eMusic reviews “Heart of the Geyser”

MUSIC REVIEW:
Dan Cavanagh, “Heart of the Geyser”
by Dave Sumner, emusic Review

Share on Facebook Nice piano trio date. Cavanagh normally does the big band thing, so it’s nice to hear him express his sound in a smaller unit. Joe McCarthy on drums and Linda Oh on bass. All three make some powerful statements on their respective instruments without sacrificing anything in the teamwork department. Very pretty music with some dynamic rhythm action to keep things alive and kicking. Linda Oh, who has an excellent album of her own coming out in May, really shines here, so if you’re one who isn’t typically inspired by the bass spot in the line-up, it’d be a good idea to hit the download button on this one. Recommended.

All About Jazz reviews “Heart of the Geyser”

By DAN MCCLENAGHAN, Published: May 10, 2012

There's no arguing that the best of the best in the piano trio field comes from the longterm units: on the younger end of the spectrum there's Brad Mehldau's group with bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Jeff Ballard, who replaced his long term predecessor in that chair, Jorge Rossy; and, of course, on the legendary end, there's Keith Jarrett's Standards Trio, with bassist Gary Peacock and drummer Jack DeJohnette, who have been honing their artistry in the piano trio endeavor for nearly thirty years.

But there are the spontaneous one-off recordings and just-becoming-established groups that can produce knockout efforts without the benefit of years of sharpening the group voice. On the "one-off" side there's Boneyard (Origin Records, 2007), by Jim McNeely, Kelly Sill and Joel Spencer; or the surprising talent of relative newcomer Greg Reitan on Some Other Time (Sunnyside Records, 2009).

Pianist Dan Cavanagh led the Jazz Emporium Big Band on his superb OA2 Records debut, Pulse ( 2008). For this sophomore outing with the label he's reduced the pallet to the piano trio for a disc that fits, probably, into the "one-off" category, and definitely into the "relative newcomer group" that, like Reitan's trio debut, has produced a surprisingly fine set of sounds without a long-established track record.

The set of seven Cavanagh originals and three covers—Chick Corea's "Matrix" and Frederick Chopin's "Prelude No. 4 in E Minor" and the traditional "Londonderry Air"—opens with the pianist's "Josephine," an ode to his daughter that features a craggy Mehldau-like rhythmic thread, playful and fluid trio interplay and an endearing melodic simplicity-abstraction dynamic.

There is a sense of a high level of improvisation within the frameworks of these tunes. Cavanagh's exquisite touch is on display on "Square One," a song given bounce and pop by drummer Joe McCarthy and bassist Linda Oh's ringing notes. "Bilder," clocking in at twelve-and-a-half minutes, is the disc's longest and perhaps loveliest piece—an urgent, in-the-moment example of what a first-rate piano trio can do when it taps into the flow of spontaneous three-way creativity, with Oh and McCarthy driving the music forward without a backwards glance.

Like Mehldau's music, Cavanagh's sound has a cerebral and sophisticated quality while remaining highly engaging, with some earthy shades brought in by his trio mates. On "Dark Ivory Tower" Oh's sharp and succinct solo, and her accompaniment throughout, acts as a foundation for Cavanagh's classically-informed piano, and his subtle and gorgeous touch. "Uncertainty" captures a tentative but hopeful mood with a melody that proceeds in fits and starts, while "The Good Life," opening with an intricate drum interlude, gives off a vibe of tranquility and contentment.

Cavanagh has produced one very good big band recording. Like Jim McNeely, his large ensemble may absorb the majority of his artistic life, but he shows, with The Heart of the Geyser, that he can put together a very simpatico piano trio for an inspired recording.

Track Listing: Josephine; Square One; Bilder; Matrix; Prelude No. 4 in E Minor; Dark Ivory Tower; Spills; Uncertainty; The Good Life; Londonderry Air.

Personnel: Dan Cavanagh: piano; Linda Oh: bass; Joe McCarthy: drums.

