Hubub!

• Stage and Cinema Review of HUBUB! - Highly Recommended Jazz Album Review: HUBUB! (Ted Kooshian) by TONY FRANKEL on OCTOBER 2, 2022 in MUSIC, THEATER-SAN FRANCISCO / BAY AREA I’LL TELL YOU WHAT THE HUBUB! IS ALL ABOUT: FUN I just returned from the 2022 Monterey Jazz Festival, and as you can guess the players were magnificent. Not so the compositions, though. … Continue reading Stage and Cinema Review of HUBUB! →
• All About Jazz Review of HUBUB! - by Edward Blanco New York pianist and keyboardist Ted Kooshian continues his love affair with classic TV, cartoon themes and the pop scene, on Hubub!, offering a selection of striking originals influenced by his “enthusiastic love for pop culture,” which includes tributes to actors Steve McQueen and William Shatner of Star Trek fame. The album’s … Continue reading All About Jazz Review of HUBUB! →
• THE NEW YORK CITY JAZZ RECORD Reviews HUBUB! - May 2023 | THE NEW YORK CITY JAZZ RECORD Hubub! Ted Kooshian (Summit) by Ken Dryden Ted Kooshian is most widely known for playing electric keyboards in the Ed Palermo Big Band for over three decades, though in more recent years he has released a series of outstanding albums for Summit as a leader. This … Continue reading THE NEW YORK CITY JAZZ RECORD Reviews HUBUB! →
• George W. Harris Reviews HUBUB! - Ted Kooshian: Hubub! by George W. Harris • November 7, 2022 Pianist Ted Kooshian swings hard and joyfully with a core mainstream team of John Bailey/tp+fh, Jeff Lederer/ts, Dick Sarpola/b and Greg Joseph/dr. The tenor/trumpet front line is right from the Blue Note School of hard bop, with Bailey’s warm horn gliding over the tide … Continue reading George W. Harris Reviews HUBUB! →
• Greek Review of HUBUB! - Σάββατο 5 Νοεμβρίου 2022 TED KOOSHIAN το “Hubub!” είναι ένας πολύ σημαντικός νέος τζαζ δίσκος TED KOOSHIAN’s “Hubub!” is a very important new jazz record. Ted Kooshian is an American jazz composer, pianist and keyboardist, with a bit of a history now, since he has been on the scene since the 80s, and he has … Continue reading Greek Review of HUBUB! →

Clowns Will Be Arriving

• George W. Harris reviews CLOWNS WILL BE ARRIVING - Pianist Ted Kooshian reminds you of one of the overlooked joys of jazz; the ability to have some fun. Remember Louis Jordan? He made jazz a joy – that’s the attitude that Kooshian delivers with his team of Jeff Lederer, flute, tenor and soprano sax; Pete McGuinness, trombone; Wilbur Bascomb electric bass; David Silliman, drums … Continue reading George W. Harris reviews CLOWNS WILL BE ARRIVING →
• Woodrow Wilkins reviews CLOWNS WILL BE ARRIVING - Ted Kooshian doesn’t clown around. Or does he? The pianist, known for his imaginative adaptations lets loose with the big noses, funny hair and wide shoes with Clowns Will Be Arriving (Summit Records, 2015), an exciting collection of five original songs and remakes of television show themes composed by Hugo Montenegro, Lalo Schifrin, Johnny Williams and more. … Continue reading Woodrow Wilkins reviews CLOWNS WILL BE ARRIVING →
• Owen Cordle reviews CLOWNS WILL BE ARRIVING - Pianist Ted Kooshian has found largely untapped resources for jazz. Inspired by comic books, cartoons and television shows, he devises performances full of humor, nostalgia and surprise. “Clowns Will Be Arriving,” his fourth album as a leader, includes originals such as the zippy title tune, the slow and bluesy “Porkypine” (a tribute to one of … Continue reading Owen Cordle reviews CLOWNS WILL BE ARRIVING →
• Ernest Barteldes reviews CLOWNS WILL BE ARRIVING - It really puts a smile on my face when a musician has the ability of not taking himself too seriously while still having the ability to create a wonderful work of art. There are many examples in history – one that comes to mind is how The Beatles were able to call themselves the ones … Continue reading Ernest Barteldes reviews CLOWNS WILL BE ARRIVING →
• Rad Bennett reviews CLOWNS WILL BE ARRIVING - Musical Performance **** Sound Quality **** Overall Enjoyment **** I have to admit that it was the cover of this CD that called to me, seeming to say, “play me first.” I expected some sort of circus music, and it was there, but not until the clowns had already arrived on tracks 2, 3, and … Continue reading Rad Bennett reviews CLOWNS WILL BE ARRIVING →
• Chris Spector reviews CLOWNS WILL BE ARRIVING - C’mon, who doesn’t like a jazzy set of TV themes with some edge? Kooshian revisits his youth and adds some themes of his own that should have been, like tipping the cap to Koko, Ignatz and Krazy Kat. The shows might have been humorous, but the playing is no joke and this is a great … Continue reading Chris Spector reviews CLOWNS WILL BE ARRIVING →

Underdog, and Other Stories...

