Browse some recent OA2 Reviews.
Jun Iida - Evergreen
by Preston Frazier, Slang of Ages
The first notes of Iida's "Gooey Butter Cake" creates a joyous feeling which permeates his album, "Evergreen". Part of that feel is created by Iida's expressive and forward leaning composition style. The trumpeter and producer contributed six of the ten songs on "Evergreen". Another element which raises the bar is Iida's role as band leader and producer. Working with co-producer Josh Nelson, Iida incorporated wonderful covers such as the Sonny... read more
Barney McClure - Show Me!
by George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly
Barney McClure takes his Hammond B3 and pits it up against a hard swinging big band to a 6 gun-shoot-out of a draw here with some fun and hard hitting charts of originals and standards. You get some shuffling boogie on "Hookin' It" along with Owen Wvans' alto, while the team swaggers on "Slow Boat to China" along with McClure's B3 busting up the keys. There's a nifty groove on "Spot" while a mix of gospel simmers on "Horace Toccato." Ryan... read more
LP and the Vinyl - Heard and Seen
by Frank Kocher, San Diego Troubadour
Jazz lovers are in for a treat: the Danny Green Trio is established as a solid presence in the San Diego area jazz scene, with five CD releases and well-earned international recognition. Leonard Patton likewise has a considerable cachet as an expressive jazz, gospel, and blues singer, with several of his own solo recordings, and has been heard with such local jazz luminaries as Peter Sprague and Geoffrey Keezer. No surprise that when both... read more
Jeff Baker - Baker Sings Chet
by Joe Doherty, Jazz Review
As a clever play on the title of Chet Baker's "Chet Baker Sings", Jeff Baker's (no relation, as far as my research shows) new CD, "Baker Sings Chet" is a smooth and delightful tribute to Chet Baker. Mr. Baker's interpretation of Chet Baker's (this review might get a tad confusing, methinks)is very honorable. I find that fans of Chet Baker, and fans of more mainstream vocalists such as Nora Jones or even John Mayer will enjoy Jeff Baker's... read more
Charlie Apicella & Iron City meet The Griots Speak - Destiny Calling
by Troy Dostert, All About Jazz
Since the early 2000s, guitarist Charlie Apicella's Iron City trio has devoted itself to maintaining the tradition of soulful, organ-based jazz. The aptly-titled Groove Machine (OA2 Records, 2019) preceded Destiny Calling, the group's 2023 album. And the latest one is quite a change-up. For this outing, Apicella has teamed up with The Griots Speak, an all-star assemblage of veterans who trace their roots to the halcyon days of the New York loft... read more
Electric Squeezebox Orchestra - The Falling Dream
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record
A big band powered by a whole lot of wind records and plays like the pressure is off and they just want to have fun hanging out together. Quite a feat that this whole date was recorded in two sessions and everyone is watching the clock these days. Filled with the kind of fun that spills out of the speakers and gets all over everything, this is how jazz sounds when everybody is giving everybody else some and the party really gets started before... read more
Gordon Lee with the Mel Brown Septet - Tuesday Night
by Chris Spector, Midwest Record
The Portland OR jazz scenesters may not record very often, but when they do, they know how to shake it up. Last time around, 25 years ago, they beat all comers for a Hennessey jazz search prize top prize. Since then, they've been lighting up the Portland night with some hot, modern post bop that fills the joint and keeps them coming back for more. Led by a drummer that knows how to give everyone else some, this aggregation is expert at... read more
Paul Tynan & Aaron Lington - Bicoastal Collective: Chapter Two
by Ken Dryden, All Music Guide
Trumpeter Paul Tynan and baritone saxophonist Aaron Lington met while both men were students at North Texas State (home to one of the major college jazz studies programs) in the late 1990s. Their second release together, with guitarist Scott Sorkin, bassist John Shiflflet and drummer Jason Lewis, has an unusual centerpiece: Lington's adaptations of English folk tunes arranged by classical composer Ralph Vaughn Williams as "Six Studies in English... read more
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Jun Iida - Evergreen
by Editor, Bman's Blues Report
Zach Rich - Solidarity
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Paul Tynan & Aaron Lington - Bicoastal Collective: Chapter Five
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Paul Tynan & Aaron Lington - Bicoastal Collective: Chapter Five
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Francesco Crosara - Circular Motion
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Francesco Crosara - Circular Motion
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Francesco Crosara - Circular Motion
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Ben Winkelman - Heartbeat
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Darden Purcell - Love's Got Me in a Lazy Mood
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect
Charlie Apicella & Iron City meet The Griots Speak - Destiny Calling
by Marco Cangiano, The New York City Jazz Record