Record Label: OA2 Records

Latin Jazz Network Reviews Una Mas

AfroBop Alliance – Una Más (OA2 Records 2011)

March 2, 2012 by danavas

Review written by: Raul da Gama

There is a sensuous, almost bordering on lustful, quality to the music on Una Más by the big band, AfroBop Alliance. Not that it is a bad thing at all; quite the contrary, the viscosity of the music is a result of the molten mix of bronzed horns and beautifully clouded woodwinds with elementally raw drums and percussion. The result is a saffron-coloured paella of swirling contra-danzas and soaring son-montuno and on event, a wistful bolero; even a stately maracatú (some Afro-Brazilian thrown into the leading melody of “El Niño”) that is kept hot with bubbling energy by the drummer and percussion-colourist, and leader, Joe McCarthy as well as the celebrated timbalero, Roberto Quintero. Oddly enough it takes the also-sensuous, but infinitely softer approach to the vibes and the marimba by Dave Samuels that keeps the music from getting too heated and out of control.

As the percussionists play off each other’s personalities—especially when batá drums come into play—the wall of saxophones (especially the gravity-driven baritones) playing in ululating abundance together with the droning, smoking trombones lights the music aflame. This roaring fire is fed by the trumpets and alternately doused by the sprinkling cool of the gilt-edged vibes and/or the marimba as it introduces the piano and sometimes the guitar and rolling bass. The music then takes on a rich narrative, the story-telling of which continues from song to song. Hence the apparent chapter and verse of the titles following from “The Gathering,” “The Floating World,” the utterly beautiful chart, “The Avid Listener” and “Cherry Blossom”. But this is a story that criss-crosses Latin America, following a line from Africa through Portugal and Spain, Brazil and Cuba, Argentina and so on… Moreover—and here lies the exquisite surprise—the musical griots also paint vivid pictures with a brilliant manipulation of tonal palettes of the instruments used in a most painterly fashion.

Percussionists have a natural tendency to play with pulses and tempos and this creates the illusion of timelessness, brought about no doubt by the fibrillating of the skin of the drum as well as by the continuous hiss of the cymbal after it has been struck with soul. Also the shape-shifting edifice of the percussion; the surprising and sometimes abrupt changes in rhythm itself bring a gasping quality to the music. From Benny Golson’s montunofied “Along Came Betty” right down to the wire of “Viva Cepeda” these changes in rhythm that break and pierce through the swelling ocean of other brass and woodwinds make this music utterly unforgettable. The towering moments come in the gasping changes on “El Otoño”. Which brings everything, de capo, back to percussion and lustfulness; when it comes to music this is not, after all, so much of a bad thing, but altogether desirable.

Track Listing: 1. Golpe de Cumaco (Impression 10); 2. El Niño; 3. The Gathering; 4. The Floating World; 5. The Avid Listener; 6. Cherry Blossom; 7. Along Came Betty; 8. El Otoño; 9. Viva Cepeda.

Personnel: Steve Williams: lead alto, and soprano saxophones; Andy Axelrad: alto saxophone; Luis Hernandez: tenor; Vince Norman: tenor, soprano and baritone saxophones; Daryl Brenzel: baritone saxophone; Chris Walker: lead trumpet; Alex Norris: trumpet; Greg Reese: trumpet; Tim Stanley: trumpet; Ben Patterson: trombone; Joe Jackson: trombone; Rhoades Whitehill: trombone; Jeff Cortazzo: trombone; Harry Appelman: piano; Tim Murphy: piano (4); Jim Roberts: guitars; Mike Pope: basses; Joe McCarthy: drums, bells, timbale; Roberto Quintero: congas, percussion; Dave Samuels: vibraphone and marimba.

Afro Bop Wins at Wammies!

At the 26th Annual Washington (DC) Area Music Awards, Afro Bop won for

Best Big Band/Swing Recording - Una Mas.

Thanks to all of our supporters!

