sind ebenso zu hören wie Herz erwärmende Balladen, etwa das Titelstück aus der Feder von Silvio Rodríguez. Ein einziger Höhenflug!

LOLA DE VALENCE - Eaux Troublés: rec 2007  CD  Altri Suoni ∫ Ivan Gaillard dr, perc; Claude Schneider g; Alain Ray bandoneon; André Hahne b ∫ reviews -  Notiz Label: Das junge Quartett ist geographisch in der Waadt beheimatet, stilistisch fühlt es sich der nordafrikanischen und südspa- nischen Musik verwandt. Die aufgewühlten Wasser zeugen von einer lichte Reise in sehnsuchtsvolle Gefilde. Ein schönes Debut.

Ahmad MANSOUR - Free Speech: rec  2007  CD  ESC ∫ Ahmad Mansour g; Stomu Takeishi el-b, loops; Ted Poor dr ∫ reviews - "Joined by fellow daredevils and audacious improvisers Stomu Takeishi on 5-string electric bass and Ted Poor on drums -- two ubiquitous figures on New York's creative downtown music scene -- Mansour explores some rather open-ended, outer territory in these live performances. Mansour and his highly interactive trio create music that is at once compelling and provocative, edgy and at times hauntingly beautiful. If jazz is the sound of surprise, then this is jazz with a capital 'J'." Bill Milkowski, JazzTimes USA / "Mansour's second release on ESC further twists and elongates many of the themes and dynamics introduced on last year's Public Domain. Like its predecessor, Free Speech captures the group on tour in Europe and takes the trio's characteristically open-ended interactions to some marvellous new levels. Built on a hypnotically rocky beat the title track's bluesy riff and molten, dreamy chords veer into a chasm of squawks and undersea whines before reaching a scorching apex while "Modulator"'s driving wah-wah groove brings silky, sweeping lines from Takeishi over the powerfully restless, yet inventive Poor. The album's magnum opus, "Nebula", reconfigures Mansour's "A Minor Introduction", creating deft, intricate soundscapes, amid dazzling group interplay in which lush, liquid melodic sequences ebb and flow at will. "Rule and Divide" is an achingly understated reinterpretation of the tender ballad while the closing "Out on a Limb" is a scorching funk vamp." James McGowan, September 2007, Jazzwise Magazine ∫ Sound

Tommy MEIER  Root Down: rec 2007  CD  Intakt ∫ Tommy Meier ts, bcl; Co Streiff sax; Hans Anliker tb; Peter Schärli tp; Irène Schweizer p; Marco Käppeli, Fredi Flückiger dr, Russ Johnson, Marco von Orelli, Hans Anliker, Michael Flury, Hans Koch, Co Streiff, Jurg Wickihalder, Peter Landis, Stephan Thelen, Philipp Schaufelberger, Chris Wiesendanger, Irène Schweizer, Herbert Kramis, Christian Weber, Jan Schlegel, Fredi Flukiger, Marco Kappeli, Chris Jäger, Trixa Arnold, Joke Lanz ∫ reviews - Down Beat 03.08 Peter Margasak ***° / Jazz’N’More 01.08 **** / NZZ 06.01.08, M. Papst: ... eine pulsierende Mischung aus Jazz und afrikanischen Traditionen ... Virtuosität, Improvisation, Innovation, mitreissenden Rhythmik und betörende Harmonik verbinden sich zu einem prächtigen Ganzen

Pat METHENY - Day Trip: rec 2007  DCD  Nonesuch ∫ Pat Metheny g, synth; Christian McBride b; Antonio Sanchez dr ∫ reviews - Down Beat 03.08 **** / DRS2 Jazz aktuell 12.02.08, Empfehlung Peter Bürli / The Boston Globe calls Day Trip "Metheny at his best, creating music of understated sophistication by interacting sublimely with equally talented musicians" in a trio outing with bassist Christian McBride and drummer Antonio Sanchez; includes two live bonus downloads --- "Traveling Fast" and " Tromsø" / Disc / Sound

Ravish MOMIN's Trio Tarana - Miren (A Longing): rec 2007  CD  clean feed ∫ Ravish Momin dr, perc, etr; Sam Bardfeld vio; Brandon Terzic oud, effects ∫ reviews - coda 01.08, Bill Barton: ... born in Hyderabad (India), Momin grew up in Bombay and Bahrain. It's fitting that some of his formative years were spent in The Kingdom of Bahrain - acountry essentially without borders. His music claerly does not recognize borders, be they cultural, political, geographic or artistic in nature ... Momin studied drums with Andrew Cyrille and Bob Moses ... on Trio Tarana he focuses much of his attention on the traps. His approach appears to echo a varietiy of Indian, EastAsian, North African, Arabic and Latin American hand-drum traditions adapted to the full kit. It is an approach that is often busy, but never cluttered ... Bardfeld's violin is part of an earthy, hard-swinging lineage that reaches from Stuff Smith to Billy Bang / Disc

