{"id":10982,"date":"2016-06-17T05:30:11","date_gmt":"2016-06-17T09:30:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/?p=10982"},"modified":"2016-06-10T13:24:12","modified_gmt":"2016-06-10T17:24:12","slug":"hundred-word-reviews-for-june-2016-part-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/2016\/06\/17\/hundred-word-reviews-for-june-2016-part-5\/","title":{"rendered":"Hundred-word Reviews for June 2016, Part 5"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Today wraps up my week-long series of posts featuring short reviews of noteworthy new releases. These last five are jazz. Dig.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-10986\" src=\"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/dan_pratt.jpg\" alt=\"dan_pratt\" width=\"300\" height=\"245\" \/><br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"float: left; padding: 10px; width: 120px; height: 240px;\" src=\"\/\/ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;OneJS=1&amp;Operation=GetAdHtml&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;source=ss&amp;ref=as_ss_li_til&amp;ad_type=product_link&amp;tracking_id=musoscribe-20&amp;marketplace=amazon&amp;region=US&amp;placement=B01FTSA1AQ&amp;asins=B01FTSA1AQ&amp;linkId=d3eeae76c4eccbfb3d68e16f23be94c4&amp;show_border=true&amp;link_opens_in_new_window=true\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><br \/>\n<b>Dan Pratt \u2013 <i>Hymn for the Happy Man<\/i><\/b><br \/>\nPratt plays alto and tenor sax, backed by a piano\/bass\/drums ensemble; bassist <a href=\"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/2016\/01\/27\/hundred-word-reviews-january-2016-blues-and-jazz\/\"><b>Christian McBride<\/b><\/a> is the most high-profile member of the group. The set is varied, featuring challenging numbers like \u201cGross Blues\u201d and more straight-ahead offerings such as the piano-centric \u201cNew Day.\u201d The album&#8217;s longest piece, \u201cRiver\u201d is also its most atmospheric and contemplative. It&#8217;s also perhaps the best track. \u201cSpeak Low\u201d is occasionally reminiscent of <a href=\"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/2010\/12\/20\/album-review\/\"><b>Dave Brubeck<\/b><\/a>&#8216;s deft combinations of classical and jazz. While the more intense numbers are fascinating, this aggregation seems at its best when the players go for subtlety, as they do on the title track.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-10987\" src=\"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/theo_croker.jpg\" alt=\"theo_croker\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/theo_croker.jpg 300w, http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/theo_croker-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"float: left; padding: 10px; width: 120px; height: 240px;\" src=\"\/\/ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;OneJS=1&amp;Operation=GetAdHtml&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;source=ss&amp;ref=as_ss_li_til&amp;ad_type=product_link&amp;tracking_id=musoscribe-20&amp;marketplace=amazon&amp;region=US&amp;placement=B0128ZEU6E&amp;asins=B0128ZEU6E&amp;linkId=1ecb0de1363d964de431a5ba26e39647&amp;show_border=true&amp;link_opens_in_new_window=true\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><br \/>\n<b>Theo Croker \u2013 <i>Escape Velocity<\/i><\/b><br \/>\nIf you&#8217;re the kind of listener who was disappointed when the fusion movement petered out and dissolved into soft jazz, then you owe it to yourself to check out this disc. The spoken word intro might conjure memories of <b>Nat Adderley<\/b>&#8216;s early 1970s <a href=\"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/2012\/09\/28\/two-obscure-albums-you-need-to-hear\/\"><i>Soul Zodiac<\/i><\/a>, and there&#8217;s a vaguely <i>Bitches Brew<\/i>-flavored aesthetic at work throughout. But the whole affair sounds decidedly modern and forward-looking. <i>Escape Velocity<\/i> is informed by many genres: jazz, of course, but rock, reggae and hip hop too; Croker has a strong sense of melody that keeps things rooted in accessibility while still creating an ambitious work.