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Continue reading →: Ben Solomon: EcholocationGIANT STEPS; GSA13. (RECORDED DECEMBER 13, 2023) If imitation is the greatest form of flattery, John Coltrane would be flattered by Ben Solomon’s Echolocation. Other than the more contemporary sound of “Scene Changes,” the other seven tracks on this recording are VERY reminiscent of the famous John Coltrane Quartet. There…
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Continue reading →: Joel Frahm: LuminationANZIC 0091 (RECORDED MAY 2023) The first time I heard Joel Frahm was at a performance of the Matt Wilson Quartet in the late 1990s. I was immediately impressed with his big sound, his command of the tenor sax and his youthful enthusiasm for jazz. In the intervening years his…
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Continue reading →: Matt Panayides: With Closed EyesPACIFIC COAST JAZZ 93456 (RELEASED SEPTEMBER 20, 2024) Unlike his two earlier releases (Tapestries of Sound and Field Theory), guitarist Matt Panayides turns his attention from original compositions to investigating jazz standards on With Eyes Closed. It is not only his first recorded foray into these timeless classics, but also…
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Continue reading →: Leo Genovese: Estrellero 2SUNNYSIDE RECORDS 1747 (RELEASED SEPTEMBER 13, 2024) Three rising stars of the modern jazz piano trio genre are pianist Leo Genovese, bassist Demian Cabaud and drummer Marcos Cavaleiro. So, it is only appropriate that their newest release is titled Estrellero 2, which is Spanish for astrologer. And it is stellar!…
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Continue reading →: Bryn Roberts: AloftELASTIC RECORDINGS ER015 1744. (RECORDED OCTOBER 2022) “Aloft” is not only the title track on pianist Bryn Robert’s latest release, but also a nautical term relating to the upper rigging on a sailing ship. With that in mind, I offer this nautical review of Aloft, the first trio outing for…
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Continue reading →: Joel Futterman & Ike Levin: Infinite DimensionsCHARLES LESTER MUSIC (RECORDED JUNE 2023)n If Mark Twain was reviewing Infinite Dimensions, he might use a quote that has been attributed to him — “if you don’t like the weather, it will change in a minute.” There are moments in Infinite Dimensions where pianist Joel Futterman and saxophonist Ike…
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Continue reading →: Greg Reitan: The Bounding LineSUNNYSIDE 1740 (RELEASED SEPTEMBER 6, 2024) What’s the difference between Greg Reitan’s The Bounding Line and the five trio recordings (2008-2019) that preceded it? One big difference is the lack of any jazz standards or selections from The Great American Songbook. Over the years, Reitan has focused more on his…
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Continue reading →: Neil Swainson: Here For A WhileCELLAR MUSIC (RECORDED FEBRUARY 2024) Every so often, Canadian bassist Neil Swainson steps out from the shadows of a rhythm section in someone else’s group to lead his own band. Here For a While is his third release as a leader during his 50-plus year career. As in his past…
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Continue reading →: Rahsaan Barber: Six WordsJAZZ MUSIC CITY (RELEASED SEPTEMBER 2024) In 2021, saxophonist Rahsaan Barber released a double CD featuring 15 of his original compositions. His music reminded me of the soul and swagger of some classic Strata East dates from the 1970s. Using some of the same musicians (Roland Barber on trombone and…
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Continue reading →: Patricia Brennan: Breaking StretchPYROCLASTIC PR 35 (RELEASED SEPTEMBER 6 2024) What happens when you combine the complex rhythms of salsa music with the jazz fusion of “Bitches Brew,” the anthem sounds of the Liberation Music Orchestra and the foreboding mood of film noir? Vibraphonist Patricia Brennan does it on Breaking Stretch, adding saxophonists…
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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