Meredith MONK & Vocal Ensemble - Impermanence: rec 2007 CD ECM ∫ Theo Bleckmann, Ellen Fisher, Katie Geissinger, Ching Gonzalez, Meredith Monk, Allison Sniffin, Sasha Bogdanowitsch, Silvie Jensen voc; Allison Sniffin p/v, John Hollenbeck perc, Bohdan Hilash woodwinds ∫ reviews - Label: Meredith Monks rund einstündiges neues Werk „Impermanence“ ist eine mal melancholische, mal spielerische Meditation über Vergänglichkeit in 16 Sätzen. Ein sehr persönliches Stück, das von schmerzlichen Verlusterfahrungen – ihre Partnerin war 2002 im Alter von 56 Jahren verstorben – geprägt ist und dennoch, auf Monks jüngsten Orchester- und Quartett-Kompositionen aufbauend, eine neue künstlerische Ebene öffnet. Die Instrumental-Parts sind reicher geworden, die Harmonik chromatischer, die Emotionalität kontrollierter. Dabei klingen Monks Vokalartistik und die Ensembleleistung ihrer langjährigen Mitstreiter so vital und lebensbejahend wie eh und je  / Vertrieb: Meredith Monk ist eine phänomenale Sängerin & Performerin. Ihr Schaffen inspiriert viele Künstler: u.a. Bjørk, DJ Spooky, Laurie Anderson oder Kate Bush. Ihr neuestes Werk ist eine abendfüllende, multimediale Meditation über Aspekte der Vergänglichkeit, über Tod, Verlust und Verletzlichkeit. Zusammen mit ihrem hochkarätigen Vokalensemble und geladenen Instrumentalisten formt sie daraus gleichzeitig karge und verführerisch packende Miniaturen. Jedes Stück ist ein szenisches Kleinod voller unmittelbarer Bildhaftigkeit. Kein Wunder, wird ihre Musik oft in Filmen verwendet, etwa von den Gebrüdern Coen oder von Jean-Luc Godard. Die charismatische Künstlerin meinte einmal: „Ich arbeite in den Ritzen, dort wo die Stimme zu Tanzen und der Körper zu Singen beginnt, dort wo das Theater zum Kino wird.“

Steve NELSON - Sound-Effect: CD  HighNote ∫ Steve Nelson vib; Mulgrew Miller p; Peter Washington b; Lewis Nash dr ∫ reviews - Jazz’N’More 01.08 ***

The NUTTREE Quartet - Standards: rec 2007  CD  Kind Of Blue ∫ John Abercrombie g; Jerry Bergonzi ts; Adam Nussbaum dr; Gary Versace org / Disc

PAF / Plastic Art Foundation - Or: rec CD  plastic-art-foundation ∫ Carlo A. Crameri el-g, p, kb, synt,Long Cornet, voc, comp, lyrics; Martin Tillmannel- cello ∫ reviews - Jazz’N’More 01.08 ***** / JazzThing 10.07, Reinhad Köchl: Mit Plastik haben die kühnen Projekte des Carlo Crameri eigentlich so gut wie nichts zu tun. Mit Kunst dagegen durchaus. Der Schweizer Gitarrist, Maler, Bildhauer und Philosoph will über die Musik ein völliges neues Bewusstsein schaffen und auch liebgewonnene Hörgewohnheiten überlisten. Einfach drauflos spielen, ohne jede Vorgabe: So etwas funktioniert bis dato nur mit Jazzern – selbst wenn es partout kein Jazz sein darf. www.plastic-art-foundation.com | audio samples see PAF "Musik"

Maceo PARKER - Roots & Grooves: rec 2007  DCD Heads Up ∫ Maceo Parker as, voc; Fank Chastenier kb; Paul Shigihara g; WDR Big Band Köln, Michael Abene cond; John Goldsby b; Hans Dekker, Dennis Chambers dr; Rodney +Skeet" curtis el-b ∫ reviews -  Down Beat 03.08 ***°  Genre: Funk, Pop 

Art PEPPER - Meets The Rhythm Section: rec 1951/56/57  CD  Essential Jazz Classics ∫ Art Pepper (as), Red Garland (p), Paul Chambers (b), Philly Joe Jones (dr) ∫ reviews - This CD contains two complete albums showcasing Art Pepper in a quartet setting: Meets the Rhythm Section, featuring Miles Davis' legendary rhythm section of Red Garland, Paul Chambers & Philly Joe Jones, and Marty Paich Quartet Featuring Art Pepper. "One of the best jazz albums of last year and probably Pepper's most mature recording to date." - John A. Tynan on Meets the Rhythm Section, Down Beat 1957 ***** "Another invigorating indication that Art Pepper has returned to the scene with even more to say on his horn than before. Recommended." - Nat Hentoff on Marty Paich Quartet

The PIZZARELLI BOYS - Sunday At Pete's: CD  Challenge Records ∫ John Pizzarelli, Bucky Pizzarelli g; Martin Pizzarelli b; Tony Tedesco ddr ∫ reviews - Down Beat 02.08 ****

