Improvijazzation Nation Magazine Review of E.J. Antonio

Review: http://zzaj.freehostia.com/wordpress/?page_id=190

E. J. Antonio – RITUALS IN THE MARROW; RECIPE FOR A JAM SESSION:

This spoken-word CD is one of the best musical adventures I’ve been on this year… some of that certainly has to do with my penchant for words (as many of you know, I started out performing poetry, oh so many years ago). E.J. makes her words come ALIVE, especially on pieces like the opener, “Foreign Monkey“… these aren’t “cutesy” 4/4 rhymes, either… this song/poem has genuine GUTS! Many late-nite sessions around the world come back to mind as I listen to “Every Old NY Jazz Club” – can FEEL the smoke drippin’ off the horns, saxes & bass as E.J. guides us through the haze. If the harp/vocal call-response on “Pullman Porter” doesn’t reach right out & touch you – you might as well be Elliot Ness – unTOUCHable! I’ve no doubt we will be hearing lots more from Ms. Antonio – this gets a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, with an “EQ” (energy quotient) rating of 4.97. Get more information at /www.ejantoniobluez.net/ Rotcod Zzaj

Norman Johnson Reviewed on Improvijazzation Nation

Norman Johnson - IF TIME STOOD STILL:

Improvijazzation Nation Rotcod Zzaj
Issue # 105 - http://zzaj.freehostia.com/Z105Reviews.htm

Includes reviews for at least 36 other artists

If the words "laid-back" & "groove" fit the mood you're in, you'll definitely want to listen to this debut CD from Norman... the opening track,"It's Time To Fly" will set the mood for the rest of the 10 highly-inspired tracks, no doubt. Norman's got a cast of players far too long to itemize here, so you'll have to buy the CD to get that. He's been around for many years, playing with folks like Dave Brubeck, Harvie S (also reviewed in this issue) & Phil Wilson, just to name a few; he shows on this CD that he has a marvelous talent for making music that will enchant your ears and capture your heart instantly. I just loved "Always and Forever," which takes us back to a magical time when music was an inspiration (think Wes, think Wes, think Wes). It was the soulful "Can I Get An Amen" that captured my vote for favorite, though... it will make a believer out of you, no doubt! I've no doubt that we'll be hearing lots more from Mr. Johnson in the next few years, and I'm truly looking forward to that. I give him a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, and an "EQ" (energy quotient) rating of 4.96.

SALTMAN KNOWLES REVIEW: Yesterday's Man

IMPROVIJAZZATION NATION

http://zzaj.freehostia.com/Z98Reviews.htm

Saltman-Knowles - YESTERDAY'S MAN: Music from these folks is always welcomed here at IMPROVIJAZZATION NATION... we reviewed their "Return of the Composer" CD in issue #94. Knowles keyboards and Saltman's bass are just as vibrant on this new 10-song album... there are a whole host of other players here, but their other regular player is vocalist Lori Williams-Chisolm, whose vocals shine again this time. That's particularly true of her singing on tracks like "Cry"... at about 6:11 into the 7:10 piece, she rolls into a scat that's among the best I've ever heard... will bring a tear of joy (or more) to your eye, for sure. The funk-poppin' beat of the bass helps a great deal on the lead-in to "Shesh", but as always, they bring it right back to the jazz that's at the core of all their musical adventures... great piece, to be sure. Their music is all original, so there's no chance that you'll be challenged with tired covers of someone else's jazz vision... the energy is high and the talent just flows from these folks! My favorite cut was "Blues For Sale" an original from Saltman that puts that bass right out there where it belongs - driving this kickin' tune that they said (in the liner notes) has "a bit of bug juice in the percussion solo"... not sure exactly what they meant there, but this tune is superb jazz that will get your spirit movin'! Actually, though, the whole production is a winner, & I give it a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, to be sure. "EQ" (energy quotient) rating is 4.93. Get more information at www.saltmanknowles.com Rotcod Zzaj

Ellen Johnson Gets Most Highly Recommended from Improvijazzation Nation

IMPROVIJAZZATION Nation
Issue #94 Reviews
by Rotcod Zzaj aka Dick Metcalf
http://zzaj.freehostia.com/Z94Reviews.htm



Ellen Johnson - THESE DAYS: Female jazz singers are often "lumped" in a category (for reviewers, anyway) that says "later"... I don't know why that is, but know it often happens. A part of that could be the simple fact that there are many... well, in Ellen's case, letting the dozen tunes on her newly released CD "just slide" would be a mistake for anyone enthralled with true artistry. We reviewed another CD she produced ("A Mother's Heart) in issue #91, & were very impressed with her skills there, too. It is, of course, her voice that makes the difference & catapults the music on "These Days" to the top of the stack... what you hear is fresh & soulful, without pretense or gimmickry - excellent expression on every note! One of the most powerful tracks for this listener was "Inspiration"... simply beautiful, with great guitar by Larry Koonse & bass that stands right behind her penetrating vocal performance from Darek Oles! Oles bass lead-in on "You Don't Know What Love Is" is perfect for Ellen's silky & intimate style when she starts singing... another performance that will stay in your ears for months & years to come! In the overall, there is a real "slinky" quality to Johnson's voice that is so inviting you won't be able to move on to anything else until you've listened to the whole tune... & then the next track... & the next... & so on & so on. "These Days" is a definite jazz winner for all, players & listeners, & gets a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from this little corner of the jazz world! Get more information at www.ellenjohnson.net/ Rotcod Zzaj