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-10988\" src=\"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/warren_wolf_convergence.jpg\" alt=\"warren_wolf_convergence\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/warren_wolf_convergence.jpg 300w, http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/warren_wolf_convergence-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"float: left; padding: 10px; width: 120px; height: 240px;\" src=\"\/\/ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;OneJS=1&amp;Operation=GetAdHtml&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;source=ss&amp;ref=as_ss_li_til&amp;ad_type=product_link&amp;tracking_id=musoscribe-20&amp;marketplace=amazon&amp;region=US&amp;placement=B01DRM5NYU&amp;asins=B01DRM5NYU&amp;linkId=71eafac77200a86efe12f400b15b8052&amp;show_border=true&amp;link_opens_in_new_window=true\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><br \/>\n<b>Warren Wolf \u2013 <i>Convergence<\/i><\/b><br \/>\nWolf&#8217;s buttery vibes and marimba work are guaranteed ear candy, and here he&#8217;s aided and abetted by a group that includes bassist <b>Christian McBride<\/b> and (on two tracks) guitarist <b>John Scofield<\/b>. The eleven tracks are very melody-forward; while there&#8217;s no great exploration happening here, <i>Convergence<\/i> is perhaps more consistently enjoying than any recently-released jazz album I&#8217;ve had the occasion to hear. The album is assured and thrilling in its low-key sort of way, and while it rewards close, intent listening, it makes tasty background music too. The grooves are often deeper and more soulful than they initially appear to be.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-10989\" src=\"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/matt_baker.jpg\" alt=\"matt_baker\" width=\"300\" height=\"262\" \/><br \/>\n<b>Matt Baker \u2013 <i>Almost Blue<\/i><\/b><br \/>\nAustralian jazz pianist Baker relocated to New York City in 2010, to swim with \u201cthe big fishes,\u201d as the liner notes say. This set is greatly influenced by Baker&#8217;s love of <b>Herbie Hancock<\/b>, but the tunes themselves are primarily from the Great American Songbook. <b>Joel Frahm<\/b>&#8216;s sax often takes the spotlight, but Baker&#8217;s assured and nimble piano playing is always present. Two very different readings of \u201cTheme from <i>The Apartment<\/i>\u201d are among the highlights, and Baker sings a romantic version of <b>Brian Wilson<\/b>&#8216;s \u201cWouldn&#8217;t It Be Nice.\u201d \u201cThe End of a Love Affair\u201d is the disc&#8217;s most effective track overall.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-10990\" src=\"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/carlo_ditta.jpg\" alt=\"carlo_ditta\" width=\"300\" height=\"265\" \/><br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"float: left; padding: 10px; width: 120px; height: 240px;\" src=\"\/\/ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;OneJS=1&amp;Operation=GetAdHtml&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;source=ss&amp;ref=as_ss_li_til&amp;ad_type=product_link&amp;tracking_id=musoscribe-20&amp;marketplace=amazon&amp;region=US&amp;placement=B00OVAN412&amp;asins=B00OVAN412&amp;linkId=5178de2d0f19ff31a0fc6bff70cf4467&amp;show_border=true&amp;link_opens_in_new_window=true\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><br \/>\n<b>Carlo Ditta \u2013 <i>What I&#8217;m Talkin&#8217; About<\/i><\/b><br \/>\nThis disc is difficult to classify: sometimes it&#8217;s gritty, greasy soul jazz, featuring guitarist\/vocalist Ditta backed by a funk band, highlighted by some sexy flute that recalls <b><a href=\"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/2016\/04\/25\/rehabilitating-herbie-part-1\/\">Herbie Mann<\/a><\/b>. Other times it feels like New Orleans jazz\/blues. The production aesthetic is decidedly odd, with certain elements (often Ditta&#8217;s voice and\/or guitar) far too out-front in the mix; it&#8217;s almost as if they skipped the mastering step in production. That makes <i>What I&#8217;m Talkin&#8217; About<\/i> an unnecessarily difficult listen. It&#8217;s varied and intriguing throughout, but requires much of the listener. Be warned that this album often sounds quite like a bootleg.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Today wraps up my week-long series of posts featuring short reviews of noteworthy new releases. These last five are jazz. Dig. Dan Pratt \u2013 Hymn for the Happy Man Pratt [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10987,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[42,49,65],"tags":[2746,2743,2745,2744,2348],"class_list":["post-10982","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-jazz","category-new-release","category-review","tag-carlo-ditta","tag-dan-pratt","tag-matt-baker","tag-theo-broker","tag-warren-wolf","cat-42-id","cat-49-id","cat-65-id","has_thumb"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10982","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10982"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10982\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10993,"href":"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10982\/revisions\/10993"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10987"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10982"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10982"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10982"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}