Browse some recent OA2 Reviews.
Alex Goodman - Border Crossing
by Grego Applegate Edwards, Gapplegate Guitar
What does one say after one has said everything? I don't know, since I have NOT said everything and no doubt never quite will. On the other hand one (or me anyway) has the challenge to remain fresh, to cover music 15 times a week and say something worthwhile about it all. When the music is good, as generally it is or I would not cover it on these pages, it suggests words to you as you hear it. That is so with the album of Canadian guitar jazz... read more
Ben Winkelman Trio - Balance
by Ed Enright, Downbeat
EDITOR'S PICK With the release of his sixth album as a leader, Australian-born, New York-based pianist Ben Winkelman continues to develop his concept of a piano trio whose primary artistic goal is to strike a balance between composition and improvisation. Bassist Matt Penman and drummer Obed Calvaire - both of whom never had played with Winkelman until this recording session - are featured as more than just sidemen/soloists. In crafting... read more
Kelley Johnson - Something Good
by Dee Dee McNeil, Musical Memoirs
Vocalist Kelley Johnson chooses songs that are golden, with lyrics that sparkle like diamonds. She opens with a Stephen Sondheim composition, "Anyone Can Whistle." The whistle ballad turns into a scat, and Ms. Johnson shows how smoothly she can transition from storyteller to jazzy scat singer. Surprisingly, she does know how to whistle and blows a little whistle on the fade of this song. Another plus is that Kelley Johnson knows how to swing.... read more
George Mitchell - Play Zone
by Donald James, Jazz Review
Named after a Portland jazz haunt, George Mitchell's Play Zone is nothing if not good straight-ahead swinging post-bop jazz. There's nothing terribly fascinating or unusual about this album. Each player is incredibly competent, a term meant in only the most complementary fashion.
Mitchell handles the duties on piano and Hammond B-3, while Dan Balmer compliments with a guitar style that echoes John McLean. Balmer's tone is a bit cleaner, and... read more
Francesco Crosara - Circular Motion
by George W Harris, Jazz Weekly
Playing piano and synthesizer, Francesco Crosara mixes and matches trios with bassists Clipper Anderson/Farko Dosumov and Osama Afifi with drummers Mark Ivester/D'Vonne Lewis and Xavier Lecouturier respectively on this album of originals.
On keyboards, there's a Stevie Wonder meets Weather Report feel to "One Day Honey One Day Onions" and the deep dig of the soulful "Sarava" with some tasty electronic bass by Dosumov on "Julia's Tango". Some... read more
Steve Owen - Stand Up Eight
by Dave Sumner, emusic Review
A hell of an impression for his debut album. Conductor and arranger Steve Owen brings together an 18-piece ensemble for an astounding display of orchestral jazz. Moments that absolutely soar and others that jitter invitingly closer to earth. The kind of beauty and power that can uplift a listener's heart at the same time it's punching a hole through it. Just one strong moment after the next, though it's the arrangements of introductions for... read more
Erik Skov - Liminality
by George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly
Guitarist Erik Skov composes all of the tunes for the front line of Emily Kuhn/tp, Dustin L aurenzi/ts, Euan Edmonds and the rhythm section of Kitt Lyles/b and Gustavo Cortinas/dr. Skov's got an elegant sound that is lovely as he hovers through the horns and Lyles' line on "Summer Meditation" and gives dark reflections as the horns sway on the reflective "Fading Embers." His acoustic strings create a tender ripple effect with Lyles on the g r... read more
Barney McClure Trio, featuring Mike Denny - Spot
by Thomas Conrad, JazzTimes
On his home turf, Barney McClure is known (in ascending order) as an author (There Is No Such Thing as a Mistake), politician (he has been mayor of Port Townsend, Wash., and served a term in the Washington State Legislature), and one of the Pacific Northwest's best piano players. It turns out that he is also a fluent practitioner of the Hammond B3, McClure in fact achieves something rare for an organist: He tame and civilizes the B3 beast... read more
Looking for a specific review?
This is just a small collection of the OA2 Records reviews. Click here to view all reviews or try to Search for your favorite CD title.
Search Reviews:
Recently Added Reviews:
Angela Verbrugge - Somewhere
by Michael Steinman, All About Jazz (Liner Notes)
Francesco Crosara - Circular Motion
by AKSHAJ TUREBYLU, Earshot Jazz
Jun Iida - Evergreen
by Editor, Bman's Blues Report
Zach Rich - Solidarity
by Jack Bowers, All About Jazz
Paul Tynan & Aaron Lington - Bicoastal Collective: Chapter Five
by George Harris, Jazz Weekly
Paul Tynan & Aaron Lington - Bicoastal Collective: Chapter Five
by j. poet, DownBeat Magazine
Francesco Crosara - Circular Motion
by David Witter, Fra Noi Magazine
Francesco Crosara - Circular Motion
by Jan van Leersum, RootsTime.BE (Belgium)
Francesco Crosara - Circular Motion
by Matt Micucci, JAZZIZ
Ben Winkelman - Heartbeat
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect