Browse some recent OA2 Reviews.
Danny Green Trio Plus Strings - One Day It Will
by Doug Ramsey, Rifftides
Pianist Green's earlier album Altered Narratives put strings with his trio on three tracks. The melding with a string quartet worked nicely. One Day It Will carries the idea to album length, with excellent arrangements by Green and smooth interaction among a string quartet and the trio featuring bassist Justin Grinnell and drummer Julien Cantelm. Among many highlights: the evocative languor of Green's "October Ballad," Cantelm's accents... read more
Charlie Porter - Hindsight
by Alex Dutilh, Radio France
Né pendant les bouleversements de 2020, "Hindsight" du trompettiste et compositeur Charlie Porter para"t chez OA2. Il reflète le tumulte, l'incertitude et les émotions de l'époque.
"L'un des compositeurs contemporains les plus brillants et imaginatifs dans le jazz mainstream ; une musique originale stimulante et émotive avec un rare mélange de sophistication et de spontanéité organique." - Chicago Jazz Magazine
Pas... read more
Ben Neuman - Introductions
by Brad Walseth, Jazz Chicaco
Young pianist Ben Neumann arrives on the scene with a stirring and surprisingly assured debut. Paying tribute to pianists like Horace Silver ("Peace"), Oscar Levant (the lovely ballad "Blame it on My Youth") and Herbie Hancock ("Riot") the grad student at the U. of Chicago (in philosophy, no less!) announces that his intellect isn't limited to the study of Plato. In fact, Neuman has studied piano with people like the legendary Dr. Billy Taylor... read more
Nathan Borton - Each Step
by Cedric Hendrix, Cirdec Songs
A nice step back in time, where guitarist Nathan Borton takes us back to that smoky nightclub for a 2 a.m. set of post-bop grooves that remind us of Joe Pass. Borton seamlessly sneaks in a couple of standards to go with his highly tasteful original tunes, deftly handled by his band. Diego Rivera (sax) and Chris Glassman (bass trombone) play rock solid leads as well. A quality set of high-class... read more
Danny Green - Altered Narratives
by Dee Dee McNeil, Musical Memoirs
This album features the compositions of Danny Green as well as his skills on the piano. I found his compositions to be interesting, melodic and memorable. I especially liked track #1 with its heavy blues influence, reminding me a lot of the "Killer Joe" song. I was all set for more. Then came track #2, "The Merge" which was totally different and pleasing in an entirely different kind of way. Track #3, "October Ballad" is very classically... read more
William Flynn - Seaside
by Claus Friede, Kultur Port (Germany)
In January 2017, in the middle of his fourth year at Wichita State University, jazz guitarist William Flynn drove a thousand miles from the plains of Kansas to the idyllic beaches of Florida's Gulf Coast.
He had applied for an Escape to Create artist residency. Funded and organized by residents and volunteers of the city of Seaside FL, the Cross-Cultural Genre Grant has been around since 1993—12 years after the fledgling community... read more
Jim Olsen - We See Stars
by George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly
Composer and arranger Jim Olsen brings together a richly textured and snazzily swinging big band which includes top notch soloists such as Bobby Shew/tp, Dick Oatts/sax and John Harmon/key. The eight originals mix toe tapping swing such as on �Illogical Conclusion� with lush ballads such as �Wistful,� with even a touch of modern sounds a la Stravinsky thrown in. A piece such as � Dark Sun� does some exciting work with harmonies, while solos by... read more
Kelley Johnson - Something Good
by Robert Rusch, Cadence Magazine
Something Good is the newest CD from vocalist Kelley Johnson. This is an exceptional recording. She selected ten interesting tunes by Sondheim, Porter, Shearing, Bernstein, Mat Matthews and the like. Her performances are meaningful, unhackneyed and sung with style. Lovingly backed by John Hansen [p], Michael Glynn [b], Kendrick Scott [drm] and Jay Thomas [tpt/ts/ss], this CD should place Johnson in the ranks of the finest of the... read more
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