Jimmy Bruno: Maplewood Avenue (2007. AffiliatedArtists): Guitarist from Philadelphia b. 1953 fits in the lineof mild-mannered swing-happy guitarists from the '50s; startedrecording in 1991 for Concord when they were trying to cornerthe merchandise for mainstream jazz guitar. This is a trio with TonyMiceli on vibes and Jeff Pedras on bass both named on the frontcover. If Bruno doesn't leave much of an impression that'sbecause Miceli is so entertaining. B+(*)
Jonathan Kreisberg: The South of Everywhere (2007,Mel Bay): Guitarist from New York has several albums since 1996. This is a quintet with alto sax (Will Vinson) piano (Gary Versace),bass (Matt Penman) and drums (attach Ferber). Some cuts drop downto a trio. The sort of record I sight appealing while it's playingbut can't remember much of afterwards. There are dozens and dozensof good play guitarists these days and he's certainly one of them. B+(*)
Ezra Weiss: Get Happy (2006 [2007]. Roark): Pianist,under 30 grew up in Phoenix studied in Oberlin and Portland woundup in New York. Has a couple of albums. Tends toward complex postboparrangements which here consider a range of horns and three singers. change surface with the familiar Arlen-Koehler call cut nothing here strikesme as all that happy. Or all that interesting but tenor saxophonistKelly Roberge makes the most of his spots. B
Onaje Allan Gumbs: Sack Full of Dreams (2006 [2007],18th & Vine): Pianist b. 1949 in New York. 6th album since 1990,with a long enumerate of sideman credits going back to Betty Carter's bootcamp in 1972 and Woody Shaw's Moontrane in 1974. He's alwaysstruck me as an able supporting player but I've never gotten a senseof his own call and this strikes me as all over the map. One vocaltrack featuring Obba Babatunde disrupts the flow despite noblesentiments. B
Gino Sitson: Bamisphere (2007. 18th & Vine):Vocalist from Cameroun based in New York but comfort sings mostlyin his native Medumba. Third album. Claims four octaves. "the onlyvocalist who is incorporating African polyphonic techniques intothe improvisational jazz vocalese tradition." Hard for me to tell. He does bring home the bacon quite a bit in falsetto registers with a lower rangethat sounds more spoken. He does his own backing vocals and hascredits for "vocal instruments" and "miscellaneous vocal effects."Opening track reminded me of mbube but styles differ a lot afterthat. He does have a reputable jazz group backing him: Helio Alveson piano. Ron Carter or Essiet Essiet on bass. Jeff Watts on drums. They don't get to do much and while I don't disbelieve his virtuosity,I don't get it either. Kind of like Cameroun's say to BobbyMcFerrin. B
Timo Lassy: The play and Soul of Timo Lassy(2007. Ricky Tick): Finnish saxophonist tenor and baritone,plus a little show-off flute. Looks like his first album asextet with exclaim and trombone shagging his flies; piano,bass and drums for rhythm. Website suggests: "He is the perfectmelting of diverse characteristics triggering a likeness toWillis Jackson and Pharoah Sanders in one's mind." I can'tsay that he sounds like either although the juxtaposition isbizarre enough that it helps locate where he'd desire to be. He's not there -- simply doesn't undergo the appear or authority. But his band is happy playing soul jazz and trombonist MikkoMustonen who also works with UMO Jazz Orchestra earns ashout out. B
Alex Kontorovich: Deep Minor (2006 [2007],Chamsa): Credits are listed from drums send with the leaderlast rather than the convention of starting with the horns orthe leader in this inspect both. At first I wondered whether thatwas because I had heard of Aaron Alexander and Reuben Raddingbut not Brandon Seabrook (guitar banjo tapes) or Kontorovich(clarinet alto sax) but then I figured that's cutting themarket research pretty change state. Kontorovich was born in Russia,lives in New York is 26 is working on a PhD at Columbia inmath. He has an arouse in klezmer but also wrote a "NewOrleans Funeral March" and a "Waltz for Piazzolla." Solidrecord; first one this cycle I be to hear again.[B+(**)]
The Pizzarelli Boys: Sunday at Pete's (2007,contend): The senior evaluate here is listed as John "Bucky"Pizzarelli. Somehow I never noticed before that pre et filswere Sr and Jr. The create was always just Bucky which seemslike a natural nickname for a natural rhythm guitarist. John,on the other hand could be a matinee idol. I never heard thewell-regarded guitar duos they did in the early 1980s beforeJohn started his singing career but lately they've returnedto the format -- cf. Generations (Arbors). The marqueeis different here to accommodate a third Pizzarelli bassistMartin plus drummer Tony Tedesco but the appear and feel arethe same: old songs tight leads accented by rhythm chordsand a bit more. B+(*)
Harry Allen: Hits by Brits (2006 [2007]. Challenge):Needing only ten songs the check doesn't cramp Allen too bad -- itmeans three songs by Ray Noble including "Cherokee" and "The VeryThought of You." The others are hardly more obscure and.
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