“We have come to bring the sound of music as a blessing and healing for all you have gone through lately” With those opening remarks, the husband and wife team of Colombian harpist Edmar Castaneda and vocalist Andrea Tierra turned…
Month: February 2025
AFTER MAHAVISHNU AND BEFORE BECK AND DIMEOLA…Jan Hammer Group: Live In New York
During the 1970s jazz-rock, or “fusion” was such a popular genre that bands like Weather Report, Mahavishnu OrRchestra and Return to Forever were filling outdoor theatres while acoustic jazzers were still struggling in small clubs. One of the busiest keyboardists…
Little Brother Montgomery: Vicksburg Blues-The Singles and Albums Collection, 1930-61
Louisiana born and bred pianist Eurreal Wilford “Little Brother” Montgomery (1906-85) was one of the pioneers of boogie-woogie blues piano, with this three cd, 72 song collection showing the various hues of blues that came from his ivories. His piano…
Nanami Haruta: The Vibe
Here’s a debut album from a trombonist with a lot of warmth and promise. Nanami Haruta hits the ground running on this al bum with Michael Dease/tb-bars, Xavier Davis/p, Rodney Whitaker/b, Ulysses Owens Jr/dr and guest Chris Minami/g on a…
Jeff Myers: Goodnight
Jeff Myers is here playing the piano, or he might not be, creating atmospheric sonorities with the harmonics of the strings and beyond on this latest digital release. As one who was weaned on Brian Eno and Robert Fripp, I’ve…
Artemis: Arboresque
The XX team Artemis has been winning numerous awards as the best acoustic band as well as releasing the best album last year. It’s easy to see why, as Renee Rosnes/p, Ingrid Jensen/tp, Nicole Glover/ts Noriko Ueda/b and Allison Miller/dr…
Rodney Whitaker: Mosaic-The Music Of Gregg Hill
This is about the fourth album that has come across my ears focusing on the composing strengths of Gregg Hill. You know a guy has a lyrical style when almost half of the songs feature lyrics themselves, mostly brought on…
Tom Wakeling: West By Northwest-Live At Ravenscroft Volume 1
No, you won’t find Cary Grant or Eva Marie Saint on Mount Rushmore here, but the Scottsdale, AZ gig in 2024 did include a set of boppers led by bassist Tom Wakeling and including Jason Carder/tp-fh, Angelo Versace/p and Dom…
Ben Markley: Tell The Truth
Piano man Ben Markley leads a tasty post bop team of Steve Kovalcheck/g, Wil Swindler/as, Rodney Whitaker/b and Kyle Swan/dr through a collection of classy originals. Most of the tunes have an optimistic feel, with his piano dancing on the…
Ariane Racicot: Danser Avec Le Feu
You may not have heard of pianist and composer Arian Racicot, but the Canadian has gotten attention in her own country, wining the Revelation Radio-Canada Prize for jazz back in 2022-23. Here, she trios up with Antoine Rochefort/eb and Guillaume…