Browse some recent OA2 Reviews.
George Cotsirilos Quartet - Refuge
by Rick Anderson, CD Hotlist
From the strutting, spiky "Devolution" to the spidery, boppish "Let's Make a Break for It," the second quartet album led by guitarist George Cotsirilos continues his longstanding practice of writing and playing straight-ahead jazz that sounds like no one else. Here he leads the same combo that accompanied him last time (pianist Keith Saunders, bassist Robb Fischer, drummer Ron Marabuto), and if anything they're even tighter and more supple than... read more
Sara Leib - Secret Love
by Brent Black, Critical Jazz.com
For Sara Leib jazz is musical passion, the epicenter of musical expression for an artist to let go and fully become one with their work. The highly anticipated sophomore release on OA2 records by Sara Leib embraces this concept to its fullest. Leib is a multi-faceted mezzo soprano that takes an eclectic mix of classic and contemporary sounds and gives each tune a fresh and distinctive face lift with some less than straight ahead arrangements... read more
Juli Wood - Synkka Metsa
by George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly
Tenor saxist Juli Wood leads a quartet with Alejandro Urzagaste/g, Clark Sommers/b and Mike Schlick/dr to explore meldoes and themes from Finland. Traditional melodies from Scandinavia include a rich and lyrical "Lapin Aidin Kehto Laulu" and "Taivas on Sininen ja Volkoinen", both displaying deft lyricism by Wood's misty tenor and Urzagaste's textured guitar. A pair of pieces by Finnish artist Matti Jurva completes the circuit with a thoughtful... read more
Ben Winkelman Trio - The Knife
by Eugene Ball, Loudmouth: The Music Trust E-Zine (Australia)
There is a school of thought that suggests that artists create in order to better understand the world in which they live. From this perspective, music can be viewed as a way of knowing; a way of creating sense and order in the musician's world. Though this might seem an overly profound idea, it is such a normalised aspect of a musician's life that it often exists unnoticed, as a hum beneath the static of daily musical activity. The Knife, the... read more
Paul Tynan & Aaron Lington - Bicoastal Collective: Chapter Six
by George W Harris, Jazz Weekly
The longtime team of Paul Tynan on trumpet or flugelhorn with baritone saxist Aaron Lington continues to create clever and original sounds, as shown on their sixth adventure. With Trifon Dimitrov on electric bass and Joe Abba playing drums and percussion, the two mix rich harmonies and resonant solos in a variety of moods and pulses.
Dimitrov lays down a deep "Another One Bites The Dust" groove for Abba's funky backbeat and the front line and... read more
Jeff Baker - Of Things Not Seen
by C Michael Bailey, All About Jazz
How Jeff Baker avoided full coverage at All About Jazz is beyond me, but now is a fine time to write this wrong. In 2009, Baker took a professional and stylistic chance in producing a jazz treatment of songs from the American Christian Songbook, Of Things Not Seen. He had worked up to this bold statement with his preceding recordings: Baker Sings Chet (OA2, 2004); Monologue (OA2, 2005); and Shopping for Your Heart (OA2, 2007). Proving deft and... read more
Craig Yaremko - CYO3
by Rotcod Zzaj, Improvijazzation Nation
I�m not sure why saxophonist Craig (soprano/alto/tenor, flute & alto flute) called this an �organ trio�, though Matt King�s organ work is absolutely fine, so I�m glad Craig did that! On the other hand, his reed & wind work is among the best I�ve heard (yet) in 2014 � just scope out the excellent �Blue Fontaine�� shows the tightness of the trio (Jonathon Peretz does drums, with guest guitarist Vic Juris on tracks 3 & 5). My personal favorite of... read more
Stan Bock & The New Tradition - Feelin' It
by George Fendel, Jazz Society of Oregon
Anyone who has performed with Bock or witnessed such a performance knows that he is a dedicated player with a likeablility factor that loosens everyone up, making them play at the top of their game. There are few who obviously enjoy blowing bop changes with like-minded colleagues more than Bock. That's why this CD took me a bit by surprise. I noticed that Clay Giberson spent time at both the piano and the Rhodes. Bassist Tim Gilson also "went... read more
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