Cuban bassist Charles Flores has made a respectable career as a sideman for the likes of Michel Camilo and Dafnis Prieto, while now starting his own time out as a leader. This release has him with the latin-fusion team of…
Month: May 2013
Maria Jacobs: Art of the Duo
Vocalist Maria Jacobs has had a career that has emphasized the gospel side of the tracks, and has put out a respectable catalogue in that genre. Here, she’s left the church pews, crossed the street and has strolled down Tin…
Will Downing: Silver
R&B crooner Will Downing has been one of the consistent vocalists for decades. Always consistent and always classy, he can go from “love ya, baby” sensuality to Coltranes’ “A Love Supreme” and not break stride. His latest one has his…
Jay Willie Blues Band: New York Minute
Here’s a throwback band to the days of bluesy rock or rockin’ blues. Guitarist and vocalist Jay Willie delivers music that used to be sine qua non for bands in the 70s, but has been about as frequent as shrimp…
Lunasa: With The RTE Concert Orchestra
What is it about Irish/Celtic music that makes it a universal attraction. Here I am, a nice Greek boy, and I just can’t get enough of it. Spent last year with the Mrs in Ireland, and if we only went…
Samuel Blaser Quartet: As The Sea
Trombonist/composer Samuel Blaser leads a quartet with Marc Ducret/g, Banz Oester/b and Gerald Cleaver/dr through a four piece suite of free form sounds that reflect the sea, and in these hands the waters get pretty rough. Aggressive percussion, distorted guitar…
Jah Wobble & Bill Sharpe: Kingdom of Fitzrovia
Jam band fans will have a whaka-whooka of a good time here with a funk filled collection of tunes by Jah Wobble/b and Bill Sharpe/key as leaders. Along with Marc Layton-Bennett/dr and Sean Corby/tp-fh, the band goes from R&B back…
CLASSIC TENORS FROM HEAVEN!!! Stan Getz Quartet: At Birdland 1961, Coleman Hawkins Quartet: Complete 1962 Studio Recordings, Sal Nistico Quintets: Heavyweights & Comin’ On Up
I just voted on the Downbeat Critics Poll, and listed Fresh Sound Records as my Label Of The Year. Why, do you ask? Just look at these three latest reissues they’ve bestowed on us. If you’re a fan of the…
EVERY PARENT’S DREAM!! Emily Bear: Diversity
“But does she know all of the State Capitals?” That was a typical father’s response when I heard this amazingly deft and prodigiously talented 11 year old girl’s debut disc. Still at the stage where boys have kooties, pianist Emily…
Jazz Bakery’s Moveable Feast Presents: Emily Bear@Musician’s Institute 05.08.13
So, as a Sunday School teacher for the 5th and 6th grade class at my church, and having raised two daughters that took in so many hours of piano lessons that I would calculate their recitals at about 50 cents…