Tag Archives: matt brewer

Exceptionally Musical New Releases from Andy Milne and Alex Sipiagin

  • Unison: Clarence Penn, Andy Milne, John Hébert
  • Alex Sipiagin

Pianist/composer Andy Milne and trumpeter/composer Alex Sipiagin turn themselves inside out on their latest offerings, packed with feeling and command.

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Three Plus One

  • Tyshawn Sorey Trio: Aaron Diehl, Sorey, Matt Brewer
  • Luciana Souza, Peter Apfelbaum, Dafnis Prieto, Matt Brewer, Martin Bejerano
  • Steven Bernsein. Photo by Jacob Blickenstaff.
  • Isaac Aragon and the Healing: Paul Palmer III, Artha Meadors, Aragon, Dee Brown

After a summer overstuffed with seven-day work weeks, I am now trying to catch up on my listening. To speed things along, I’m limiting myself to short reviews. So here are reviews of new albums from the Tyshawn Sorey Trio, Dafnis Prieto (featuring Luciana Souza), and Steven Bernstein and the Millennial Territory Orchestra—plus a new single from Isaac Aragon.

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A Tsunami of New Releases

  • Aaron Parks. Photo by Robert Cifarelli.
  • Matt Brewer
  • Eric Harland

A flood of new releases deserving attention is pouring in over the transom. To cover more of them, I’m keeping these reviews short and sweet. Here are several releases worthy of your attention, from Myra Melford’s new quintet; the quartet Kind Folk; the trio of Aaron Parks, Matt Brewer, and Eric Harland; and singer/songwriter Jason Tamba.

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Aaron Parks, Quartette Oblique, and Ben Wendel Dazzle with New Releases

Quartet Oblique: Drew Gress, Michaels Stephans, Marc Copland, Dave Liebman.
Ben Wendel. Photo by Josh Goleman.
Aaron Parks. Photo by Deneka Peniston.

A flood of recent releases is clogging up my in-box. Here are a few quick takes to get things moving again. Continue reading →

Water Music

1373Matt Brewer, Mythology (Criss Cross Jazz)
A Review

Whatever was JazzTimes thinking? Their online reader’s poll didn’t even list bassist Matt Brewer as an option. No matter that he’s one of the premier young bassists in the world, who’s toured and/or recorded with such
luminaries as Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Antonio Sanchez, Greg Osby, and Steve Coleman, among others. Never mind that he was a top-three finalist in the Thelonious Monk competition. Forget that he released his first
album as a leader this year. Well, let’s not forget it, since Mythology (Criss Cross Jazz) is an
impressive collection of seven Brewer originals plus one from Ornette Coleman, all delivered with an astute “less is more” approach by Brewer and his first-call colleagues: Mark Turner (tenor), Steve Lehman (alto), Lage Lund (guitar), David Virelles (piano), and Marcus Gilmore (drums). Continue reading →