Like Blue Note during its halcyon days, CA based Posi-Tone Records has its own cadre of “home” musicians. This album has them all getting together for some comfort food hard bopping, as opposed to the advertised “swing” factor, but it’s…
Category: Reviews
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Nnenna Freelon: Beneath The Skin
Vocalist Nnenna Freelon has had a career that could easily be divided into two eras. Her early career had her create albums that mixed soul, R&B and smooth jazz in an irresistible fashion. Around 2012, she seemed to have taken…
Javier Rojo: Musica Para Amansar Fieras
Tenor saxist Javier Rojo brings fresh ideas to the post bop genre on this album of originals with Alvoro Ocon/tp, Eliott Knuets/g, Noe Secula/p, Joan Codina/b Genius Wesley/dr and guest Fernando Brox/fl. Rojo’s tone and delivery and strong and breathy,…
MOST UNIQUE PIANIST…Cecil Taylor: The Classic Albums
One of the proponents of “free jazz” was pianist Cecil Taylor, whose albums always defied description and pigeon holing. These eight albums were like gauntlets thrown at the time, and still challenge the boundaries of modern classical and jazz. His…
TRIO VARIATIONS…Michael Wollny Trio: Living Ghosts, Eyolf Dale: When Shadows Dance
Same instruments, various permutations… Pianist Michael Wollny joins together with bassist Tim Lefebvre and drummer Eric Schaefer for a collection of four opuses ranging from 12-20 minutes. The pieces are medleys of sorts, consisting of “sets”. “Set 1” combines compositions…
MELLOW FUSION…Dan Fogelberg & Time Weisberg: No Resemblance Whatsoever
This reissue of the 1994 summit meeting between folk guitarist/vocalist Dan Fogelberg and jazz flutist Tim Weisberg was the follow-up to their highly successful 1978 outing Twin Sons of Different Mothers. Here, the two team up with session masters Larry…
Vince Guaraldi: It’s The Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown
No, there are not any speeches about Jesus’ resurrection on Charles Schultz’s 1974 Animated Special It’s The Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown. But, while Vince Guaraldi’s music is a tad dated with the sound of the electric piano and ARP String…
THIS IS AN ACOUSTIC GUITAR…Martin Taylor & Steve Howe: Masterpiece Guitars, Martin Taylor: Double Standards, Martin Taylor’s Spirit of Django: Last Train To Hauteville, Martin Carthy/Martin Simpson/Martin Taylor/Juan Martin: Martins4, Martin Taylor: Solo, Alison Burns and Martin Taylor: 1 am
One of the lost arts these days is the mastery of acoustic guitar. One of today’s pre-eminent proponent of the warm analog sound is a man perfectly named for the job, Martin Taylor (having both first and last names the…
Brent Laidler: Hidden Gems
Guitarist Brent Laidler drinks deeply from the well of Grant Green on this hipster of a session of originals with Mark Buselli/tp-fh, Ned Boyd/as-fl, Jamie Newman/org, Richard Floyd/dr and Scott Pazara. He’s front and classy cooker of “Bop Like” while…
Benjie Porecki: All That Matters
It sounds like Benjie Porecki grew up in the black church because playing piano, organ and pads, Benjie Porecki leads a trio of Mark Prince/dr and Michael Bowie/b that is heavy on soul and gospel. Yes, there are hints of…