Anat's Claroscuro; Cables' Muse - Bob Stewart

"Claroscuro", clarinetist and saxophonist Anat Cohen's sixth recording as a leader, presents the most comprehensive portrait of the award-winning Israeli bandleader to date. The disc takes its title from the Spanish word describing the play of light and shade and its moods range from buoyant dances to darkly lyrical ballads. Cohen is showcased in a global potpourri of musical styles ranging from the Creolized chanson of New Orleans and the evergreen swing of Artie Shaw to African grooves and Brazilian choro and samba. Joining Anat and her ace working band are special guests Paquito D'Rivera and Wycliffe Gordon.


Pianist George Cables has been one of the most sought-after sidemen in jazz for more than four decades. His versatile playing and ability to bring out the best in any group's sound have made him indispensible to artists like Art Blakey and Sonny Rollins. Having absorbed a huge variety of sounds and styles and incorporated them into his playing-from harmonically adventurous post-bop to gospel-tinged blues-Cables mines the mother lode of jazz elements on his newest CD -- "My Muse" -- fusing Bud Powell's feeling, Fats Waller's juke joint geniality and Art Tatum's quick wit into his own persuasive utterances.