Here’s a disc by a group that makes jazz tunes catchy again, they way they should be. Daniel Bennett, who has a sleek Desmondy sound on his alto, also hits the flute and clarinet with a light and rhythmic team…
Month: August 2013
Eugenie Jones: Black Lace Blue Tears
Here’s a warm toned vocalist that shows an excellent hand at composing as well. Eugenia Jones, joined with Bill Anschell/p, Clipper Anderson/b, Mark Ivester/dr and Michael Powers/g delivers an album of impressive maturity. Her reading of standards like “Take Five”…
SENSITIVE SOULS… Nicole Zuraitis: Pariah Anthem, Jen Chapin: Reckoning
Here are a couple female singer/songwriters that mix a bit of jazz with contemporary sounds. A bit of a throwback to the days of the 70s at the Troubador. Pianist as well as a singer/songwriter, Nicole Zuraitis has a dark…
THE BRAND NEW-Preservation Hall Jazz Band: That’s It!
What comes to your mind when you think of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Right! A small club with a bunch of old guys playing songs from the days of 78 rpms. Well, this latest version of PHJB has its…
Omer Klein: To The Unknown
Pianist Omer Klein heads a trio with Haggai Cohen-Milo/b and Ziv Ravitz/dr through an impressive collection of originals. He’s done work with artitsts like Lee Konitz and John Zorn, so he knows his way around the ivories; his touch is…
Jeff Williams: The Listener
Drummer Jeff Williams leads a post bop quartet with Duane Eubanks/tp, John O’Gallagher/as and John Hebert/b through a collection of free form musings in front of a London audience. Being a live gig, the band is allowed to stretch out…
Global Noize: Sly Reimagined
One of the true pioneers of soul, funk and rock, Sly Stone, turned 70 recently. Who knows where he is? Last year there was an article of him being homeless, and yet there are rumors of him touring around again.…
BRAZILIAN BEAUTIES Roger Davidson: Journey to Rio
I don’t know how this guy does it, but pianist Roger Davidson has consistently released some of the best original South American music that is available. This two disc set contains almost 2 hours of Brazilian joy; all originals, and…
The Cookers@Catalina’s 08.18.13
It’s difficult to find any jazz groups that stick around together for longer than a single tour, so when the group of jazz vets called The Cookers came into town, fans of advanced hard bop felt like they were getting…
Gretchen Parlato & Taylor Eigsti@The Blue Whale 08.17.13
The real test whether a vocalist has the “veritas” for performance has to be in the context of duets with a pianist. All come to that challenge sooner or later, and at this point in her career, Gretchen Parlato showed…