Pianist and composer Elliot Galvin creates rustic mood with a rhythm team of Ruth Goller/b-voc, Sebastian Rochford/dr and guests Liget Quartet for over half of the pieces. He opens things up with an edgy solo “A House, A City” and…
Category: Reviews
Stefan Sirbu: Reverie
From Germany, Moldovia-born Stefan Sirbu delivers mellow bop with his team of Juliea Eugenio/ts, Clovis Nicolas/b and the late Anthony Pinciotti/dr. The mood is relaxed and suave, with Sirbu using keyboards for the lyrical “Elsa au Miroir” and breezing nicely…
Paolo Fresu, Richard Galliano, Jan Lundgren: Mare Nostrum IV
Paolo Fresu plays trumpet and flugelhorn, Richard Galliano takes on the melowtone and accordion and trios up with pianist Jan Lundgren on this collection of gentle pastels of sound. The melowtone sounds a bit like a melodic, toylike and innocent…
Arturo O’Farrill: Mondoagua-Celebrating Carla Bley
Composer, bandleader and pianist leads the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra through a collection of modern sounding suites, mixing traditional tones of his heritage with modern harmonics. The center piece is a four part “Blue Palestine” opus, opening with a riveting…
Elaine Dame: Reminiscing
Singing and playing flute, Elaine Dame takes some Baby Boomer hits and cleverly arranges them with saxist Chris Madsen for modern ears. The team of Tom Vaitsas/p-key, Sam Peters/b, Jon Deitemyer/dr, Neal Alger/g, Art Davis-Victor Garcia/tp and Alyssa Allgood-Christy Bennett/voc…
Claire Ritter: Songs of Lumiere
Playing solo piano, Claire Ritter delivers sixteen concise (mostly) originals that make you feel like you’re taking in a cozy parlor recital. His style has hints of Satie on the creative “The Cloud & The Moonbeam” and lots of impressionisms…
Mason Razavi: Even Keel
Clean toned guitarist Mason Razavi teams up with Charles McNeal/ts, Brian Ho/org and Jason Lewis/dr for a humming mix of originals and standards. Razavi has bop in his bones, sizzling with Ho on “The Song Is You” and boogalooing on…
McKenna Moonah Blues Duo: Breaking News
Mike McKenna plays lead, rhythm and acoustic slide guitar with Jay Moonah singing, playing harmonica, bass, rhythm guitar, percussion and keyboards on this four song ep. Plugged in, Moonah growls on the slow thick thud of “Breaking News” with the…
Josephine Davies & The Enso Ensemble: The Celtic Wheel of the Year Suite
Composer/conductor Josephine Davis leads a modern sounding big band through a collection of well crafted originals, concentrating on rich charts and section work, with clever solos squeezed in, and her own tenor sax getting wild around Shane Forbes’ funky bass…
Daggerboard & Erik Jekabson Orchestra: The Axes Volume II
Trumpeter/flugelhorn man Erik Jekabson joins with Gregory owe in composing some cinematic orchestra pieces for an orchestra that includes brass/woodwinds/rhythm and strings. The usic is presented in both concert and studio/rehearsal formats, with the music feeling like part of a…