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Bernie Arai

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28
Album Review

Sharon Minemoto: Dark Night, Bright Stars

Read "Dark Night, Bright Stars" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Dark Night, Bright Stars, the second recording by Vancouver, Canada-based pianist Sharon Minemoto and her well-knit quartet, has no need for unseemly frills or flourishes. This is simply clear, plain-spoken contemporary jazz, ably performed by Minemoto and her talented teammates. The album's dozen numbers, all written and arranged by Minemoto, are tasteful and engaging, as is her work at the keyboard, which is never short of inventive and pleasing. The same can be said of tenor saxophonist ...

10
Album Review

Sharon Minemoto: Dark Night, Bright Stars

Read "Dark Night, Bright Stars" reviewed by Pierre Giroux


Pianist and composer Sharon Minemoto has released an album entitled Dark Night, Bright Stars, which offers a diverse and emotionally resonant listening experience characterized by skillful musicianship and a sense of camaraderie among the participants. These long-time friends include tenor saxophonist Jon Bentley, bassist Darren Radtke and drummer Bernie Arai. All compositions are by Minemoto, providing insight into the diversity and depth of her musical expression. The opening track, “As Luck Would Have It," showcases the ...

38
Album Review

David Blake: Fun House

Read "Fun House" reviewed by Jack Bowers


David Blake and his teammates are definitely having a good time on Fun House, the Vancouver, Canada-based guitarist's third recording as leader, as their energy and enthusiasm flow through the speakers. This is Blake's first album in a setting other than a trio, as he shares the front line here with trumpeter Thad Bailey-Mai and has added pianist Brad Turner to complement bassist Conrad Good and drummer Bernie Arai. Blake wrote all but two of the session's ...

29
Album Review

Tom Keenlyside: A Night at the Espresso

Read "A Night at the Espresso" reviewed by Jack Bowers


As is true in many professions, jazz musicians must learn their craft before exposing it to audiences. Some, such as Canadian woodwind specialist Tom Keenlyside, remember where and when that happened. His musical education began for the most part at the Espresso Coffee House in Vancouver. Keenlyside has not forgotten that, even after more than fifty years as a guiding light on the British Columbia jazz scene, and pays tribute to his academic roots on A Night at the Espresso, ...

4
Album Review

Tom Keenlyside Quartet: Fortune Teller

Read "Fortune Teller" reviewed by Jack Bowers


A jazz flutist who plans to record using only a standard three-member rhythm section as back-up should best be musically astute, technically sound, love what he (or she) is doing and harbor an ample supply of clever and interesting phrases designed to suit every occasion. Even though Tom Keenlyside checks all the boxes on Fortune Teller, there is only so much that any flutist, no matter how purposeful and talented, can do to ensnare a listener's ear for seventy-six minutes. ...

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Dark Night, Bright...

Cellar Music Group
2023

buy

A Night at the...

Cellar Records
2022

buy

Fun House

Cellar Records
2022

buy

Fortune Teller

Cellar Records
2020

buy

Motions

Self Produced
2004

buy

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