"ECM, host to many European-American dialogues, has released a very classy example between Austrian guitarist Wolfgang Muthspiel and the all-star US quartet of Brad Mehldau (p), Ambrose Akinmusire (t), Larry Grenadier (b) and Brian Blade (d). Muthspiel, on electric & acoustic guitars, wrote all the tracks except Mehldaus daintily swinging "Wolfgangs Waltz", and the music mingles echoes of Kenny Wheeler, the classical guitar sound of Ralph Towner and the songlike one of Pat Metheny, plus the quickwittedness of the mid-60s Miles Davis group. The title track is Wheeler-like in its transformations of a poignantly simple motif, and the graceful swerves of Akinmusires phrasing. "Triad Song" has a warm pop-ballad melody and sleek solos from Mehldau and Muthspiel; "Boogaloo" is a prodding laid-back Milesian groove peppered with Blades snare flurries; and the initially dreamy "Den Wheeler Den Kenny" moves in and out of understated swing. Oblique music that grows on you." (John Fordham, Guardian; 4 uit 5 sterren)
"De Tunesische zanger, componist en bespeler van de oed (Arabische luit) Dhafer Youssef laat jazz, wereldmuziek en avant-garde op unieke wijze samensmelten. De oed symboliseert de muzikale band tussen het oosten en het westen, omdat zowel de luit als de gitaar afstammen van dit sierlijke instrument. Dit zevende album van Youssef is zijn eerste met deze allstarformatie met o.a. de Amerikaanse jazztrompettist Ambrose Akinmusire en Aaron Parks, een toonaangevend pianist van de nieuwe jazzgeneratie. De uitermate boeiende wisselwerking tussen deze jonge jazzgiganten en in traditionele Sufi-zang en Arabische muziek geschoolde Youssef levert elf grotendeels instrumentale nummers op, die uitnodigen tot reflectie en contemplatie. Indrukwekkend hoe Akinmusire en Parks improviseren terwijl snaarvirtuoos Youssef klagerige falset-oerkreten uitstoot, die eenzaam in de lucht blijven hangen. Wat een stem!" (Bas Springer, Lust For Life; 5 uit 5 sterren!!)
"De geniale Tunisische ud-speler Dhafer Youssef komt vijf jaar na "Sounds Of Mirrors" eindelijk met de opvolger. En wat voor een album. De hoge verwachtingen worden meer dan waar gemaakt! En dat komt mede door de muzikanten op het album, wier namen bij het grote publiek bekender zijn dan de meester zelf: o.a. Herbie Hancock, Marcus Miller, Dave Holland, Vinnie Colaiuta. Eerst samengebracht, en pas met de gastmuzikanten in het achterhoofd schreef Youssef de muziek op de artiesten. Dat lukt je alleen maar als je in het wereldje al naam hebt gemaakt. Dit is een grote aanrader voor liefhebbers van jazz en wereldmuziek en muziekliefhebbers in het algemeen, want dit is een klassieker in wording. Een perfect verbindend album tussen ethnojazz en westerse fusion. Over 20 jaar zal dit album in de rijtjes staan van topalbums als "Bitches Brew", "Giant Steps", "Pilgrimage" en "Maiden Voyage". En dat is niet voor niets. Het moet wel heel raar lopen als hij hiermee geen Grammy gaat binnenslepen. (Maxazine; cijfer: 9/10)
"An expansive two-disc concert album, Ambrose Akinmusire's 2017 effort, "A Rift In Decorum: Live At The Village Vanguard", is a sophisticated production on par with his previous studio recordings. Rather than returning to those familiar surroundings for his fourth album, Akinmusire instead brought his quartet to the Vanguard along with a set of newly penned original compositions. It's a purposeful choice that resonates with the long history of albums recorded at the storied Greenwich Village institution, most notably John Coltrane's classic, and at the time divisive, 1962 contribution, "Live At The Village Vanguard". While Akinmusire has made a very different album from Coltrane's, A Rift in Decorum does find the trumpeter in a similarly challenging mood, balancing the highly introspective and cerebral nature of his studio albums with the unpredictable and often explosive nature of his live shows." (Matt Collar, Allmusic; 4 uit 5 sterren)
"Relatively secure in his idiosyncrasies after nearly 50 years as a pro, Tom Harrell remains a player resolute in resisting complacency. Each of his earlier 8 albums for HighNote has touched on different facets of his broad-based interest in improvised music. "Something Gold, Something Blue" dusts off an album conceit from early in Harrells career by teaming his singular brass with another avatar of the instrument. Back in 1979 his tandem partner was John McNeil. Here its trumpet prodigy Ambrose Akinmusire, 36 years Harrells junior, but every bit as up to the mutually-gratifying prospect of locking horns. The rest of the band is worthy of Harrells usual caliber of collaborators. Guitarist Charles Altura bridges bop dexterity with an inventory of judiciously incorporated effects. Bassist Ugonna Okegwo and drummer Johnathan Blake regularly find that sweet spot between responsive support and assertive prominence that caters beautifully to Harrells varied compositional needs." (Derek Taylor, Dusted Magazine)
"Billy Childs, one of the most critically acclaimed pianists in modern jazz, is in high demand as a modern classical composer. He has played and composed music ranging from orchestral to chamber works to contemporary small ensemble jazz. This has brought him 5 Grammy awards. On "The Winds Of Change", he is joined by trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire, bassist Scott Colley and drummer Brian Blade. This album offers 5 new compositions alongside 2 covers. Many of the compositions are sparked by Childs' experience of growing up in LA mixed with his passion for film scores, especially the urban landscapes evoked by composers like Jerry Goldsmith, John Williams and Bernard Hermann. The result is a refined post-bop sound that pushes the creative boundaries of the group and pays homage to his early work from the 70s and 80s. The quartet pays due respect to the past, but this is interactive contemporary jazz full of purposeful musical excerpts that play well for today. The results are well worth a listen." (AllAboutJazz)
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