1950s and 60s Doo Wop must be in the top five of America’s best musical exports. Even bands like the more obscure Hollywood Flames, while not on the tip of everyone’s lips, is an important band that delivered wonderous vocal…
Month: January 2022
VOCAL AND PIANO GRACE…Shirley Horn: Songs of Lost Love Sung By Shirley Horn
One of the most influential jazz vocalists who doesn’t get much acclaim anymore has to be Shirley Horn (1934-2005). Countless modern female singers sight her as a major influence, even though there is not much these days to listen to…
Dave Meder: Unamuno Songs and Stories
Pianist Dave Meder leads a core trio of Marty Jaffe/b and Michael Piolet/dr with guests Philip Dizack/tp and Miguel Zenon/as through a mix of originals and a couple covers. He shows his impressionistic allegiances on a collection of solo meditations,…
Negroni’s Trio: Esperanzas/Hopes
The trio of Jose Negroni/p, Nomar Negroni/dr and Josh Allen/b bring in various guests for almost every song on this inviting and wide ranging album. On their own, their virtues are on display for the upbeat “Que Felicidad” and the…
Itai Kriss & Televana: Supermoon
New York resident and flutist Itai Kriss leads a team of Wayne Tucker/fh-tp, Cesar Orozco/p-key, Tamir Shmerling/b, Dan Aran/dr, Marcos Lopez/perc and a collection of guests on a mix of earthy Latin and Soul. Kriss’ flute is graceful over Shmerling’s…
Eric Hofbauer & Dylan Jack: Period Pieces
Guitarist Eric Hofbauer takes time from his chair at the Jazz and Contemporary Music Department at the Longy School of Music of Bard College to put out a forward thinking album with drummer Dylan Jack, bassist Tony Leva and trumpeter…
SWINGING AT ESALEN…Ben Black: Mystery & Wonder
Vocalist Ben Black sings songs of his study and practice of both Zen and Tibetan Buddhism on this collection of eleven meditative and uplifting originals. His voice is a mix of Barry Manilow and Bobby Short, sort of a high…
ROOTS…Legendary Shack Shakers: Cockadoodledeux, Joe Nolan: Scrapper, David Beck’s Tejano Weekend: Volume 2
Americana in various colors of red, white and blues… The Legendary Shack Shakers on this album include Colonel JD Wilkes/voc-p-bj-org-perc-hp, Gary Siperko/g-mand, Fuller Condon/b-voc and Preston Con/dr-mand-voc as well as some cameos by various alumni and guests on the album.…
A FORGOTTEN AND UNIQUE ALTO SAX…John La Porta: The Jazz Message of John La Porta, Presenting Rare and Obscure Jazz Albums: The Brothers Sandole/John La Porta Septet, Quartet and Duo
One of the more unique sounding musicians in jazz was John La Porta (1920-2004). Originally a clarinetist (and friend of Buddy DeFranco), he studied with Lennie Tristano and created a signature sound on the alto sax, a foundation of Charlie…
MORE FROM BMC…Orchestra Nazionale Della Luna: There’s Still Life On Earth, Modern Art Orchestra/Yamas and Niyams: Kornel Fekete-Kovacs/Foundations, Balance: For We Know In Part
Here are a few more releases from Hungary-based BMC Records, a company that specializes in exploring new worlds and sounds. The Orchestra Nazional Della Luna actually consists of Manuel Hermia-sax/fl, Kari Ikonen/p-moog, Sebastien Boisseau/b and Teun Verbruggen/dr. So much for…