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Jazz Review

You may have seen the thread regarding a review section. This is a trial as suggested by member Elgordo to see how it might work in our current forums, since there currently is not a review section. If this works, perhaps Audiogon will add a dedicated review section.

Please review on album or CD per reply. Change the sub title to read: {the artist}, {album title}, {performance rating}, {sonic rating}.

Performance and sonic ratings on a 1 - 10 scale. In the body write a short review and at the end put in all album information (catalog number, label, etc.) so that other A-goners can easily find it for purchase.

I realize "Jazz review" is kind of crazy because it encompasses so much, but we have to start somewhere and hopefully this will get A-gon's attention to add a section with more refined categories, a rating system by which all can add their ratings for an individual album.
abstract7
subaruguru
1,375 posts
 
Jazz Focus Records sent me this CD following our telcon after I bought the two latest Kendra Shank discs from them (both superb, by the way).
Jessica Williams has enormous chops, combining the lyricism and propulsion of Bill Evans with the great technique of Jarrett. A truly musical outing, with a big, warm credible piano-image, if a bit too wide. I'm told her later discs (Monk tunes, etc.) are equally good, but I haven't heard them. Check her out. I have a Steinway B sitting behind my Parsifal Encores, and this is one of the times where I'd swear MY piano's being played! Ernie.
redkiwi
1,092 posts
 
Hi Ernie. Since you like Jessica - as I do too - you really must try "Jessica's Blues". This is the most enjoyable of all her albums. Fine Jazz styling over a great Blues groove. This CD has more soul than Jessica's other work and the result gets your toes tapping.
spons
13 posts
 
Kurt Rosenwinkel - Intuit
Criss Cross Jazz 1160
Time 70:44

Kurt Rosenwinkel - guitar
Michael Kanan - piano
Joe Martin - bass
Tim Pleasant - drums

I saw a positive review for Rosenwinkel's new release "The Next Step" in June's Stereophile so I went to Amazon.com to listen to a few cuts. I passed on it - just a little too avant-garde for me.

But while I was at Amazon, I also listened to a few cuts from another Rosenwinkel CD called "Intuit". I liked the selections enough to go ahead and order it.

The CD came today and I was blown away. What a warm, swinging set of straight-ahead bop standards with a few harmonic twists thrown in.

Rosenwinkel is a great soloist and strays from the changes only occasionally but still manages to keep things interesting.

The best of all - the sound. The guitar is nice and big and right in the middle. The entire drum kit is toward the right of the stage (nothing is worse than cymbals on one side and the snare on the other) and piano and bass are toward the left. All four intruments can be heard clearly at all times in the mix and all are reproduced with perfect weight and timbre.

This CD may be hard to find, but it is worth the effort.
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