Peter O'Mara: Stairway (1993)

Peter O'Mara (born 9 December 1957 in Sydney, Australia) is an Australian jazz guitarist, composer and teacher. He studied at the Academy of Guitar under George Golla, at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and at jazz clinics under Jamey Aebersold, Dave Liebman, Randy Brecker, John Scofield and Hal Galper.
O'Mara began his professional career in Australia between 1976-81. He was a Prizewinner for Jazz Composition 1980 & 1982, awarded by the NSW Jazz Action Society. His first album "Peter O?Mara" was released 1980, receiving widespread critical acclaim. He was awarded the "Don Banks Memorial Fellowship" for overseas study. 1981 he was studying in New York under Dave Liebman, John Scofield, Roland Hanna, Jimmy Raney and Attila Zoller.
O'Mara moved to Munich, Germany in late 1981. He joined Klaus Doldinger's band Passport in 1990 and has toured Europe a number of times with this group, as well as South Africa and Brazil.
His teaching activities include, among many workshops throughout Europe, a professorship for Jazz guitar at the Anton Bruckner Private University for Music, Drama, and Dance Austria, as well as the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich. He is also author of four highly acclaimed books published by internationally renowned Jazz publishers Advance Music.

Down Beat (9/93, p. 47) - 3 Stars - Good - "... O'Mara can definitely play... ".

Tracklist:

1. Abertura 5:34
2. Stairway 8:00
3. Round & Round 6:14
4. Crescent 7:03
5. Mr. Lucky 6:15
6. For Emily 5:32
7. Weather or Not 5:42
8. Change of Mind 8:17
9. Continuity 6:37
10. Irish 2:02

Personnel: Peter O'Mara (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Anthony Jackson (guitar); Tony Lakatos (saxophone); Russell Ferrante (piano, keyboards); Tom Brechtlein (drums); Alex Acuсa (percussion)

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Grant Geissman: Bop! Bang! Boom! (2012)

BOP! BANG! BOOM! is the powerfully eclectic new recording from jazz guitarist/composer Grant Geissman. With special guests including Tom Scott, Larry Carlton, Albert Lee, Russell Ferrante, Mike Finnegan, Leland Sklar and Van Dyke Parks.

“From loping funk to boogaloo to earthy blues shuffles, with a haunting ballad, a beautiful samba and an urgently swinging post-bop romp thrown into the mix—along with touches of classical, flamenco and zydeco—jazz guitarist Grant Geissman covers all the bases with authority on BOP! BANG! BOOM!” —from the liner notes by Bill Milkowski

Personnel: Albert Lee, Larry Carlton, Tom Scott, Mike Finnigan, Russell Ferrante, Brian Scanlon, Emilio Palame, Tom Ranier, Jim Cox, Corey Allen, Greg Mathieson, Trey Henry, Kevin Axt, Leland Sklar, Ray Brinker, Alex Acuna, Brian Kilgore, Dennis C. Brown, Chuck Lorre, Doug Lacey, and Van Dyke Parks.

Tracklist:
1. Boom!- Grant Geissman 4:45
2. The Singularity - Grant Geissman 5:38
3. Q Tip (for Quincy Jones) - Grant Geissman, Tom Scott 5:30
4. Un Poco Espanol - Grant Geissman, Russell Ferrante 6:01
5. Go To The Window - Grant Geissman 6:20
6. Good Morning, Mr. Phelps - Grant Geissman, Russell Ferrante 6:01
7. $25 Stella - Grant Geissman 3:39
8. Texas Shuffle - Grant Geissman, Albert Lee, Larry Carlton 5:31
9. Samba En Menor - Grant Geissman 6:12
10. Guitarism (for Ron Purcell) - Grant Geissman 4:31
11. Take Yer Time - Grant Geissman, Chuck Lorre 6:17
12. Off The Grid - Grant Geissman, Tom Scott
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Bob Mintzer Big Band: For the Moment (2012)

The Grammy Award–winning Bob Mintzer Big Band has explored diverse styles of music in its illustrious 25-year recording history—from New York and Afro-Cuban to Count Basie and John Coltrane. On the band’s new MCG Jazz CD, "For the Moment," which was released on June 19, saxophonist/composer/arranger/bandleader Mintzer puts the spotlight on Brazilian music.

