ARTISTS TO WATCH
Jane Monheit
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Singer Jane Monheit's 2000 debut was among the most promising first
salvos in a generation. Her voice caresses the mellower side of
things and belts out big tunes as well. A band of all-stars abets
Monheit's inspired vocal powers, which will surely grow and gain fans
in the years to come.
Maria Schneider
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It's rare (not to mention economically challenging) for a composer
and bandleader to focus unflaggingly on a large ensemble. Maria
Schneider's done just that with her orchestra, releasing in 2000 the
stunning "Allegresse." Her writing recalls that of Gil Evans--her
mentor--with a spellbinding richness of orchestral color and a host
of phenomenal soloists.
Chicago Underground Trio
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Combining post-rock dynamics, dance club vibes, and soulful hard bop
is no easy task. The Chicago Underground Trio, though, makes it seem
automatic. "Flamethrower" has an agility rarely found in jazz today,
bouncing off Jeff Parker's buoyant guitar and finding sure rhythmic
legs in bassist Noel Kuppersmith and drummer Chad Taylor. Cornetist
Rob Mazurek blows over the top, playing it chilly and cool and
heating things up at will.
Stacey Kent
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A hat-trick of great CDs--1997's "Close Your Eyes," "Love is the
Tender Trap," and 2000's "Let Yourself Go: Celebrating Fred
Astaire"--have put singer Stacey Kent's name firmly on the celestial
chart of rising jazz stars. Husband and collaborator Jim Tomlinson
has a gorgeous tenor sax tone redolent of Stan Getz and offers it up
alongside Kent throughout her own albums (his own ballad-based "Only
Trust Your Heart" features Kent on three tunes).
Snowboy
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Percussionist Mark Cosgrove (aka Snowboy) makes a huge splash with
"Afro Cuban Jazz." His driving, horn-peppered Latin tunes are massive
in their energy level, with the bustle and density of his band equal
to their task on every level.
Erik Truffaz
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With a determined midrange focus akin to Miles Davis's, trumpeter
Erik Truffaz plays a cool-leaning brand of bop that takes its cue
from all of Davis's various stylistic phases at once. The electric
piano shimmers and reverberates as Truffaz's horn twirls through the
melodies, drawing comparisons to dance-club fusionists like Air,
while still holding down a serious jazz pedigree.
David Berkman
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Pianist David Berkman's "Communication Theory" presents one of the
keyboard's most diverse young talents in a dizzying array of modes,
moods, tempos, and frames of mind. Tart harmonies give way to
rhythmic piledrives, and saxophones amass to play stuff that's
part Wayne Shorter, part Charles Mingus--with no demarcation between
Berkman's influences. This is a stunning follow-up to Berkman's 1998
"Handmade" and a harbinger of things to come.
Danilo Perez
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Pianist and keyboardist Danilo Perez is--really--a Panamanian
Cultural Ambassador. Beyond that heady title, he's also a well-versed
jazz composer who appeals to both the post-bop crowd and the soulful
set. He's at home with Cuban rhythms, Afro-Brazilian song structures,
and straight-up bop. Wherever he is musically, Perez feels at home.
ODDS & ENDS
"Two Worlds"
Dave Grusin & Lee Ritenour
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This mini-summit meeting between smooth-leaning pianist Dave Grusin
and fusion-fired guitarist Lee Ritenour puts a whole new spin on
their musical relationship. The pair plays Bach, de Falla, and Villa
Lobos with exactness and a personalized, jazzy touch. They invite
guests, too, with violinist Gil Shaham and vocalist Renee Fleming
both making nice contributions.
"The Grande Passion"
Al Di Meola
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Guitarist Al Di Meola might've forged his sound in the flames of
1970s fusion, but in the 1990s, he's turned to Astor Piazzolla's
sultry tangos. Here, Di Meola mixes the Argentine master's
compositions with his own, making for a delightful mix. All is
lush and dreamy, and Di Meola's aflame in new, more subtle ways.
"A Love Affair: The Music of Ivan Lins"
Ivan Lins
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It's long been said that Ivan Lins was the best Brazilian crossover
composer since Antonio Carlos Jobim. The test will be time, but for
now Lins has all the right markers. Pop and jazz stars aplenty pay
heed on this set, with Sting making the most commercial contribution
on "She Walks This Earth."