• Brad Walseth reviews UNDERDOG, AND OTHER STORIES… - Yes, you heard right: “Underdog.” Pianist Kooshian, who may be best known for his work with the Ed Palermo Big Band (whose Zappa covers are wacky enough), has here again put his twisted mind on exhibition, with another album of (primarily) cartoon, TV and movie themes. Listeners will have a ball hearing the “Popeye,” “Little … Continue reading Brad Walseth reviews UNDERDOG, AND OTHER STORIES… →
• Edward Blanco reviews UNDERDOG, AND OTHER STORIES… - Jazz pianist Ted Kooshian follows up his well received self-titled “Ted Kooshian’s Standard Orbit Quartet” (Summit Records 2008), with another unique recording inspired by Kooshian’s love for movies and television program theme songs. As the press clippings accurately states, Underdog and Other Stories… “takes the listener on a ‘jazzy-trip’ down memory lane” turning theme songs … Continue reading Edward Blanco reviews UNDERDOG, AND OTHER STORIES… →
• Valerie Williams reviews UNDERDOG, AND OTHER STORIES… - While Ted Kooshian named his album Underdog, and other Stories… Kooshian is certainly not an underdog, nor is his Standard Orbit Quartet. He gives life to old television themes and superhero anthems, such as the highly energized re-imagination of “Underdog,” an upbeat number featuring a sick tenor sax feature by Jeff Lederer that starts off … Continue reading Valerie Williams reviews UNDERDOG, AND OTHER STORIES… →
• Ken Franckling reviews UNDERDOG, AND OTHER STORIES… - Don’t tell Ted Kooshian that jazz can’t have a sense of humor. He knows how to have good fun with his Standard Orbit Quartet. Seriously. Underdog, and other Stories… primarily consists of songs that are very familiar, just not in a jazz context. This is a second edition of the pianist’s project of recording jazz … Continue reading Ken Franckling reviews UNDERDOG, AND OTHER STORIES… →
• Owen Cordle reviews UNDERDOG, AND OTHER STORIES… - “Underdog, and Other Stories…” (Summit), by pianist Ted Kooshian’s Standard Orbit Quartet, is an album of movie, television and cartoon melodies plus a few pop and jazz themes. The Quartet combines deadpan humor with deadly technique. While it respects the inherent beauty in tunes such as Miguel Prado’s “Time Was,” Richard Markowitz’s “Wild, Wild West” … Continue reading Owen Cordle reviews UNDERDOG, AND OTHER STORIES… →
• Dean Poling reviews UNDERDOG, AND OTHER STORIES… - Every cut of this 13-song album is a revelation, a foot-tapping, head-bopping load of fun mixing nostalgia with new interpretations. It is not unusual for an instrumental jazz album to cover standards from folks like Duke Ellington. Ted Kooshian covers Ellington, too, with a hopping rendition of “Purple Gazelle.” But it is the other covers … Continue reading Dean Poling reviews UNDERDOG, AND OTHER STORIES… →
• Jazz Society Of Oregon reviews UNDERDOG, AND OTHER STORIES… - Sooner or later, someone was bound to delve into these rather odd movie and TV themes, and Kooshian and his quartet do it with pizzazz. If you’re at least graying a bit at the temples, you’ll recognize the likes of “Sanford and Son,” “Popeye,” “Baretta,” “Wild Wild West,” “The Odd Couple,” and “Little Lulu.” An … Continue reading Jazz Society Of Oregon reviews UNDERDOG, AND OTHER STORIES… →
• Chris Spector reviews UNDERDOG, AND OTHER STORIES… - TED KOOSHIAN’S STANDARD ORBIT QUARTET/Underdog and Other Stories: You might quibble with the a&r on the songs here but you aren’t going to argue with the playing and you aren’t going to argue with a cat that puts together a cd with a song list that plays out like the play list in your head … Continue reading Chris Spector reviews UNDERDOG, AND OTHER STORIES… →
• Don Williamson reviews UNDERDOG, AND OTHER STORIES… - The concept for most jazz albums usually occurs more conventionally, and as the result of solitary imaginative considerations, than those for Underdog, and Other Stories…. Ted Kooshian’s new album, though, did stem from a convention—specifically, the annual Superheroes and TV Icons Social Conference, attended fortunately by Kooshian’s friend, Tom Goldstein. Goldstein let the cat out … Continue reading Don Williamson reviews UNDERDOG, AND OTHER STORIES… →
• Cathy Gruenfelder reviews UNDERDOG, AND OTHER STORIES… - With all the humor and quirkiness that makes up the package and personality of the physical CD itself, what one hears is on a whole different level. Ted Kooshian and his Standard Orbit Quartet play on a set of themes from cartoons, television series, movies and some more familiar tunes. Many of them went right … Continue reading Cathy Gruenfelder reviews UNDERDOG, AND OTHER STORIES… →
• Jeff Tamarkin reviews UNDERDOG, AND OTHER STORIES… - No one can accuse Ted Kooshian of turning to the same old well of standards for inspiration: Underdog, and other Stories… contains no songs written by Rodgers & Hart, Cole Porter, or Irving Berlin. But its track list will be instantly familiar to many, particularly those who came of age circa the ‘60s and ‘70s: … Continue reading Jeff Tamarkin reviews UNDERDOG, AND OTHER STORIES… →
• Mark Corroto reviews UNDERDOG, AND OTHER STORIES… - Ignore the fact that pianist Ted Kooshian regularly covers cartoon and TV music in his quartet and what’s left is an appreciation for music that swings exceptionally hard, and a passion for each tune that is anything but “animated.” Kooshian’s Standard Orbit Quartet has produced its second volume of music, Underdog And Other Stories…, following … Continue reading Mark Corroto reviews UNDERDOG, AND OTHER STORIES… →
• Ken Dryden reviews UNDERDOG, AND OTHER STORIES… - Pianist Ted Kooshian picks up where he left off on his second CD with his Standard Orbit Quartet, offering novel interpretations of themes from cartoons, television series, movies, plus a few familiar jazz and pop compositions. The lineup hasn’t changed much, with Jeff Lederer on tenor and soprano saxes, bassist Tom Hubbard, and drummer Warren … Continue reading Ken Dryden reviews UNDERDOG, AND OTHER STORIES… →

