Igor Kogan, In a Big City | The Vinyl Anachronist

Everyone who still clings to the notion that jazz is a “distinctly American art form” isn’t really paying attention to the contemporary jazz scene. So-called Distinctly American jazz isn’t getting the nods and bows it once did simply because there’s a new game in town, one that involves passing through the world and coming out on the other end with new ideas about jazz, and what it can be. Igor Kogan is a bassist-composer-bandleader who has taken a triumvirate of rich cultures from Russia, Israel and New York City and turned it into a lively and sophisticated blend of be-bop. In a Big City is the debut album for Igor Kogan. It’s simply described in the liner notes as nine original compositions for jazz quintet, which suggests nothing out of the ordinary. Extra points are handed out for including Grammy-nominated vocalist Tierney Sutton on “Big City,” the final track–I’ve reviewed her albums before and she’s an intriguing talent in a quintessentially LA way. For me, this album is mostly about New York City, the sounds of jazz filling legendary back alleys and creating sound waves that echo across the fire escapes. I can hear the childhood in Russia, the teen […]