Drummer Juan Megna creates an album of mostly originals with a flair of Afro-Cuban themes with a simpatico team of Tedd Baker/ts, Shawn Purcell/g, Jose Luiz Martins/p-key, Leonardo Lucini/b and some guests. David Sacks brings in his trombone for some…
Month: August 2024
Jon Anderson’s Epics, Classics and More @ BAPAC Thousand Oaks 08.16.24
When the progressive rock band Yes first set the standard for it’s genre, vocalist Jon Anderson was the youthful Bilbo Baggins of the group, with his alto voice a perfect foil for the complex themes and rhythms, as well as…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Duke Ellington: Copenhagen 1958 (Bonus: After Hours 1950)
Any time there is undiscovered Ellingtonia, church bells should ring. This one is a delight, capturing a November 7, 1958 gig in Copenhagen with the timeless reed section of Jimmy Hamilton/ts-cl, Paul Gonsalves/ts, Johnny Hodges/as, Russell Procope/as-cl and Harry Carney/brs-cl-bcl.…
Jim “Kimo” West & Joss Jaffe: Santhi
Sure, Canadian guitarist Jim “Kimo” West is best known for his guitar work with “Weird Al” Yankovic, but don’t let that make you think that this album with percussionist Joss Jaffe is a collection of musical satires. Far from it!…
Flavio Silva: EKO
Flavio Silva has a touch and sound similar to Kurt Rosenwinkel on this textured toned guitar album. He’s joined by Gabriel Gaiardo/keys, Sidiel Vieira/b and Cuca Teixeira/dr for a collection of originals. The team is energetic on the cadence of…
Emaginario: Interlude of the Duende
Is it “world”? Is it “jazz”? Whatever it is that Emaginario (aka Ethan Margolis) is playing on the guitar on this album with Larry Grenadier/b and Eric Harland/dr, it sure is exciting. You’ve got a Baker’s Dozen pieces, and they’re…
Jon Gordon: 7th Ave. South
Playing alto and soprano sax, Jon Gordon brings together a large-ish ensemble of Jonathan Challoner/tp, Walter Smith III/ts, Alan Ferber/tb, John Ellis/bcl, Jocelyn Gould/g, Will Bonness/p, Julian Bradford/b, Fabio Ragnelli/ and guest vocals on a wide range of moods. Ethereal…
Tony Romano: Three Chord Monte
Guitarist Tony Romano teams up with Paul Carlon/ts-bars, Jennifer Vincent/b and Rob Garcia/dr through a Baker’s Dozen originals. Without the horns, he gets folksy on a delicate Squirrelly” and reflectiave for “Home, while with the horns picks out a pulse…
BLUES AND ROOTS…Eden Brent: Getaway Blues, T Bear: The Way Of The World, True Blues Brother: The Legacy of Matt ‘Guitar’ Murphy
Hues of blues… Eden Brent plays a honky Tonkin piano, Rhodes and Wurlitzer with her team of Bob Dowell/b, Rob Updegraff/g and Pat Levett/dr on this collection of 8 bar beauties. She’s got a great rasp to her voice as…
Matt Wilson: Good Trouble
Drummer Matt Wilson is one of the few artists that keeps jazz happy. This latest album with Tia Fuller/as, Dawn Clement/p-voc, Jeff Lederer/ts-cl and Ben Allison/b is a perfect case in point, mixing solid yet frisky jazz with a smile…