Here’s some wonderful Brazilian/Latin music from an unlikely source. Alto/soprano saxist Lenny Sendersky and guitarist Tony Roman lead a quartet with Stee LaSpina/b and Matt Kane/dr along with guests Randy Brecker/tp, Joe Locke/vib and Cleve Douglass/voc for a mix of…
Month: March 2014
Emanuele Cisi: Where or When
Italian born saxist Emanuele Cisi drinks from the Coltrane fountain on this collection of originals and standards in a trio format with Joseph LePore/b and Luca Santaniello/dr. On soprano, he goes laconic and agonizing on “Chelsea Bridge” bluesy on “Spheres”…
The Blue Project: The Danny Petroni Blue Project
If you want it down and dirty, here’s your music. Danny Petroni plays the Strat like it was welded to his fingers at birth, and he teams up with Frank Lacy, who sounds like he swallowed nails for lunch in…
Clark Terry & Bob Brookmeyer Quintet: Complete Live Recordings 1962-1965
Here was a band that must have been a gas to see in concert. Maestro Clark Terry, warm toned on both trumpet and flugelhorn, made a name for himself with Basie and Ellington big bands. For a few years he…
Blue Highway: The Game
I’m just a sucker for bluegrass. I think it’s because besides the fact that guys such as the ones in this band (Tim Stafford/g-voc, Wayne Taylor/b-voc, Shawn Lane/mand-fid-g-voc, Rob Ickes/dobro and Jason Burleson/ban-g-mand) are not only excellent musicians who know…
AVID REISSUES FROM BOP TO BEYOND…Eric Dolphy: Four Classic Albums, Terry Gibbs: Four Classic Albums, Roland Kirk: Four Classic Albums, Red Norvo featuring Helen Humes: Four Classic Albums, Oscar Peterson Second Set: Three Classic Albums Plus
Few reissue labels release jazz albums that are as diverse as the ones put out by UK based Avid Records, and NO ONE puts out so much music so often. You could EASILY only get your music from this label…
Helen Sung: Anthem For A New Day
Pianist/composer Helen Sung got my attention a couple years ago with a warm album with Marcus Strickland (Songbird), but this one is even better. She’s got a warm touch on the piano and delves here on the electric keyboard as…
Fatoumata Diawara@The Broad Stage 02.28.14
If you wanted to get a good overview of where American music’s heart and soul originated, the place to be on the rainy last day of February was at the Broad Stage, where Malian singer/songwriter Fatoumata Diawara and her band…
GEORGE BENSON: INSPIRATION
There are few artists that transcend categories and labels. George Benson is one of those elect few. He’s been on the forefront of at least 4 major eras of modern music, starting with soul jazz in the 60s, being one…
JOHNNY RIVERS: A LIFE OF DANGER
For any recording artist, the odds ARE that you won’t live to see tomorrow. Johnny Rivers is one of the few singer/songwriters still standing from the early days of rock through the Beatles through progressive rock, punk rock, disco, and…