Downbeat Magazine Article On Tom Tallitsch In The July 2010 Issue.
(Article by Eric Fine / Photo By Sofia Negron)
Click Here To Read The Article
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'Perspective' (11/17/09) Press/Reviews
Origin/OA2 Records & City Hall Records Catalog ('Perspective' - Release Date 11/17/09) - "With vivid musical imagery and a dynamic group interplay, Tallitsch's Philadelphia-based band winds through a set of his original compositions. From the relaxed opening lines of "Swirl" to the uptempo "Red Giant," Perspective documents an articulate and cohesive band, including Victor Baker on guitar, John Stenger on piano, bassist Paul Gehman, and drummer Justin Leigh"
Jazzreview.Com 06/10 By Thomas R. Erdmann - "Cleveland, Ohio native Tom Tallitsch currently lives in Hamilton, NJ. A saxophonist, clarinetist, flutist, composer and jazz radio host, he is the founding director of the Central NJ Homeschool Bands, works as a piano tutor to students with autism at The Princeton Child Development Institute, and was a member of the artist faculty at Mercer County Community College from 1999-2006. Previous teaching positions include The Westminster Conservatory, the Philadelphia Clef Club, the Creative Music Studios and The Groove Academy. Tallitsch is the organizer of the non-profit arts organization “Living Arts Outreach, Inc.” This recording features Tallitsch working with Philadelphia area artists including John Stenger on piano, guitarist Victor Baker, bassist Paul Gehman and Justin Leigh on drums. All eight tracks were composed by Tallitsch.
As a composer Tallitsch’s compositions grow and slowly evolve rather than take the more traditional head-solo-head arrangement. This is more a reflection of the intuitive leanings of the ensemble as a whole than any outside construed influence. Leigh’s brilliant drum work drives each of the tracks forward on to new vistas, but in different ways. Sometimes he allows things to grow organically, as on “Swirl,” and sometimes he’s more in the front,” as on “Conscious Contact.” What he never is, however, is uninvolved. Intuitively tied into the musicians around him, his brilliant technique is a wonderful foil to the long lines Tallitsch has a tendency to unfurl.
As a saxophonist Tallitsch is all about building solos, taking the listener on a journey. An obvious student of the jazz art form, Tallitsch knows how to take the harmonic possibilities his compositions include and craft soloistic lines that move forward towards greater and greater emotional highs. With such an incredibly empathetic group of musicians around him, the results are almost always wonderful.
The accompanying ensemble makes the most of Tallitsch’s music. Stenger’s piano, many times call upon to play swirling and quickly repeated ostinato-ish figurations, as on “Propellerhead” and “Red Giant,” among others, is sensitive almost to a fault. Careful to remain an accompanist, his comping choices sometimes lack a bit of bite, but you can’t fault his abilities as his solos throughout the disc are exquisite. Gehman’s bass work reacts more than connects, but there is so much introspective playing going on around him you can’t fault him. In the growing canon of recorded work by Tallitsch Perspective offers another fine example of the work by this continually growing and developing artist."
JazzTimes Magazine 05/10 By Bill Milkowski-"Philadelphia-based saxophonist-composer Tom Tallitsch enlists like-minded Philly comrades on his third outing as a leader. Tallitsch blends nicely with guitarist Victor Baker throughout, particularly on the delicate and contemplative opener “Swirl” (reminiscent of Wayne Shorter’s “Fall”) and the pensive ballad “Propellerhead.” They take things up a notch on the highly charged “Red Giant,” which features Baker stretching on a fluid, warm-toned solo, and turn in their most affecting performance on “Dark Before the Dawn.” Stellar pianist John Stenger is also prominently featured on the swinging closer, “In a Whirl.."
JazzTimes Magazine 11/25/09 - "Sleeper CD of the Week: Tom Tallitsch’s Perspective on OA2. Great sounding post-bop session from the Philadelphia-based saxophonist."
All Music Guide (AMG) - By Adam Greenberg - An "Interesting set of original compositions from frontman Tallitsch, Perspective takes some time giving the full ensemble room to stretch out with long, flowing pieces galore. The album opens with "Swirl," using the full ensemble to signal movements in tone while letting pianist John Stenger twinkle throughout. In "Conscious Contact," the pace quickens a bit and the band begins to separate for bits of collective improvisation, but the key figures remain Tallitsch and Stenger soloing and comping back and forth ably -- this is one of the best chances on the album to hear Tallitsch's sensitivity to the music as he alternates quick, strong passages with more tender cuts. "Propellerhead" provides an outstanding solo from Stenger, "Red Giant" builds into a tight groove after a bit of buildup, and "Slippery Rock" eventually builds into a casual groove of sorts. "Tall Order" gives guitarist Victor Baker a chance to lay out a quiet, casual solo at length, and "Dark Before the Dawn" makes a nice interlude of sorts before the finale. "In a Whirl" provides a little bit of modality, a little bit of Miles' classic sounds, and a constantly roving piano-and-sax combination that enlivens the proceedings just enough to close out the album with some energy. The show tends to focus specifically on Tallitsch and Stenger, but the album and the performances (all around) are entirely solid."
Jazz Society Of Oregon - Kyle O'Brien - " Tallitsch is a Philadelphia-based saxophonist with a sound that shows both restraint and passion. His tunes are modern jazz through and through, not adhering to genre or style in any significant fashion. The tune “Conscious Contact” is an introspective minor melody that lets Tallitsch’s soprano speak in cohesion with his group. Piano, guitar, bass, drums and reeds build to a crescendo, and Tallitsch doesn’t let loose until the tune is good and ready to speak up. His use of dynamics and his restraint make his songs come alive. Some swirl and eddy, as on the circular “Propellerhead,” while others bubble under, like “Red Giant.” His tone is emotive and his compositions allow him to take us on short musical journeys with his more than able band. Here’s a guy to watch in the future.
