Click the titles to read the reviews!
- Jack Bowers, Cadence MagazineMike Jones- "Stretches Out"
"As a jazz pianist, Jones commands a lavish arsenal of formidable
weapons: the rumbling bass lines of an Erroll Garner or Dave McKenna,
the meteoric right-hand phrasings of an Art Tatum or Bud Powell, the awesome
chops of an Oscar Peterson or McCoy Tyner, the natural rhythmic swing
of a Hampton Hawes or Horace Silver, the unerring taste and sensitivity
of a Kenny Barron, Hank Jones or Bill Evans." |
- Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune"Even if pianist Mike Jones provided nothing but the keyboard virtuosity for which he is developing a national reputation, he would be well worth hearing. But Jones brings much more to this tour de force recording, which places him in a league with such superior solo pianists as Dick Hyman and Dave McKenna.
Like them, Jones approaches the keyboard as if it were a jazz band, simultaneously unfurling walking bass lines, exquisite innter voices and running top notes that would seem to require four hands rather than two. Better yet, the beauty of Jones' touch, the wit of his phrasing and the intelligence of his improvisations ennoble such standards as "I Can't Give You Anything but Love," "Gone With the Wind" and "Stars Fell on Alabama." When Jones plays a melody as written, you practically can hear the lyrics; when he improvises freely on it, you wonder why the composer didn't think of these riffs. "Stretches Out" represents an aural feast." |
- Neil Tesser - Author: The Playboy Guide To Jazz"The Most remarkable pure technique of any piano player working in jazz today... over the course of three solo albums, Mike Jones has quietly established himself as the successor to the stupefyingly virtousic Oscar Peterson, in much the same way Peterson took the baton from the previously peerless Art Tatum in the 1950's." |
- Scott Yanow, Cadence Magazine"Mike Jones is a true virtuoso, a two-handed pianist who often recalls Oscar Peterson while throwing in some heated stride now and then, along with basslines worthy of Dave McKenna" |
- Jack Sohmer, Jazz Times"He displays a ferociously driving independence of right and left-hand lines...and a reflective lyricism tastefully distant from the floral bouquets of other chops-endowed pianists." |
- Jeff Simon, The Buffalo News"He is after (Dave) Mc Kenna, the great living Mainstream Monster of jazz piano, with great taste in standards and a sense of swing strong enough to rock the reading room of the British Museum. And, incredibly, he's getting better as he gets older." |
- Jack Bowers, Cadence Magazine"The right hand is constantly in motion, the wellspring of perceptive ideas lavish and overflowing, while the left hand lays down a heavy bass line that would be the envy of many a master of the upright." |
- Fred Bouchard, Downbeat Magazine"Although he can aslo rip Tatum-esque lightning bolts and cross - chop the format like Oscar Peterson, speed is not really at issue. It's Jones's playful and original treatments of the oldies that make his choices fresh and engaging... his syntax is always polite and his melodies correct." |
- Jon Bates, Chiarascuro"To put Mike Jones in perspective, one would only have to look around the room during his performances at the 1999 Floating Jazz Festival. Among the people who came to hear him play night after night, were Oscar Peterson, Monty Alexander, Shirley Horn and Junior Mance; not exactly folks who are easily impressed...he interprets great songs, with an uncanny sense of melody, innovation, and unfathomable technique...he's simply incredible!" |
Read the Downbeat Magazine Article!
Click on the image to read the story!
Online ReviewsChicago Tribune - July 19 2010
Chicago Tribune - July 16 2010
Buffalo News - October 23, 2009
Buffalo News - October 25, 2009
Los Angeles Times - January 12, 2009
Chicagojazz.com - May 27 2008
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