Category Archives: CD Reviews

CD Reviews: NoReduce and the Nils Wogram Septet from Switzerland

Text by Matt Cole

New from the nWog label are two releases which show the vitality and creativity which can be found the European jazz scene. NoReduce’s debut CD, Jaywalkin’, which features three young Swiss jazz musicians and drummer extraordinaire Nasheet Waits was released on 18 May 2012, and the Nils Wogram Septet’s Complete Soul, out on 24 August.

Artist: NoReduce
Title: Jaywalkin’
Label: nWog Records
Genre: jazz

NoReduce’s lineup consists of Raffaele Bossard on bass, Dave Gisler on guitar, and  Christoph Irniger on saxophone in addition to drummer Nasheet Waits, and the album presents songs that came into existence in the spring of 2011 in New York, while the Swiss contingent of the band was living there.

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CD recommendation: Togo’s Fela Kuti speaks out for the 2nd time with music jumping “Between 2 Worlds”!

Artist: Elikeh
Titel: 2 Worlds
Label: Azalea City Recordings
Genre: Afro Beat or “taking Fela Kuti and mixing him with Bob Marley. Put in a pot and stir for three minutes and add some Osibisa and Togolese traditional music to it and let it all boil for two more minutes,” Dogo laughs. “Then you add a sprinkle of rock and you have Elikeh. ” (by Massama Dogo)
Release date: August 23, 2012

Elikeh mixes Afro-beat with traditional Togolese polyrhythms to produce captivating tunes that are as listenable as they are danceable. Although based in indigenous traditions, Elikeh’s music has no borders, exploring global themes and personal odysseys.

The eight-member group knows how to get the fire burning. They channel that energy into funkified pop anthems and thoughtful critiques of corruption, ignorance, and cultural neglect. Now on Between 2 Worlds the group digs deep into the African vintage pop inspiration, the reggae vibes, and the current craze for African-inflected funk and blues on an album that easily straddles two continents.

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CD review: Sylvain Leroux’s music of “French Creole…Creoles of color”.

Artist: Sylvain Leroux
Title: Quatuor Creole
Label: Engine Rec
Genre: world/jazz
Review by Leo Volf

Sylvain Leroux‘s debut recording Quatuor Creole might not necessarily be groundbreaking or earth shattering, but at times is quite pleasant. The music is a mix of two New Orleans’ cultures: the “French Creole” and “Creoles of color”. While one can nitpick and pin point exactly where one can hear each particular influence, that does not seem to be Leroux’s prerogative. The album and this cultural fusion manage to create its own kind texture, one that is predominantly jovial. With that being said, there is still enough variety throughout the recording, mostly due to the ensemble’s diverse instrumentation, to keep the listener engaged for the full duration.

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CD Review: Finger Songwriter – Jeremy Siskind’s new CD!

Artist: Jeremy Siskind
Title: Finger – Songwriter
Label:  Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records
Genre: Jazz
Review by Dawoud Kringle

Not long ago, I attended Siskind’s performance at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall (see my review here.) Now, my experience of Siskind’ss music will take a tour of his music in the recorded medium. I speak of his newest release; Finger – Songwriter.

Pianist, composer, and educator Jeremy Siskind originally from Irvine, CA, now living in NYC earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Eastman and his Master’s in English and Comparative Literature from Columbia, and studies piano with  Sophia Rosoff and Fred Hersh. Siskind performs around the world as a leader and sideman. Since the 2010 release of Simple Songs, Siskind’s first CD on Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records, he placed 2nd in the Montreux Jazz Festival Solo Piano Competition, was a runner-up for the American Pianist Association’s Cole Porter Fellowship, performed at Carnegie Hall, has had his book, Jazz Etude Inspirations, published by Hal Leonard, and has become the musical director for Sandra Bernhard.

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CD review: House of Waters…an astonishing display of virtuosity and musical beauty.

Artist: House of Waters
Title: Revolution
Label: self released
Genre: world/ambient/jazz

Review by Dawoud Kringel

New York City is one of those places where innovative musicians are the norm, rather than the exception. They lurk in the shadows, or stand on the world stage and bring their gems to listeners. One winter night, I went to Pianos in New York City’s Lower East Side. A friend was playing there, and hosting a jam session. I brought my instrument to sit in. Upon arriving, one of the opening groups was in the midst of their set. The room was filled with an astonishing display of virtuosity and musical beauty. I was impressed!

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