Jeff Hackworth - Where The Blue Begins (2008)

Jeff Hackworth plays with a lot of intensity and sticks with what makes jazz a great art form. His sound is not affected and ideas abound in his presentation. After a piano intro Hackworth comes strutting in on "Just A Sittin' And A Rockin" and his message is clear and concise, just get it from the soul and go from there. John Basili adds his comments on the guitar with grace and execution. "Just One More Chance" is my hue and cry and Jeff Hackworth expresses the feeling of this tune with aplomb and finesse. "Stranger In Paradise" is done at racehorse tempo and Hackworth's fiery solo shows that he is equally at home on the speedway or on swing street. "One Mint Julip" is a tune that has been around for time immemorial and this ensemble romps through it like they own it. The tenor solo is perhaps the hallmark of this album; Hackworth is truly in synch with the backbeat shuffle and his soliloquy is as hot as a two-dollar pistol. For good jazz expressed in a swinging mode, this album is a sure bet to please the discriminating ear. ~ by John Gilbert, ejazznews.com. 

Big Bridge Music, BBM 1004, 2008
Recorded 30th October, 2007 at Showplace Studios, Dover, New Jersey 

Musicians:
Jeff Hackworth - Tenor Sax
Lafayette Harris Jr. - Piano
John Webber - Bass
Alvin Atkinson - Drums
John Basili - Guitar (#1,4,7,8,9) 

Tracks:
01. Can't Help Falling In Love {Luigi Creatore, Hugo Peretti, George David Weiss} (4:35)
02. Love Is A Many Splendored Thing {Sammy Fain, Paul Francis Webster} (6:45)
03. What Will I Tell My Heart {Irving Gordon, Jack Lawrence, Peter Tinturin} (5:24)
04. Just A Sittin' And A Rockin' {Duke Ellington, Lee Gaines, Billy Strayhorn} (4:31)
05. Just One More Chance {Sam Coslow, Arthur Johnston} (7:10)
06. Stranger In Paradise {Alexander Borodin, George Forrest, Robert Wright} (3:02)
07. Oh You Crazy Moon {Johnny Burke, James Van Heusen} (6:15)
08. One Mint Julip {Rudy Toombs} (4:56)
09. Then I'll Be Tired Of You {E.Y. "Yip" Harburg, Arthur Schwartz} (6:27)
10. Stairway To The Stars {Matty Malneck, Mitchell Parish, Frank Signorelli} (4:35) 

Total Time: 53:43 

Credits:
Producer - Houston Person
Recording, Mixing & Mastering - Ben Elliot
Photos - Evelyn Burg

LINK

Oh You Crazy Moon

Jeff Kashiwa - Walk A Mile (1997)

Taking a break from his day job with the Rippingtons, saxophonist Jeff Kashiwa treads some different ground on Walk a Mile (Fahrenheit FR9603-2; 52:06). The talented wind player experiments with a variety of textures and moods-from the brassy and warmly inspirational “Givin’ In,” to the loping, urban-toned title track, both of which showcase some soulful, economical work in lean settings. Kashiwa pairs up well with keyboardist Dave Kochanski (who shares writing credits on the album), as well as with gypsy guitarist Marc Antoine, whose pretty, driving acoustic work support the swirling Brazil feel of "August Moon" and the knuckling Latin rhythms on "Rise." Both of these pieces feature Kashiwa's fine flute work, which is especially lithe and haunting in the alto tones of "Rise." Throughout the album, Kashiwa takes advantage of his time away from the Rips to spread his wings as a soloist. The results are well worth checking out. ~ Hilarie Grey, JazzTimes.com. 

Fahrenheit Records, FR 9603-2, 1997
Recorded at Sonic Jungle Studios, North Hollywood, California;
Colorado Sound Recording Studios, Denver, Colorado;
and Kokoki Studios, Woodland Hills, California 

Tracklist: 

01. Givin' In {Dave Kochanski} (5:12)
Jeff Kashiwa - Tenor Sax
Dave Kochanski - Keyboards, Synth [Programming], Synth [Fills]
Allen Hinds - Guitar
Melvin Davis - Bass [4 String Jazz]
Dave Hooper - Drums 

02. Saratoga {Jeff Kashiwa} (5:11)
Jeff Kashiwa - Alto Sax, Tenor Sax, Synth [Programming]
Dave Kochanski - Piano, Synth
Russ Freeman - Acoustic Guitar, 12-String Acoustic Guitar
Melvin Davis - Double Bass [7 String]
Dave Hooper - Drums
Steve Reid - Percussion 

03. August Moon {Jeff Kashiwa} (5:02)
Jeff Kashiwa - Soprano Sax, Alto Flute, Electronic Wind Instrument, Synth [Programming]
Dave Kochanski - Piano
Marc Antoine - Acoustic Guitar
Melvin Davis - Double Bass [7 String]
Dave Hooper - Drums
Steve Reid - Percussion 

04. Slide {Jeff Kashiwa} (6:24)
Jeff Kashiwa - Alto Sax, Synth [Programming]
Dave Kochanski - Keyboards, Synth [Programming]
Allen Hinds - Guitar
Melvin Davis - Double Bass [7 String], Bass [4 String Jazz]
Dave Hooper - Drums
Eddie Drayton - Percussion 

05. I See It In Your Eyes {Jeff Kashiwa} (5:29)
Jeff Kashiwa - Alto Sax, Electronic Wind Instrument
Dave Kochanski - Keyboards
Allen Hinds - Guitar
Melvin Davis - Double Bass [7 String]
Dave Hooper - Drums
Steve Reid - Percussion 

