Browse some recent OA2 Reviews.
Jim Olsen - We See Stars
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record
For his latest release, the composer pares things down from his usual big band stuff to accommodate of nonet of stars and pals and pals who are stars. The result is a killer, atavistic, west coast jazz date. Hot, happening, swinging stuff, this is sitting down jazz at it�s finest. With loads of utterly cool blowing from the densely packed wind section, you�d have to be in a coma not to feel this groove. Hot stuff... read more
Ben Markley Big Band With Ari Hoenig - Ari's Funhouse
by Michael van Gee, Jazz'N'More (Switzerland)
5-STARS The music on this album is captivating from the first to the last note and demonstrates not only Ben Markley's arranging skills, but above all the class of the composer and drummer Ari Hoenig. In his earlier quartet recordings with Greg Osby ("Basic Economy") or Joel Frahm ("Slow Play") and his excellent big band recording with Terell Stafford ("Clockwise"), which was dedicated to the compositions of the pianist Cedar Walton, Ben... read more
Idit Shner - 9 Short Stories
by Hobart Taylor, KUCI - Irvine, CA
Saxophonist/composer Shner working in a quartet format with pianist Josh Hanlon, bassist James Driscoll, and Stockton Helbing on drums has a deft and quasi classical touch, e.g., "Like Satie". Her tunes are carefully crafted and subtly insinuating. Utilizing a tightly controlled high pitched vibrato on the one cover tune, the Billy Strayhorn miracle entitled "Pasion Flower", she demonstates remarkable virtuosity. That would be enough for a lot... read more
Jeff Baker - Phrases
by Michael J. West, Downbeat
***
Phrases is a collection of beautiful, unquestionably soulful songs by singer Jeff Baker and a remarkable group of 11 musicians. The disc is moody and meditative, but spends about 80 minutes never altering its cast, to its detriment.
The album's title applies to four of its six originals. Baker cribbed lines from his favorite writers, including Stephen Chbosky, Pablo Neruda and J.D. Salinger, and recontextualized them with... read more
Danny Green - Altered Narratives
by Dan McClenaghan, All About Jazz
4 1/2 STARS Pianist Danny Green took a big step up in the piano trio rankings with 2014's After The Calm (OA2 Records). The San Diego-based group focused in on a distinctive and beautiful set of Green originals and recorded them with a continuity of mood and an ebullient brio - like three guys who knew what they were doing in an art that demands nuance and delicacy sitting beside - in time's flow - a rise and fall of robustness of... read more
Svetlana and the Delancey Five - Night at the Speakeasy
by Staff, Lucid Culture
Since swing jazz is dance music, most swing bands have limitations on how far out on limb they can go. After all, you've got to keep everybody on their feet, right? Svetlana & the Delancey Five are the rare swing band who don't recognize any limits: they're just as fun to sit and listen to as they are for the dancers.
There weren't a lot of people on their feet at the band's sold-out show earlier this month at the Blue Note, but the band... read more
Andrew Moorhead - Mirage
by Mark Griffith, Modern Drummer
Pianist Andrew Moorhead has assembled a familiar trio. Drummer Ari Hoenig and bassist Francois Moutin have previously worked together in trios with pianists Kenny Werner, James Hurt, and Jean-Michel Pilc, they are an esteemed pairing of like-minded musicians. With Moorhead's non-traditional writing, they have found another side to their musical triangle. Moorhead's attack is strong, and his vernacular is highly rhythmic. His compositions (seem... read more
Idit Shner - Live at the Jazz Station
by Chris Spector, Midwest record
All you need to know about Idit Shner, if you don't know anything about her, is that she's an alum of North Texas. Nuff said? She can honk, she can purr, she can coax and she does all that here on this mostly original set that finds everyone jamming in top form. Tasty throughout, the more you listen, the more you'll like. Right on the... read more
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