INTERVIEW: MIMI JONES - IMPROVIJAZZATION Nation

"This CD gets my MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating, as well as the "PICK" of the YEAR for "most creative artist"!
- Dick Metcalf, Improvijazzation Nation

IMPROVIJAZZATION Nation - Issue # 93
- interview by Dick Metcalf

From the opening bar of Mimi's debut CD, "A New Day", reviewed in issue #92, I knew this was someone we HAD to interview for this magazine... not only an extremely gifted & talented composer/player, but a real "person" as well. I've a feeling we will all be hearing a LOT more from Mimi - I know I will! I want to thank her, too, for taking the time to write up a very revealing & personable interview for us!

Read the interview at:
http://zzaj.freehostia.com/Z93Interview.htm

Mimi Jones: Pick of the Year for Most Creative Artist

Mimi Jones "A New Day " Review

Improvijazzation Nation by Dick Metcalf http://zzaj.freehostia.com/Z92Reviews.htm

Mimi Jones - A NEW DAY: We seldom "push" CD's to the top of the review stacks, but ev'ry once in a while, the first listen (just kinda') DICTATES that our thoughts about the music we're hearing MUST be written down in/of the moment.

It's an odd comparison, in a certain sense, but it's like the very first time I listened to a Joni Mitchell album... I knew that the artist's vision was part of a new paradigm... & Mimi Jones composes & plays a blend of bluesy jazz on this debut CD that IS the "new music" (release date is September 15th, 2009, so get it NOW)! Her bass work is strong & solid, and her vocals reach right down to the depths of your soul... it's not like she's trying to sell you her soul, either... no tricks, just highly talented compositions that fuse together all the elements, all the influences she's had (whether in this incarnation or previous ones) into something you will desire to listen to - over & over & over again!

There is also a (sort of) "Prince-like" quality to some of the tunes, like "Suite Mary", but with a totally jazz bent, & no gimmicks - just a soaring horn front joined by a delicious Wurlitzer section, all underpinned by Mimi's driving bass lines.... simply grand! It was actually the second track in, "Watch Yo Step", with one of the gutsiest guitar blues leads I've ever heard & a totally husky vocal by Ms. Jones, that gets played numerous times daily... absolutely my favorite track on the CD... if it was just blues, it would probably be kind of "ordinary", but this is one of the jazziest pieces I've ever heard.

This Ms. Mimi is someone you will be hearing from for a long time to come - & remember, you heard that here first! This CD gets my MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating, as well as the "PICK" of the YEAR for "most creative artist"! Get more information at http://mimijonesmusic.com/music.html or at www.myspace.com/miriamsullivan & be sure to tell Mimi that Zzaj sent you, please. Rotcod Zzaj

REVIEW: FROM A MOTHER'S HEART

IMPROVIJAZZATION Nation
REVIEW by Dick Metcalf
http://zzaj.freehostia.com/Z91Reviews.htm

Sound Visions Media
http://www.soundvisionsmedia.com
Available at iTunes, CD Baby and Sound Visions Media

Sound Visions Media - FROM A MOTHER'S HEART: There are some very familiar jazz players/singers (for me) here, like Judi Silvano, & John Stowell, paying tribute to moms everywhere... especially poignant for me on a personal level since my mother passed only a couple years back. Even though my mom was more "church-oriented" in her musical tastes, I've no doubt that she would smile down on these tunes as she listened to them, as they are full of life and the gentle caring attitudes that most of us associate with our mothers. The most impressive thing about this collection is that it's got real energy - there's not a dull or "sappy" cut in all 11 tunes; that can't be said for many of these assemblages, but spirit fills each of the pieces. I glommed right on to Judi Silvanos' "Bougainvillea", probably because I've listened to (& reviewed) her music so many times. Strangely enough, though, it was a composition from Mala Waldron called "Ellie" that captured the "favorite" spot for me... it will just bounce you along through the magical scats & supremely spirited piano playing. This CD isn't just for "mom's day", by any stretch of the imagination... you can play it anywhere, anytime, & I imagine those of you who wander about with IPODS attached to your ears will play my favorite track & all of the other cuts over & over & over again. I give this a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED (which is kind of a "first" for a tribute album). Get more information at http://errandgirlforjazz.blogspot.com/ Rotcod Zzaj