Pianist Lars Jansson’s trio including Thomas Fonnesbaek/b and Paul Svanberg/dr bring in the Paul Desmond-influenced alto sax of Sigurdur Flosason for a collection of rich pastels of song. Flosason’s alto sax has a tone of beautiful lightness, something rarely delivered…
Month: September 2017
Hyeseon Hong Jazz Orchestra: EE-YA-GI (Stories)
Composer and director Hyeseon Hong puts together a big band that adroitly handles the sophisticated stories from the conductor’s pen. Hints of harmonics from Hong’s Korea make for fragrant atmospheres, as Ingrid Jensen’s trumpet drifts over the gracious harmonics of…
Bjarte Eike & Barokksolistene: The Alehouse Sessions
Violinist and director Bjare Eike comes up with the brilliant idea of swinging up songs from the taverns of 17th Century England. His band is called The Alehouse Boys, consisting of Gredrik Bock/g, Hans Knut Sveen/harpsichord, Helge Andreas Borbakken/perc, Johannes…
Uri Caine & The Lutoslawski Quartet: Space Kiss
Rarely does the mix of jazz and classical work as well as it does with this meeting between pianist Uri Caine and the Lutoslawski Quartet, consisting of Bartosz Waroch/v, Marcin Markowicz/v, Artur Rozmyslowicz/va and Maciej Mlodawski/cel. Caine composed all of…
Ignacio Berroa Trio: Straight Ahead from Havana
Drummer Ignacio Berroa teams up with Martin Bejerano/p and Josh Allen-Lowell Ringel/b for some rich and rhythmic sounds from Cuba. The team sounds strong and confident on bopping pieces such as “Alma Con Alma” and “Deja Que Siga Solo” with…
Roger Davidson Trio with Hendrik Meurkens: Oracao Para Amanha
Pianist Roger Davidson continues to be one of the best interpreters of Brazilian jazz. This latest release, with the English title being Prayer for Tomorrow, teams his trio of Eduardo Belo/b and Adriano Santos/dr with vibe and harmonica master Hendrik…
The Rolling Stones: Their Satanic Majesties Request REMASTERED
Back in 1967, all pop and rock bands were trying to figure out how to respond to The Beatles’ iconic concept album Sgt Pepper. The Rolling Stones, best known as the prototypical blues rock band of the day, answered with…
Boris Garcia: Around Some Corner
First, there is no one in the band named Boris Garcia; it’s the name of the band which includes Jeff Otto/voc/uk, Bob Stirner/voc/g, Bud Burroughs/mand-key, Tim Kelly : Dru, EJ Simpson/b, Chip Desnoyers/steel, Tom Hampton/st and Tim Carbone/fid-g. They make…
Catherine Marie Charlton: I Dream About This World
If you remember that the word “piano” original came from the word “piano-forte” alluding to the instrument’s ability to sound “soft” and “loud,” then you’ll appreciate the “piano” in this album by New Age pianist Catherine Marie Charlton. The album…
FEMALE VOCALS…Lyn Stanley: The Moonlight Sessions Volume One, MJ Territo: Ladies Day, Laura Campisi: Double Mirror
Delivery of voice in various moods… Lyn Stanley sounds world wise on this long shadowed album with a rotating team that includes Mike Garson/p, Tamir Hendelman/p, Chrisitan Jacob/p, Chuck Berghofer/b, Joe LaBarbera/dr, Raby Brinker/dr, Bernie Dresel/dr and various guests on…