Browse some recent OA2 Reviews.
Charlie Apicella & Iron City - Groove Machine
by Rick Anderson, CD Hotlist
For a very different take on a guitar-led quartet, consider this, Charlie Apicella & Iron City's third recording. As its title suggests, these guys are mining a vein that was first discovered by similarly-configured ensembles during the "hard bop" era of the early 1960s: whenever you see a group that consists of guitar (Apicella), tenor sax (Gene Ghee), organ (Radam Schwartz) and drums (Alan Corzin), you can reasonably expect to be in for a... read more
Paul Tynan & Aaron Lington - Bicoastal Collective: Chapter Five
by J. Poet, Downbeat
When the Bicoastal Collective launches into a tune, audience members soon get the sense that they're being pulled into a distinctive sonic space. The ensemble features five saxophones, four trumpets and four trombones, in addition to a rhythm section of guitar, bass, drums and piano. At this year's San Jose Jazz Summer Fest, the band played some of the music from their new album, Bicoastal Collective: Chapter Five (OA2 Records), and got... read more
Electric Squeezebox Orchestra - Cheap Rent
by Dave Sumner, Bird is the Worm
Plenty of vibrancy to the huge sound generated by Erik Jekabson's big band, but it's the way the music flows so effortlessly that makes this a winning album. And considering how most of the ensemble consists of wind instruments, this weightless quality becomes necessarily important. The talent of the Bay Area scene is nicely represented on this session. The brief diversion taken by a rendition of Herbie Hancock's groove-oriented "People... read more
Libby York - DreamLand
by C. Michael Bailey, Wild Mercury Rhythm
It is an accomplishment when a jazz singer finds a comfortable center in presenting material in an understated, yet authoritative manner. New York vocalist Libby York has made a career specializing in exactly this type of singing. It was been nine years since the release of Memoir (2014, Libby York Music), and York has taken a road less traveled for her Dreamland. Rather than the first or second-string standards, York has put much thought into... read more
Dan Gailey Jazz Orchestra - What Did You Dream?
by Harvey Siders, JazzTimes.com
For over two decades, Dan Gailey has directed the jazz program at the University of Kansas where he's Professor of Music. After enriching the books of many college bands, as well as professional bands, Dan has taken a giant leap out of the Kansas cornfields into the maelstrom of a non-campus environment with the debut release of his 18-man, all professional Dan Gailey Jazz Orchestra.
The curtain-raiser is a prophetically titled swinger,... read more
Will Goble - Consider the Blues
by Dave Sumner, Bird is the Worm
An appealing hard bop sound from bassist Goble, finding that right mix of buoyant activity and melodic warmth. His quartet goes out of their way to prove that the inclusion of the word "blues" in the title is anything but misleading. The up-tempo tunes are plenty fun, but it's when the quartet slows things down and really lets the melody patiently draw its breath is when the album really burns strong with emotion. That quartet, by the way, is... read more
AJ Kluth Quintet - Twice Now
by C. Michael Bailey, All About Jazz
Chicago-native AJ Kluth was educated at that city's DePaul University before freelancing around the Midwest and transcribing and self-publishing a book of Chris Potter solos. On Twice Now he leads a guitar anchored quintet through nine lengthy and provocative pieces, seven of which were composed by Kluth or guitarist Nick Ascher.
The simpatico between Kluth and Ascher extends from the pair's compositions to their respective performances.... read more
Paul Tynan & Aaron Lington - Bicoastal Collective: Chapter Three
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record
Here's a post bop set with it's own special sauce that's going to sneak up and catch you from behind. With a veneer that feels like a minimalist vibe, it's anything but. Turns out this is a sly, contemporary blowing date. Surrounding themselves with improvisers that don't normally play together but find the common ground to click here, this set of originals has what it takes to make you pay attention to something new and different without... read more
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Paul Tynan & Aaron Lington - Bicoastal Collective: Chapter Five
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Charlie Apicella & Iron City meet The Griots Speak - Destiny Calling
by Marco Cangiano, The New York City Jazz Record