2009, OA2 Records, 60 minutes.
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'Medicine Man' (2/08) Press/Reviews
Origin/OA2 Records & City Hall Records Catalog ('Medicine Man' - Released 2/08) - "A mainstay in Philadelphia jazz clubs for over a decade, composer and tenor saxophonist Tom Tallitsch presents the first recording of his quintet - a forward looking yet mainstream grouping of some of Philly's finest musicians. Performing articulate, modern jazz, Tallitsch's band explores alternate sonorities with its vibes and guitar led rhythm section, slightly reminiscent of Gary Burton's groups of the '70s. With Tony Miceli (vibraphone), Victor Baker (guitar), Paul Gehman (bass) and Dan Monaghan (drums)."
JazzTimes July/Aug 2008 Forrest Dylan Bryant "Expanding from a duo setting to a quintet for his sophomore CD release, Tom Tallitsch offers up pleasant, unassuming original compositions that keep the proceedings casual but agreeably propulsive. With Tony Miceli's brisk vibraphone and Victor Baker's uncluttered guitar supporting his throaty tenor saxophone tone, Tallitsch's band frequently takes on an airy, levitating quality. But there's a surging intensity at work too, as crosshatched layers create a complex, filigreed sound against the leader's undulating solo threads. "
Philadelphia Enquirer Karl Stark 3/9/08 " After 12 years in Philly, tenor saxophonist Tom Tallitsch can meet the demands for what a tenor should sound like..." Read More
AllAboutJazz John Barron 2/19/08 "...With Medicine Man Tallitsch demonstrates his potential to stand above the innumerable tenor saxophone sound-a-likes plaguing the jazz scene. With the aid of his like-minded musical brothers, he has produced a clever, stimulating session."
Read More
Tom Hull - Jazz Consumer Guide for The Village Voice NY 3/3/08 "... The band generates a lot of forward momentum, which serves the saxophonist well. Mainstream sax, straightforward, solid. B+(*)" Read More
eJazzNews - 1/26/08 John Gilbert "...It is apparent that these musicians are of the highest quality in the message they are presenting. 4 Stars "
Read More
All Music Guide - Adam Greenberg 3/3/08 - "A nice sophomore set from Philadelphia area saxman Tom Tallitsch, Medicine Man casually grooves its way through a series of original compositions while making full use of the accompanying band. Indeed, Tallitsch is heard less than one might expect on an album that he leads. Not that he's absent in any way from the proceedings, but this is definitely an ensemble album, not a solo project. The opening title track starts out the affair with a fairly quick number with hints of Coltrane's compositions worked in. The mood mellows out a bit by the second number, but also gives vibes player Tony Miceli and guitarist Victor Baker a nice place to exhibit their respective skills. "Little Dancers," the first of two numbers from Baker, has a slight Latin mood that carries the band through fairly quickly, and "Three Flights Down," after starting out with a nice bass solo, moves into an urban nightclub sort of sound. The pace diminishes notably (and appropriately) on "La Tortuga," a loping, plodding number with Tallitsch at the fore, and speeds back up to a slightly frenzied urban format in "Ceasefire." Another round of excellent solos in "Good Friday," and the album ends much where it started, with an exploration into the motives of "Three Flights Down" once again. A solid contemporary jazz album throughout -- not too many stratospheric thrills, but no disappointments whatsoever."
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Duality (11/05) Press/Reviews
Cadence Magazine - Jim Santella October 2006 Page.123
"Tenor saxophone and guitar: the blend comes with built-in spaces and a wide tonal range that
centers on melody. The duo of Tom Tallitsch and Dave Manley ensures that each interpretation contains
warmth, reflective asides, and a gentle attack..." Read More
eJazzNews 4 Stars 1/25/06 John Gilbert "An intimate mood is set by this combination of tenor Sax and guitar and it works nicely..." Read More
Jazzreview.com / eJazzNews.com - Keith 'MuzikMan' Hannaleck 12/13/05
"Tom Tallitsch keeps things on an even keel and uncomplicated with his new CD Duality. The only instruments that you hear on the entire recording are the tenor saxophone of Tallitsch and the acoustic guitar of Dave Manley. Thus, the title Duality sums up what this album is." Read More
FLY Magazine — Wyl Menmuir 2/26/06
"More Please..." Read More
The Muse's Muse 1/28/06 - Chip Woothrow "Duality has become one of my most listened-to discs..." Read More
Aural Fix Magazine Geoffrey Armes 2/06
"A first release from the New Jersey based saxophonist this one, it documents his duo work with guitarist Dave Manley via a collection of eight (mostly Tallitsch penned) tunes. Unlike some other tenors, Tallitsch is in search of sweet melodic adventure. Flurried riffing and hyperbolic rants run under the guise of ‘passion’ are firmly rejected in favour of seeking a natural confluence with the probing harmonies that well from the fretboard of Manley’s guitar. Their sound is breathy and intimate, clearly this duo have played together.., a lot. Never predictable, but always organised and logical, you won’t frighten your mother by putting this on at dinner time, neither will your younger siblings oh so hipper than thou friends sneer and jeer. Listen and order at http://www.tomtallitsch.com. Tom, this is great, intimate playing, you evoke the best qualities of chamber jazz with your high standard of musicianship and committed blowing."
Rick VanMatre 1/06
University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music (CCM) - Professor and Director of Jazz Studies - Saxophone
"A truly unique tenor sound and phrasing... fresh ideas and great tunes."
PhillyJazz.Org 12/05
"Saxman Tallitsch and Guitarist Dave Manley show what you can do with only two".