Tracklist:
1. Aha
2. Um Filme
3. Irrequieto
4. For All We Know
5. Berimbau
6. For The Moment
7. Recife
8. Corcovado
9. Ouro Preto
Personnel:
Bob Mintzer - Tenor Saxophone, Flute
Chico Pinheiro - Vocals, Guitar
Lawrence Feldman - Alto Saxophone, Flute
Mike Tomaro - Alto Saxophone, Flute
Bob Malach - Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet
Frank Basile - Baritone Saxophone, Clarinet
Steve Hawk - Trumpet
Tony Kadleck - Trumpet
James Moore - Trumpet
Scott Wendholt - Trumpet
Jay Ashby - Trombone
Keith O'Quinn - Trombone
Michael Davis - Trombone
Max Seigel - Bass Trombone
Russell Ferrante - Piano, Keyboards
Marty Ashby - Guitar
Lincoln Goines - Bass
Peter Erskine - Drums
Alex Acuna - Percussion
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Eric Marienthal: It's Love (2012)

Saxophonist Eric Marienthal is among contemporary jazz's busiest talents. On the day that It's Love was released, Marienthal also played a starring role on the Jeff Lorber Fusion entry Galaxy. The two albums reflect Marienthal's varied talents, as both a creative improviser and a lover of groove-oriented popular music. It's Love was produced by guitarist Chuck Loeb, who also appears throughout the set. Also in this studio band are Yellowjackets' keyboardist Russell Ferrante, drummer Gary Novak, and bassist Tim Lefebvre. Marienthal's love of pop-soul is displayed on the album's opening number, a cover of Brenda Russell's iconic "Get Here." Introduced by Ferrante's piano and spare percussion and guitar, Marienthal's alto moves right into the melody and sticks close while digging deep into his horn's grain for emotion. When the key change happens, he syncopates the lyric flow and allows the melody to guide him. While this track has been covered by many singers, pulling it off in a contemporary jazz setting isn't easy. The temptation to show off one's chops at the expense of the tune is everywhere; Marienthal's discipline keeps him honest and he lets its original intent flow right through to the listener. He switches gears on a 21st century reading of Irving Mills' "In a Sentimental Mood," which doesn't resemble any instrumental version out there -- Loeb's solo guitar intro evokes Wes Montgomery before Ferrante and Marienthal enter and return what has long been a vehicle for jazz improvisation back into a lyric song. The title track is a haunting ballad co-written by Marienthal and Loeb, while the latter's "Two in One" is a midtempo groover with Marienthal soloing on soprano. "Babycakes" and "St. Moritz" were co-composed by the saxophonist with Lorber. The former evokes the Crusaders circa 1969 and 1970 as Marienthal uses Wilton Felder's soulful phrasing in a gospelized groove while Loeb plays tasty fills а la Larry Carlton. Lorber contributes keyboards and additional guitar, too. On "St. Moritz," Till Bronner's trumpet adds depth, density, and an added lyricism to the breezy Caribbean atmosphere until the midway point, where it gets nocturnal and funky. It's Love is a (mostly) laid-back offering, yet it's solid: beautifully arranged and executed, its silky production and emotive undertones, make it a perfect Valentine's Day soundtrack to boot. ~ Thom Jurek

Tracklist:
01. Get Here
02. In A Sentimental Mood
03. Can't Buy Me Love
04. It's Love
05. Two In One
06. Costa Del Soul
07. Babycakes
08. Café Royale
09. St. Moritz
10. When I Found You
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Yellowjackets: Greenhouse (1991)

The Yellowjackets' first release for GRP, Greenhouse, is a real gas. The disc starts innocently enough with "Freedomland," the kind of smart smooth jazz song that marked The Spin. It's on the following "Greenhouse" that listeners glimpse a change in the air: Strings (!) set the stage for dreamy, exotic jazz that melts in your mind, music that goes well beyond similar experiments on earlier Yellowjackets sessions. From this point on, the band travels back in time: Russell Ferrante's piano, the understated rhythm section, and Bob Mintzer's saxophones (Marc Russo had left, though Mintzer wasn't an "official" member yet) smoke with the fire of cool jazz. There are still some electronics employed, but generally they're arranged in a subordinate role to give the acoustic sounds an added presence. It would be tempting to call Mintzer the catalyst of change -- his saxophone playing is more note-filled and squeakier than Russo's, a style that evokes traditional jazz -- but the new direction in sound is just as evident in the piano playing of Ferrante, the softened attack of William Kennedy (plenty of cymbals, quieter snare hits), and the articulated playing of Jimmy Haslip (best heard on "Indian Summer"). The fresh start allows the Yellowjackets to escape from under the cloud of smooth jazz and expose their "serious" side, all while continuing to place composition and melody over individual musicianship. Calling this the band's most mature work to date belies a natural distrust of smooth jazz, so better to say that Greenhouse is loaded with personality. Mintzer's spooky bass clarinet on "Brown Zone," the wild bop workout unleashed on "Liam/Rain Dance," and the violin jig on "Freda" are among their most memorable musical moments. The Yellowjackets haven't changed the way they approach their music, but the newfound ability to communicate in a more traditional jazz setting casts them in a whole new (and flattering) light.

Tracklist:
1. Freedomland (ferrante)
2. Greenhouse (ferrante, haslip)
3. Seven stars (ferrante, haslip, kennedy)
4. Indian summer (ferrante)
5.Spirits (mintzer)
6. Browne zone (khan)
7. Liam/Rain dance (ferrante, haslip, croes)
8. Invisible people (ferrante, haslip, kennedy)
9. Freda (baker, wynwood)
10. Peace (gable)
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