06. Rise {Jeff Kashiwa} (4:59)
Jeff Kashiwa - Alto Flute, Tenor Sax, Synth [Programming]
Dave Kochanski - Piano
Marc Antoine - Acoustic Guitar
Melvin Davis - Double Bass [7 String]
Dave Hooper - Drums
Steve Reid - Percussion 

07. Walk A Mile {Jeff Kashiwa} (4:48)
Jeff Kashiwa - Soprano Sax, Alto Sax, Synth [Programming], Loops
Dave Kochanski - Clavinet, Piano [Fills]
Allen Hinds - Guitar
Melvin Davis - Double Bass [7 String]
Dave Hooper - Drums
Eddie Drayton - Percussion 

08. After The Rain {Jeff Kashiwa} (5:08)
Jeff Kashiwa - Alto Sax, Synth [Programming]
Dave Kochanski - Keyboards, Synth [Programming]
Allen Hinds - Guitar
Melvin Davis - Double Bass [7 String]
Dave Hooper - Drums
Eddie Drayton - Percussion 

09. New Day {Jeff Kashiwa} (5:16)
Jeff Kashiwa - Alto Sax, Synth [Programming], Loops
Dave Kochanski - Keyboards, Synth [Solo]
Allen Hinds - Guitar
Melvin Davis - Double Bass [7 String]
Dave Hooper - Drums 

10. Our Cry, Our Prayer {Dave Kochanski} (4:30)
Jeff Kashiwa - Soprano Sax, Alto Sax
Dave Kochanski - Synth [Programming], Piano
Allen Hinds - Guitar
Melvin Davis - Double Bass [7 String]
Dave Hooper - Drums 

Total Time: 52:02 

Credits:
Producer, Arranger - Jeff Kashiwa, Dave Kochanski
Executive-Producer, Art Direction - Peter Trimarco
Executive-Producer - RJ Miller, Richard Bernstein
Engineer [Tracking] - Alex Rodriguez
Mixing & Mastering - Jeff Shuey
Overdubbing [Additional] - Brian Springer
Photography - David Hopley
Art Direction - Brian K. Parrish

LINK

August Moon

Massimo Biolcati - Persona (2008)

Swedish-Italian bassist Massimo Biolcati has been working in support of guitarist Lionel Loueke for a decade, but asserts his role as a leader in name on this debut release. Loueke is here, with the always dynamic drummer Jeff Ballard and the surprisingly adept pianist Peter Rende. The CD is split into equal parts of five selections - "Motion" and "Stillness" - the former energetic and forward-thinking, the latter pensive and somewhat introspective, with cameo spots for vocalists Lizz Wright and Gretchen Parlato. The first five pieces feature Loueke in a way that his recordings as a leader also showcase his utterly brilliant, witty, quirky, unique sound. Using a hollowed, blanked-out amplified guitar with effect pedals, Loueke is able to straddle the electro-acoustic line without overemphasizing either. He is the new contemporary Lion King of freshness on the contemporary jazz guitar, and a parallel to the virtuoso accomplishments of Wes Montgomery, using those pretexts but sounding far removed. Check out the choppy kinetic style on "The Beginning," the late-night stealth approach on "Deconstruction," and the quick 5/4 rhythms in the more acoustic/less-processed road song "Transference" for reference points. Rende is a find, as his happy two-note phrases juxtaposed against Loueke contrast on the swinging shuffle "Wise Way." Their diffuse guitar/piano musings go very loose, free, and yet contemporary with Loueke's cheek-popping vocals during "TT." The second half of the program showcases the understated, delicate, and pretty side of Rende on "Under July," where Biolcati takes a central role on an ostinato line, with Loueke leading, but taken over by the beauty of the piano. Rende plays accordion on the 6/8 ethnic beat of "Scandinavia," evoking early-morning frosty mountainscapes in the Alps. The vocal cuts are nice enough, with Wright expressing a sheer lonely mood for "Winterhouse" and the emerging star Parlato dreamy and cerebral during "Clouds." Biolcati, clearly the director but not a dictator in these proceedings, knows how to take a back seat, but also understands the value in letting his brilliant session mates cut loose. This is an excellent debut release, and has to rank as one of the more intriguing and diverse modern jazz issues of 2008. ~ Michael G. Nastos, AMG. 

ObliqSound Records, OS 509, 2008
Recorded 13th & 14th May, 2007 at Kampo Cultural Center, New York 

Musicians:
Massimo Biolcati - Bass
Lionel Loueke - Guitar, Vocals
Peter Rende - Piano, Accordion (#10)
Jeff Ballard - Drums, Percussion
Lizz Wright - Vocals (#6)
Mona Vetrhus - Lyrics (#6)
Gretchen Parlato - Vocals, Lyrics (#8)

Tracklist:

Motion
01. The Beginning (5:08)
02. Deconstruction (5:08)
03. Wise Way (7:10)
04. Transference (8:13)
05. TT [In Memoriam Take Toriyama] (4:31)
Stillness
06. Winterhouse (4:31)
07. Hopeless Dream To Be (5:08)
08. Clouds (5:47)
09. Under July (7:40)
10. Scandinavia (6:39) 

All music composed by Massimo Biolcati 

Total Time: 59:59 

Credits:
Producer - Michele Locatelli
Engineer - Juan Pablo Alcaro
Assistant Engineer - Ariosto Arata
Product Manager - Stephanie Jo Klein
Photography - Carsten Fleck
Design - Andrea Ruggiero

LINK

Deconstruction