Just another WordPress site
Two veterans of bop, trumpeter Louis Smith and saxophonist Billy Mitchell joined by the young lion Mark Turner make the 7 th volume of “this essential documentation of jazz” an inspired recital. For Billy Mitchell this was his last recording session. “ Billy Mitchell was a dignified hero right to the end, and his playing …
Continue reading “Louis Smith, Mark Turner, Billy Mitchell – Jam Session Vol. 7 (SCCD 31546)”
Introducing a new talent has always been a major and satisfying incident for SteepleChase. The list of artists whose debut albums it produced includes Doug Raney, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Andy LaVerne, Hilton Ruiz, Joe Locke, Kevin Hays, Larry Willis, Rick Margitza, Rich Perry just to mention a few. The latest addition, saxophonist Joshua Douglas Smith …
Continue reading “Joshua Douglas Smith – Major Incident (SCCD 31545)”
Harvey Siders in his JazzTimes review (Dec. 2002) of the first release (“Match Point” SCCD 31517) of this group concluded his writing by remarking, “Here’s hoping this two-year-old combo stays together.” Ron McClure Quartet does stay together, performing in and around New York area and dedicates another superb album here “ For those affected by …
The collaboration between Duke Jordan and SteepleChase in the 70s represents a major body of Duke Jordan’s creative output both as performing artist and as composer. Duke led his regular trio with Wilbur Little and Dannie Richmond during the extensive Scandinavian tour in the autumn of 1978. This release is from the concert at the …
Continue reading “Duke Jordan – Flight To Norway (SCCD 31543)”
A sequel to the much acclaimed “Quartet Music” (SCCD 31513) features again pianist/leader Michael Cochrane’s first class treatment of the carefully chosen material for the quartet. Jack Bowers commented on the previous release on Cadence magazine, “… Cochrane, Malach, bassist Calvin Hill and drummer Jeff Hirshfield play them with remarkable ease and assurance, uncovering the …
Pianist LeeAnn Ledgerwood’s fifth entry on the label presents her new trio with John Graham Davis on bass and Brandon Lewis on drums. With these young and immensely talented sidemen, Ledgerwood regards this album as her best trio recording to date. Critic Dick Bogle wrote of Ledgerwood, “… She has tons of technique, handfuls of …
Continue reading “LeeAnn Ledgerwood – Walkin’ Up (SCCD 31541)”
Since his first leader album (SCCD 31313 “New Horizon”) in 1992 bassist/composer/leader Steve LaSpina has been acclaimed both as composer and performer for his consistently creative releases on SteepleChase. The latest release “Remember When”, as Mark Gardner describes in the linernotes, “… constitute a recital of rare balance in which heartfelt emotions and poignancy are …
Continue reading “Steve LaSpina – Remember When (SCCD 31540)”
Though Ted Brown co-led a CD (“Dig-It” SCCD 31466) with Lee Konitz in 1999, this is the first leader album in some 15 years for this legendary tenor stylist from the Lennie Tristano school. “ Ted has been an uncompromising individualist throughout his stop/start career. From an early age he realised and recognised the importance …
40 years ago Bill Evans and Jim Hall recorded two brilliant duo albums called “Intermodulations” and “Undercurrent”. Andy Laverne and John Abercrombie whose collaboration dates back to the late 1960s have been inspired by the Evans-Hall recordings and have been experimenting with the format. Andy LaVerne remarks, " Over the years we have collaborated as …
“…This is jazz of today but played in the spirit of the music's history and with an awareness of its best traditions. Jamming lives!” (Mark Gardner) CD Review’s Rick Finlay wrote, “… SteepleChase’s series of jam sessions drawing together the cream of the contemporary jazz world makes a refreshing change these days .” 1. It's …
Continue reading “Alex Norris, Ari Ambrose, Joel Frahm – Jam Session Vol. 6 (SCCD 31537)”