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HEADS UP
MICHAEL BRECKER/Pilgrimage: When he was on, he was on, and in his final date, we find him raising the bar for cats like Hancock, Mehldau, Metheny, DeJohnette and Patitucci, something that’s only possible if you are probably the most influential tenor sax man in contemporary times. This is the unknockable high note any player would want to go out on, if they have to go. Stunning contemporary jazz that will rise to the top of the genre and stay there with the rest of the classics that belong to time.
3095
KARI-ON PRODUCTIONS
PAMELA HINES TRIO/Drop 2: Straight ahead jazz isn’t a dirty word, in the right hands it’s wonderful thing that sounds good and feels nice. Hines is one of those straight ahead players you meet in a piano bar and wonder why said player has that kind of gig when they have so much more to offer and most of the cocktail swillers don’t appreciate what’s being played out right before their ears. Whether delivering chestnuts or originals, Hines is right there, on point playing the clean, bold lines that make you take notice that let you concentrate on the fire with being distracted by false pyrotechnics. One of those dandy, winning dates you’re glad to come across.
101 (Spice Rack)
JAZZ PROMO SERVICES
SALTMAN KNOWLES QUINTET/It’s About the Melody: Nice, hard hitting post bop crew that has learned a load of lessons well and can play them back without being derivative or overly in awe of the past. With a nice energy, creative chops that show well and a drive to succeed, this crew is right at the tip of going places.
1032 (Blue Canoe)
TWO FOR THE SHOW MEDIA
GAEA SCHELL TRIO/For All We Know: Hmm, a blond Canuck lass that plays piano, sings standards, pals with old jazzbos like Albert Heath, came to the states on a grant from a Canadian arts council, buddies with members of Clayton-Hamilton…I might have put a whole lot of fiction in her bio if I were her, but hey, her playing speaks for itself and that’s what really matters. We pity her that there’s going to be a load of snotty press like this (but we were first!), but the girl can play and snotty press like this is going to dissipate the more word on her gets out and her work gets heard. Maybe there’s something in those unpolluted waters that turns out talent like this. Schell is a real treat and this is a must for everyone that wants to be there first for some hot, new talent and have too-hip-for-the-room bragging rights. Now if we can only keep her away from snaggle toothed Irishmen that haven’t out grown their angry young man phase…
29 (Roadhouse)
Volume 30/Number 180
April 29, 2007
MIDWEST RECORD
830 W. Route 22 #144
Lake Zurich, IL., 60047
CHRIS SPECTOR, Editor and Publisher
(c)2007 Midwest Record
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