Chris Joris

Deborah Brown: International Incident

by C. Michael Bailey
July 25, 2003

Kansas City-reared jazz singer Deborah Brown employs an international, multicultural little big band to make progressive American vocal jazz, managing the logistics brilliantly to produce one of the best vocal recitals of the year. This fearless repertoire maven is not afraid of even the stickiest subjects.On International Incident,, Brown takes on two Johnny Griffin compositions ("Take My Hand" and “Make Up You Mind"), Thad Jones' “A Child is Born," and Pat Metheny's “Always and Forever." These are certainly ...

Chris Joris: Songs For Mbizo

by Glenn Astarita
September 19, 2002

Belgian pianist/percussionist Chris Joris recorded these sessions with tubaist Bob Stewart and South African bassist Johnny (Mbizo) Dyani back in 1976. Sadly, Dyani passed away in 1988, while additional tracks emanating from 1991 sessions featuring Stewart and a conglomerate of European artists round out this effort.

Joris' knowledge and implementations of wide ranging rhythmic structures come to fruition on this gem of a release. Throughout these pieces, Joris performs on berimbau (including a lovely duet with Stewart), various ...