Ted Kooshian's Standard Orbit Quartet

• John Barron reviews TED KOOSHIAN’S STANDARD ORBIT QUARTET - On this self-titled release, pianist/arranger Ted Kooshian and his Standard Orbit Quartet explore an intriguing set of tunes inspired by pop culture and the sounds of mainstream jazz. Many of the disc’s selections, such as “Top Cat,” “Spider-Man” and “Baubles, Bangles and Beads” fit nicely into Kooshian’s traditional quartet format without much modification. Others, such … Continue reading John Barron reviews TED KOOSHIAN’S STANDARD ORBIT QUARTET →
• Mark Saleski reviews TED KOOSHIAN’S STANDARD ORBIT QUARTET - Some people can’t handle it when their favorite music is treated “improperly.” Me, I love it when music is inverted, deconstructed, glued back together, and pushed in front of the fun-house mirror. That’s why I own collections of reggae covers of pop tunes, jazz versions of Rolling Stones and Frank Zappa material, Elvis Presley/Bob Marley … Continue reading Mark Saleski reviews TED KOOSHIAN’S STANDARD ORBIT QUARTET →
• Chris Spector reviews TED KOOSHIAN’S STANDARD ORBIT QUARTET - Alright, this is simply fun. A well traveled jazzbo sets out to do jazz takes on cartoon show themes but takes such a left turn that once the improvs start, it’s jamming for the joy of it as there’s no way you can recognize “Top Cat” or “Captain Kangaroo” or any of the other tracks, … Continue reading Chris Spector reviews TED KOOSHIAN’S STANDARD ORBIT QUARTET →
• Forrest Dylan Bryant reviews TED KOOSHIAN’S STANDARD ORBIT QUARTET - Taking a merry spin through pop culture, pianist Ted Kooshian jazzes classic TV and cartoon themes as well as popular tunes by Led Zeppelin, the Police and Peter Gabriel. This sounds like a novelty gimmick – really, there’s only so much one can do with title music from The Simpsons – but Kooshian finds surprising … Continue reading Forrest Dylan Bryant reviews TED KOOSHIAN’S STANDARD ORBIT QUARTET →
• Edward Blanco reviews TED KOOSHIAN’S STANDARD ORBIT QUARTET - For an unconventional jazzy good time that’s out of this world, give Ted Kooshian’s Standard Orbit Quartet a spin and you’ll hear music you’ve not heard in years presented in an entirely new light. Inspired by pianist Ted Kooshian’s love of the movies and television shows, this album puts a jazzy slant to some familiar … Continue reading Edward Blanco reviews TED KOOSHIAN’S STANDARD ORBIT QUARTET →
• Ken Dryden reviews TED KOOSHIAN’S STANDARD ORBIT QUARTET - Pianist Ted Kooshian is well known to fans of the Ed Palermo Big Band, though this is only his second outing as a leader. Like Palermo, he’s not one to be satisfied with playing the same mix of standards and familiar jazz compositions. Instead, he mostly opts for a mix of television theme songs and … Continue reading Ken Dryden reviews TED KOOSHIAN’S STANDARD ORBIT QUARTET →