THE SEASONS OF BEING (Sunnyside) 8/10 Ah, the old chestnut of music and healing. Even born sceptics like me subscribe to it, having experienced the effect too many times for doubt. Pianist/composer Andy Milne understands the link, too. He might take his theorising into new-age zones that prickle my scepticism,…
Category: Album Reviews
UPLIFT (Greenleaf) 9/10 Few artists are so prolific without compromising quality as trumpeter Dave Douglas, his Greenleaf label a tap for pouring out exceptional records. This one was immediately preceded by four double-albums of his quintet in incendiary form live at the Jazz Standard. The Uplift project could hardly be…
THE USEFULNESS OF ART (Fat Rain) 9.5/10 The breadth of the music matches the scale of the ambition. These five albums of scintillating creativity let you dig deep into the oeuvre of brilliant Melbourne composer/multi-instrumentalist Adam Simmons, beginning with Concerto for Piano and Toy Band, a dense, giddy conversation between…