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Continue reading →: Jamie Saft Trio: Plays MonkOYSTERTONES 005 (RELEASED NOVEMBER 22, 2024)) Would Thelonius Monk like the way in which the Jamie Saft Trio interprets ten of his classic tunes and one standard? I’ll let Monk answer that — “The only cats worth anything are the cats that take chances.” Chances are exactly what pianist Jamie…
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Continue reading →: John Menegon: Sound EmbraceVALLEY JAZZ RECORDS (RECORDED JANUARY 2023) For his sixth recording as a leader, bassist John Menegon assembled a group of musicians who share a geographic connection. They all are from or currently reside in Montreal, where this recording was made. That is quite different from his earlier recordings which mixed…
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Continue reading →: Day Dream Trio: Duke & Strays LiveCORNER STORE JAZZ 0140-0141 (RECORDED IN DECEMBER 2023) You might ask yourself where the melody is when the Day Dream Trio begins “Lush Life” with a bowed bass solo or when “Come Sunday” kicks off with a drum solo. But wait, because those familiar tunes will sneak up on you…
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Continue reading →: Joe Fonda: Eyes on the HorizonLONG SONG RECORDS 163/2024 (RECORDED DECEMBER 2023) Joe Fonda has made many musical connections during his 40-plus years as a well-respected bassist, bandleader and composer. Eyes on the Horizon celebrates one of the most meaningful connections. Conceived as a gift from a former student to his master teacher, Eyes on…
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Continue reading →: Jacob Chung: The SageCELLAR MUSIC (RELEASED NOVEMBER 15, 2024) The Cellar Music label does it again with a retro hardbop session! This time they pair members of the newest crop of young lions with a few former young lions to create a recording that is clearly reminiscent of the music of the original…
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Continue reading →: Zach Adelman: We Make: Stories for a New DayCELLAR MUSIC (RELEASED NOVEMBER 8, 2024) It appears that the Cellar Music label is becoming the keeper of the flame for solid sessions in the hard bop tradition. In the past year, the label has released CDs from legendary players such as Eric Alexander, Alvin Queen and George Coleman to…
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Continue reading →: Matt Slocum: Lion’s DanceSUNNYSIDE RECORDS (RELEASED NOVEMBER 1, 2024) The cover of Matt Slocum’s Lion’s Dance depicts three mighty lions following each other in a circular pattern. That’s an apt graphic depiction of what you will hear on this recording. The three mighty lions are Slocum on drums, Walter Smith III on tenor…
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Continue reading →: Caleb Wheeler Curtis: The True Story of Bears and the Invention of the Battery/ Raise Four – Monk the MinimalistIMANI RECORDS 0029 (RECORD JANUARY & APRIL 2024) “Interesting.” That’s the word I typically heard from professors about my term papers. I would ask them what they meant by “interesting,” and they would respond — “It’s not good and it’s not bad, it’s simply interesting.” That’s how I feel about…
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Continue reading →: Ilya Osachuk: The AnswerWho’s the up-and-coming bassist making a name for himself at Smalls, Blues Alley and other clubs in North America? Who’s the up-and-coming bassist capable of playing strong melodic lines as well as compelling harmonic/rhythmic lines? And who’s the up-and-coming bassist writing new ballads, bebop tunes and jazz waltzes? The answer…
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Continue reading →: Carn Davidson: ReverenceSELF RELEASED (NOVEMBER 1, 2024) The Carn Davidson 9 can best be described as a chameleon band. Whether they’re playing up-tempo swingers, gospel-inspired tunes, Latin American music or intricate modern jazz arrangements, they have a knack for adapting to these diverse musical environments. They demonstrate their ability to adapt on…
Hello,
Welcome to Papatamus Redux
I started reading Cadence in the early 1980s. Since that time, I have come to respect editor and jazz critic Robert Rusch for his intelligent, succinct and unbiased reviews. Over the past twenty years, it has been my pleasure to get to know Robert and his family, making frequent trips from our home in Iowa to New York’s North Country. Several years ago, I was honored to be asked to help edit Robert’s Papatamus column.
I was equally honored to be asked by his family to keep Robert’s legacy of intelligent, succinct and unbiased jazz reviews alive with Papatamus Redux. You can view older editions of Papatamus at papatamus.com.
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