Cecil Taylor at Grace Cathedral
Matching a transcendent environment with transcendent music, the iconic free-jazz pianist delivered a solo performance that defied easy categorization.
Archive for October, 2008
Todd Coolman: Perfect Strangers
In assembling this unique CD, bassist Todd Coolman didn’t fall back on standards or a longstanding repertoire. Instead, he solicited original compositions from visitors to his website.
Oct 21, 2008 | 0 comments | View Post
Marshall Gilkes: Lost Words
Possessing a brainy yet conversationally eloquent style, Gilkes offers up a set of eight radiant original tunes with his second release as a leader.
Oct 21, 2008 | 0 comments | View Post
Aaron Parks: Invisible Cinema
After an extended stint in Terence Blanchard’s band, 24-year old pianist Aaron Parks steps out on his own with an intriguing major-label debut.
Rebeca Mauleón at SFJAZZ
Celebrating her receipt of the SFJAZZ Beacon Award with a powerhouse ensemble, Mauleón demonstrated the passion that drives Bay Area Latin jazz.
Esperanza Spalding at Yoshi’s
Esperanza Spalding is a true original. And at 24 she already has the performing mastery — and star power — of a veteran.
Oct 15, 2008 | 2 comments | View Post
Bill Cantrall: Axiom
For his debut recording as a leader, Cantrall has written a set of original hard-bop and post-bop tunes that replace contemporary noodling with the directness of an earlier generation.
Oct 14, 2008 | 0 comments | View Post
CDs in Brief: October 2008
Reviews of four recently-released CDs by Paul Shapiro (Essen), Phil Markowitz (Catalysis), the Brothers Goldman (fOnk) and blink. (The Epidemic of Ideas
Oct 09, 2008 | 0 comments | View Post
Scott Amendola Trio at Yoshi’s
With Chicago guitarist Jeff Parker on one side and bassist John Shifflett on the other, the exuberant drummer balanced broad, fluid strokes with laserlike precision.
Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra: Harriet Tubman
Inspired by Tubman’s remarkable life, bassist Marcus Shelby has created a swing and gospel-based oratorio that is expansive, gripping and utterly triumphant.
Larry Vuckovich Trio: High Wall
High Wall is billed as the follow-up to Vuckovich’s entertaining 2006 CD, Street Scene. But perhaps it would be more accurate to say that Street Scene was the warm-up to this disc.
Miles from India at SFJAZZ
The 15-piece supergroup Miles from India began their sprawling concert at Davies Hall with 40 minutes of blazing brilliance. Unfortunately, it was a 2-hour show.
Oct 04, 2008 | 3 comments | View Post
