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Invitation (Pacific Coast Jazz) ****
Here is a nearly flawless recording from someone likely unknown by most jazz fans.
Who is Bruce Eskovitz and where has he been all our listening lives?
All Music Guide (www.allmusic.com) and other pre-release publicity tell us he’s a Los Angeles studio musician and educator, and appears regularly in LA area jazz clubs.
Though age is not mentioned, he is described as a “veteran’’ jazzman.
On “Invitation,’’ Dr. Eskovitz (jazz musicians with doctorates usually like to make that known) is a saxophonist/flutist, composer and arranger.
He is superb in all capacities, and leads a dektette, or “small’’ big band comprising five horns and five rhythm. They are, indeed, a lean, mean machine and make a good case for slimmed-down big bands, sounding like a large ensemble, as well as a combo.
The players mirror their leader’s talent, energy and spirit, and together and as soloists, soar through a highly varied, exciting and satisfying program of 10 tunes, seven penned by Eskovitz. The CD is full of highlights involving everyone in the band, most of whose names--like the leader’s—probably won’t be recognized by many, if any, jazz listeners.
Dr. Eskovitz is quite the discovery. A wailing tenor player (he’s also heard on soprano sax and alto flute on the CD), with a full-bodied sound, he plays with a jolting urgency, as well as sensitivity.
His compositions reflect the completeness and versatility of his playing: Adventurous, yet accessible; hard driving, yet full of dynamic contrast. His arrangements often are surprising, even stunning, in their originality.
Standout among standouts is the haunting film theme that serves as the CD’s title, with its double-time rhythm churning beneath the slowly played theme, a dramatic stop-time or pause, and a scintillating brass section.
There’s something for all tastes: Samba, jazz waltz, mambo, guitarist Herb Ellis’ transcendent, too seldom heard ballad “Detour Ahead,’’ a boss nova, some bebop (of course), a shuffle blues, trumpeter Freddie Hubbard’s fusion hit “Red Clay,’’ and a soulful, closing gospel tune.
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Live at the Jazz Standard, Volume One (MaxJazz) ****
Pianist-vocalist Dena DeRose and trio deliver a scintillating set in Ms. DeRose’s first live recording.
With her adventurous phrasing, scatting and wordless vocals in harmony with her piano, DeRose is an exceptional improvising vocalist, who might appeal even to jazz musicians ordinarily dismissive of singers.
A musician first—a fine pianist with an original, cliché-free approach--she turned to singing only after hand surgery kept her from the keyboard. She has elevated her vocalizing to the same high level as her playing, and now ranks with the likes of Patricia Barber and the late Shirley Horn as a singer-pianist.
On her sixth album, DeRose and trio mates Martin Wind (as in a gale, not a clock) on bass and drummer Matt Wilson make the old sound new again.
Consistently stimulating, they offer fresh, creative arrangements and improvisation on Great American Songbook and standard jazz tunes like Kurt Weill’s “Speak Low,’’ Johnny Burke-Jimmy Van Heusen’s “It Could Happen to You,’’ Cole Porter’s “Get Out of Town,’’ Rodgers and Hart’s “Lover,’’ Bronislaw Kaper’s “Green Dolphin Street,’’ and more.
DeRose ranges across the keyboard, mixing long, flowing single-note lines and briefer phrases with hammered chords, percussive passages, stop-time pauses, and dramatic changes in touch.
Singing with some of Sheila Jordan’s daring and Blossom Dearie’s sophistication and femininity, DeRose is playful, swinging and sometimes sentimental. She gives out with a laugh after several tunes (satisfaction, pleasure, fun?), adding to the immediacy of this terrific live recording. Wilson, who also leads a group called Arts & Crafts, is co-star here. An extremely active, imaginative and skillful player, he uses the full drum kit, including cymbals, which for some drummers, would be better left at home.
Wilson, DeRose and Wind are a tremendously exciting trio.
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Legends of Jazz
A notice from
Ramsey Lewis:
As you may already know, I was inducted as an NEA Jazz Master last week at the IAJE Conference.
I am deeply humbled and honored to receive an award of this importance and significance to jazz in America.
It is wonderful to share this recognition with so many distinguished previously-honored artists such as Tony Bennett, Benny Golson, Dave Brubeck, Chick Corea, Billy Taylor, Ray Barretto, and Clark Terry.....all of who appear on the "Season One" Collection!
That's right! 12 episodes from the first season are now available on "Season One," a 3 DVD Collection Set.
That means in one package you get 6 hours of LEGENDS OF JAZZ featuring all the episodes listed below.
a.. The Golden Horns with Clark Terry, Roy Hargrove, & Chris Botti
b.. The Jazz Singers- Al Jarreau & Kurt Elling
c.. Contemporary Jazz- George Duke, Lee Ritenour, & Marcus Miller
d.. The Altos- Phil Woods & David Sanborn
e.. The Piano Masters- Dave Brubeck & Billy Taylor
f.. Roots: The Blues- Keb' Mo' & Robert Cray
g.. American Songbook- John Pizzarelli & Jane Monheit
h.. Latin Jazz- Eddie Palmieri & Dave Valentin
i.. The Tenors- Benny Golson, Chris Potter, & Marcus Strickland
j.. Brazilian Jazz- Oscar Castro-Neves & Ivan Lins
k.. The Killer Bs- Dr. Lonnie Smith & Joey DeFrancesco
l.. NEA Jazz Masters 2006- Chick Corea, Ray Barretto, & Tony Bennett
I know that many of you have been waiting for this collection for awhile, and I am excited that it is finally here.
Visit
www.legendsofjazz.net to learn more, watch clips from the episodes, and buy today!
Also, for all the jazz educators out there, we are very excited to let you know that Complimentary Companion Study Guides are now available at our online Classroom to go with "Season One."
If you are interested, visit our online Classroom to see how easy the guides are to use and how interactive they are for students.
Currently only one guide is up, but all 12 will be available by April 1st for Jazz Appreciation Month.
Warmest Regards,
Ramsey Lewis
"Season One" not available in stores, so buy online today at
www.legendsofjazz.net.
Experience Extraordinary Performances
350 W. Hubbard, Suite 610, Chicago, IL 60610
info@legendsofjazz.net
::
www.legendsofjazz.net
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Legends of Jazz
A notice from
Ramsey Lewis:
I have some exciting news to share.....you can now listen to LEGENDS OF JAZZ Podcasts on our website!
The Podcast area is new to the LEGENDS OF JAZZ website and it will be updated frequently.
We will be adding more episode segments, artists interviews, and special features in the near future.
In the Podcast area you can also listen to interviews with the show's three executive producers, myself included.
To listen to the podcasts you simply click on the one you would like to hear, or you can subscribe to the stream so that you will be notified when a new podcast is posted.
I hope that you will all take a moment to visit
www.legendsofjazz.net/podcast
and listen for yourself.
Best Wishes and Happy Listening,
Experience Extraordinary Performances
www.legendsofjazz.net
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