Mike Holober & the Gotham Jazz Orchestra: Quake

Mike Holober tinkles away on the piano while the Gotham Jazz Orchestra mixes smooth jazz with big band flair. As a unit, they find a good balance. They never get brassy, but manage to stay out of the elevators and grocery stores. The soloing trumpet on “Thrushes” sounds woozy, but not staggeringly drunk. Their 9-minute rendition of “Here Comes the Sun” is enjoyable, but it is best when the band plays afield of the original melody. This jazz won’t blow your mind, but it won’t put you to sleep either. Mike Holober is good and his orchestra is even better.

Rating: * * * *

Bill Frisell: Disfarmer

I hope you like tripped out, melodic, harmonic, progressive jazz. I mean I hope you *really* like it, because guitarist Bill Frisell gives you 26 tracks of it. Twenty-six very similar contemporary jazz tunes. After a while, Disfarmer begins to feel like a marathon. The music even begins to fatigue as it approaches the finish. I liken it to hearing the theme to Ken Burns’ The Civil War. By Appomattox, you’ve long since muted the television despite your love of David McCullough’s narration. “I can’t listen to that theme again!” On the flip side, if you like it, there’s plenty.

Rating: * * *