Marcus PRINTUP / Ted NASH Quintet - Bird Of Paradise; The Music of Charlie Parker: CD  Steeple Chase ∫ Marcus Printup tp; Ted Nash ts, as; Riza Hequibal harp; Kengo Nakamura b; Shinnosuke Takahashi dr ∫ reviews - DRS2 Jazz aktuell 05.02.08, Empfehlung Jürg Solothurnmann

Claus RAIBLE - Don't Blame Me: rec 2007  CD  Pirouet Recordings ∫ Claus Raible p; Giorgos Antoniou b; Ben Dixon dr ∫ reviews - JazzThing 02.08, Reinhard Köchl: ... Raible weiss genau, dass nur der Bebop mit seinen rasanten harmonischen Wendungen die Spreu vom Weizen zu trennen vermag ... wie der 40-jährige aber eine neue Tür zu der puristischen Lehre öffnet, ist das eigentlich Bemerkenswerte ... Raible und Co. haben den Bebop bis in alle Nervenbahnen verinnerlicht. Mit Nostalgie hat das nichts zu tun. Eher mit Identität, Integrität und Glaubwürdigkeit / Vertrieb: Claus Raible has so immersed himself in bebop that it is now an integral part of his nervous system: Raible lives his music. His trio plays with an immediacy and directness that is too often missing in today's world of hype: tight and compact, this is music that deals with substance, not surface, as Raible and company delve deep into the mood and meaning of each composition. / Disc / Soundclips 1 / 2 / 3

Django REINHARDT - Plays Django Reinhardt 1935 - 1953: 5CD-Box  Harmonia Mundi ∫ Django Reinhardt g; Stéphane Grappelli vio; Joseph Reinhardt g; Eugène Vées g; Fred Emelin b; a.o. ∫ reviews - Alain Raemackers: Our prognostications on how Django Reinhardt's music might have developed if he had not died at the age of forty-three - that is, on what he did not play - have struck a rather sombre note: the minor mode of which he was fond? Now the moment has come to listen to his compositions one after the other - that it to say, the music he actually did play: the moment of felicity.The selection we present here appears to repose on a principle of irrefutable objectivity: we regard as' compositions of Django Reinhardt' all the titles he signed or co-signed. However, we will see this theoretical rigour dented by the vagaries of the record business but also by the ruses and tricks to which musicians and producers sometimes resort in order to reap the wholly material benefits that can a signature under a title bring in. A certain number ofControversial cases have forced us to come down on one side or the other: to include one piece, and exclude another.Of course, this little game seems derisory in view of everything we are putting to oneside on the pretext that it is not signed 'Django Reinhardt' when it is patently obvious that it is Django!Many of the monuments of creative joy which punctuate the recorded career of Django Reinhardt do not feature on these five CDs. They aren't here, so we won't talk about them. After all, the game of making anthologies is quite an exciting one: let us imagine another selection, based on a principle that is apparently just as objective ('Django plays standards', 'Django plays the blues', and so forth). Perhaps that would give a different image of the artist whom our title 'Django plays Django' seems to want to catch in the posture of Narcissus - but, of course, he escapes this label as he does any other. It is indeed a Django-logy that we present here, but let us delight to think it is not the only one that is possible.

Bernd REITER Jazzquartet - "Live": rec 2007  CD  TCB ∫ Bernd Reiter dr, ld; Roman Schwaller ts; Sascha Mutic p; Robert Jukic b ∫ Strike Up The Band / Theme For Ernie / Ruby, My Dear / Bitter Suite / Cheese Cake / Body & Soul / Dear John

Herb ROBERTSON NY Downtown Allstars - Real Aberration: rec 2006  CD  clean feed ∫ Herb Robertson tp; Tim Berne as; Sylvie Courvoisier p; Mark Dresser b; Tom Rainey dr ∫ reviews - Down Beat 03.08 Bill Shoemaker: ****° / Jazz’N’More 01.08 **** / Disc

Gonzalo RUBALCABA - Avatar: rec 2007 CD  Blue Note ∫ Gonzalo Rubalcaba p, kb; Yosvany Terry as, ts; Mike Rodriguez tp, flh; Matt Brewer b; Marcus Gilmore dr ∫ reviews - Down Beat 03.08 *** / Disc

Benjamin SCHAEFER Trio - Roots And Wings: rec 2007 CD  ENJA ∫ Benjamin Schaefer p; Robert Landfermann b; Marcus Rieck dr ∫ reviews - Vertrieb: The trio's live performances were hailed a document of "very creative chamber musical jazz of great maturity" (Jazz Zeitung), and soon Schaefer turned into "the shooting star of German jazz" (Wiesbadener Kurier). International success was to follow: At the 2007 contest "Tremplin Jazz d'Avignon" in Southern France the pianist received the prize for the best composition, his trio being the live audience's favorite ensemble (prix du public). Now the Benjamin Schaefer Trio confirms its status among today's piano trios with the new album "Roots And Wings". Harmonically and rhythmically refined, the trio's music is distinguished by great pianistical talent, love for melodies, a young group's as