Jazz Times Reviews Una Mas

MUSIC REVIEW: Afro Bop Alliance, “Una Mas”

by Bill Milkowski, JazzTimes

Drummer Joe McCarthy and saxophonist-arranger Vince Norman have been leading the Afro Bop Alliance for over a decade. Following their Latin Grammy Award in 2008, they put together an all-star big band for 'Una Mas,' the group's debut on OA2. This potent collection includes stellar renditions of luis Perdomo's dynamic "Golpe de Cumaco," Joey Calderazzo's "El Nino" and Cal Tjader's vibrant "Viva Cepeda," along with a Latin-jazz take on Benny Golson's "Along the Way," Vibraphonist Dave Samuels guests on his own compositions, the turbulent descarga "The Gathering" and the lovely "Cherry Blossom," as well as on Mike Pope's clave-fueled "The Avid Listener" and Hector Martignon's challenging "The Floating World," which features some fiery exchanges between drummer McCarthy and conguero Roberto Quintero.

@Critical Jazz Reviews Una Mas

@Critical Jazz

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Saturday, December 17, 2011

AfroBop Alliance Una Mas OA2 Records 2011

Musical stereotypes and labels attached to various genres and sub genres are musical road blocks set up by the recording industry to better package, pigeon hole and peddle their product. Latin jazz has the image of being foot to floor jam sessions that are so drenched in the appropriate culture that accessibility for others may be limited. Not here!

Balance. Musical symmetry is the corner stone of an impeccable Latin jazz recording that while distinctly Latin, steers clear of an over the top percussive sound and instead focuses attention on the more improvisational driven artistry of the band members. Dave Samuels makes an appearance on this release much in the same vein of the 2008 Carribbean Jazz Project and the Afro-Bop Alliance featuring Dave Samuels. Joining Samuels is pianist/composer Luis Perdomo to add a deeper and richer flavor to an ensemble that has now been together for a little over a decade.

What is Afro-Bop? Essentially a Latin derivative of Cubop mixing Afro-Cuban rhythms and harmonies with the more standard timbre of traditional Bebop. This amazing septet from Annapolis Maryland takes the rhythmic grooves of Cubop and adds just a splash of unique harmonic development and allow the soloist to literally drive the musical train. Una Mas as well as the rest of this Grammy nominated ensemble's music is true Latin fusion done with incredibly style and flair.

Opening with "Golpe de Cumaco" which is a conceptual/historical piece written by Perdomo and exploring the impressions of Afro-Venezuelan music as influenced by African slaves, AfroBop Alliance begins sitting the table for a rhythmic feast for the senses. "Golpe de Cumaco" is a textured rhythmic adventure which is punctuated by some colorful improvisation and shifting harmonic development throughout. The Joey Calerazzo tune "El Nino" is done with a passionate swing, a poly rhythmic groove that attacks on a purely visceral level. Fluid solos from Luis Hernandez on tenor saxophone and Harry Appelman on piano create musical intensity with a sense of purpose. Jazz for the feet. "Viva Cepeda" is a Cal Tjader tune that is pulled off with finesse and precision. An infectious beat with great soloists including Dave Samuels, "Viva Cepeda" is over flowing with vibrant sonic color. Dizzy Gillespie and Stan Kenton are perhaps the two "founding fathers" in terms of the development of these Latin jazz elements into the more traditional western improvisational setting. The AfroBop Alliance much like the music is evolving and developing on a regular and consistently high quality level.

Whether performing original work or putting their own spin on tunes from Dave Samuels, Benny Golson or Cal Tjader there is little room for doubt this is an ensemble at the very top of their game. Do they cut any new musical ground here? Not really. Cutting new ground or reinventing the musical wheel is not a necessity when you are the very best at what you do. A good chef, may tweak the spice slightly but not the overall preparation of the dish! A musical feast to savor!

KoSA PASiC Convention 2011 Report

Click Here to read about the convention, including Joe's presentation.