NEWS
Chicago Tribune Review
12-15-2009 by Howard Reich - Arts Critic
Chicago Tribune Review
Posted: 12-15-2009 by Howard Reich - Arts Critic
"One of the hippest places in Chicago to spend a Sunday night"
Inside, the crowd looks loose, Chicagoans of every race huddled around cafe tables, everyone sipping, smiling, listening.
And at the front of the room, a band of brilliant young Chicago musicians unleashes considerable firepower, bringing innovative jazz improvisation to a standing-room-only house,between sets by the hard-charging Kevin Nabors Quintet. "These guys are so technically excellent."
On this night, saxophonist Nabors is turning in propulsive work, leading a band of like-minded young iconoclasts. Sharing front-line duties with trumpeter Corey Wilkes, Nabors plays soprano saxophone with relentless energy in Freddie Hubbard's "The Core," while Wilkes unfurls sleek blues phrases. In Charles Mingus' "Nostalgia in Times Square," bassist Junius Paul fires off solos fast and hard. And elsewhere in the set, guitarist Scott Hesse sculpts high-flying lines, while drummer Isaiah Spencer sets off torrents of sound.
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Concert Live Wire.com - Chicago Jazz Festival
6.9.2009
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The Jazz and Heritage Stage is sometimes shortchanged as the "educational" venue (and indeed, the popular percussion discussions and art of the solo discussions with Art Burton and William Parker respectively were well-attended), but it's shady confines provided plenty of heat from several excellent groups. Young saxophonist Kevin Nabors led his quintet - including trumpet star Corey Wilkes, guitarist Scott Hesse bassist Junius Paul and drummer Isaiah Spencer through a fiery set.
Chicago Jazz. Net
2011
By Brad Walshe
One of Chicago's most exciting young saxophonists, Kevin Nabors, recently celebrated his 30th birthday in the front room of the new Underground Wonder Bar, in front of a packed house. Backed by guitarist Scott Hesse, bassist Darius Savage and drummer Maxx Popp. Nabors celebrated the beginning of his third decade by performing several of his original compositions, including some from his suite honoring his mentor, the late Fred Anderson. Hesse offered his usual stellar work on the guitar, while Nabors entertained the crowd with his Coltrane-influenced licks.
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All about Jazz-
Album Review
Kahil El'Zabar Quartet: What It Is!
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By TROY COLLINS
Published: March 12, 2013
An understudy of fellow Chicago-based tenor saxophonists Von Freeman and Ari Brown, Kevin Nabors lends soulful assurance and simmering intensity to the proceedings. A faithful rendition of "Impressions" hews too close to Coltrane's original however. Nabors and Dillard fulfill their roles with requisite fervor, yet their burgeoning skills are heard to better effect on new material—although even the vivacious set closer "Kari" reveals the pervasive influence of Coltrane's Classic Quartet.
El’zabar’s take on it gets points even though the melody is played straight. That’s because there’s this circular, African rhythm churning underneath it, produced by El’zabar’s African earth drum and Paul’s lively bass. Dillard’s organ and Nabors’ sax play that gorgeous melody and harmony in the familiar way, at the familiar pace, but it lines up perfectly with that tribal groove. Nabors’ sax is a little reedier than Trane’s and he’s a little more groove-attuned, but otherwise sounds much like the master.
Music Web International
Album Review
Kahil EL'ZABAR Quartet
What it is!
DELMARK RECORDS DE 5002
By Steve Arloff UK