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Date: 07.08.2007
Publication: The Philadelphia Inquirer
Author: Karl Stark

Zesty nuggets abound on the mostly solo recording from pianist Joey Calderazzo, a wild-fingered cat who rose to prominence in the late 1980s courtesy of the late Philly-born saxophonist Michael Brecker.

Calderazzo is perhaps best known now as the pianist in the Branford Marsalis Quartet. His playing can be off-putting for its assertive complexity, but here it’s anything but.
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Date: 07.06.2007
Publication: Blog Critics Magazine
Author: Michael Jones Read more »

Date: 07.01.2007
Publication: Jazz Times
Author: Mike Shanley

Joey Calderazzo is best known as a member of bands led by Branford Marsalis and the late Michael Brecker, but Amanecer just might be the album that gets his gifts as both a composer and a solo pianist embraced on a greater scale. Granted, he has eight previous albums to his credit, dating back 16 years and this isn’t his first solo album (that was Haiku, released in 2003). Additionally, this isn’t strictly solo: four pieces here actually feature him in duo or trio settings with vocalist Claudia Acuña and guitarist Romera Lubamambo.
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Date: 07.01.2007
Publication: Coda
Author: Nick Pitt Read more »

Date: 06.18.2007
Publication: PopMatters.com
Author: Will Layman

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Date: 06.17.2007
Publication: The New York Times
Author: Jon Pareles

Back in the 1960’s, the hippie counterculture briefly looked like a political opposition to a protracted war. At Bonnaroo this year, hippie fashion statements also go with protest songs and anti-Bush pronouncements. Perhaps that’s no surprise at a festival that includes longtime politically inclined rappers like the Roots, Michael Franti and El-P, who tour to the same collegiate audience that comes to Bonnaroo. Friday’s lineup also included Manu Chao, the globe-trotting, mostly Spanish-speaking songwriter whose hopped-up reggae and ska songs decry violence and poverty, support human rights (especially for immigrants and displaced people) and savor romance and marijuana.
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Date: 01.01.2007
Publication: Jazztimes

“The January/February 2007 issue of JazzTimes features the magazine’s Readers’ Poll, which lists tenor saxophonist Marcus Strickland, the featured soloist on Marsalis Music Honors Michael Carvin, as “Best New Artist” of ’06 ”

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Date: 08.04.2006

Publication: The Star - Ledger
Author: Zan Stewart Read more »

Date: 03.26.2006
Publication: All About Jazz
Author: Jim Santella

The jazz drummer is never just a timekeeper. He or she works with the bassist to keep the music driving, but works hard to color every song with various textures that portray appropriate moods. The drummer will solo, and if inclined, may wish to show off a little. A veteran will adapt distinctive techniques to his performance that allows us to recognize him clearly from a distance.

When the drummer is also a leader, everybody benefits from the designs that he employs, and from the strong foundation that he provides. It’s usually democratic. Everybody does his share, and everyone enjoys a certain amount of freedom. This works out especially well when the drummer shares his experience with his band members as a teacher.
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Date: 03.14.2006
Publication: Marsalis Music
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