KEY QUESTION ON THE OBSERVATION OF THE DECLINE OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION: 1) Which music band’s name sounds more inviting to go hear and enjoy? a) Millennial groups called “Massive Attack” and “Airborne Toxic Event” Or b) A Baby Boomer Band…
Month: August 2014
GLORIOUS VOICES…Vivaldi/Handel: Dixit Dominus, Robert Kyr: Conspirare
Before people wrote about misogyny, as in the present day, songs were actually devoted to God, either through the use of the Bible or Creeds. Here are a couple new releases, one that takes us back to “the day,” when…
Rebecca Kilgore with the Harry Allen Quartet: I Like Men
It’s great to see that mainstream jazz label Arbors Records is literally back in the swing of things again. Here, we’ve got peppy and mature vocalist Rebecca Kilgore with the hip quartet of breathy tenor saxist Harry Allen. Along with…
Rick Braun: Can You Feel It
Trumpeter Rick Braun has released Christmas and “With Strings” albums in the past, but here he gets back to what made him one of the studs of smooth/contemporary jazz. He’s still got a gorgeous and velvety tone, and gets back…
The Bad Plus: Inevitable Western
You’ve gotta give them credit-the trio of Reid Anderson/b, Ethan Iverson/dr and David King/dr have created their own unique and identifiable sound, which is the ultimate goal of every artist.They puree’d Igor Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring on their last release,…
Fabian Almazan: Rhizome
Here’s an successfully ambitious project by Fabian Almazon, who plays piano & electronics on his own arranged compositions. Along with a jazz team that includes Ronit Kirchman-Camila Meza/g, Linda Oh/b and Henry Cole/dr, she brings in a string section for…
Monty Alexander: Harlem-Kingston Express Vol. 2
Pianist Monty Alexander leans to what he does best in melding mainstream jazz with the lilt of reggae on this infectious collection if party music. Irresistible grooves permeate standards like the cheerful “People Make the World Go Round” and the…
Richard Elliot: Lip Service
Tenor saxist Richar Elliot has one of the riches tones in town. I don’t care if you call the style that he plays “smooth” or “contemporary,” his sound would sit comfortably with Ben Webster or Paul Gonsalves. Sure, he puts…
Uri Caine: Szpilman
Bet you never heard of the Wladyslaw Szpilman Songbook before!!! Well, pianist Uri Caine explores compositions by him along with Ksawery Wojcinski/b and Robert Rasz/dr and the results are a refreshing mix of modern post bop jazz. Beautiful melodic pieces…
Adam Schroeder: Let’s
Here’s a fun loving disc with a top notch rhythm section of Anthony Wilson/g, John Clayton/b and Jeff Hamilton/dr lead by the thick textured but flexible baritone sax of Adam Schroeder. Schroeder dances like Nureyev on the bouncing “Hello Bright…