Bassist Arlid Anderson brings together Paolo Vinaccia/dr and Tommy Smith/ts for some stripped down trio work. There is a duo between Smith and Vinaccia on some free improvisation on third world instruments on “Raijin’” but for the rest of the…
Month: April 2014
Mighty Mystic: Concrete World
Here’s a reggae artist you might not have heard before, but he’s got a strong bite. Mighty Mystic has a strong and rich voice, and on this collection of 14 tunes is aggressive and filled with rich production, incessant grooves…
Offiong Bassey: Offiong Bassey
Offiong Bassey is a double threat, as not only does she posses an attractively rich voice on this R&B meets jazz session, but she shows gobs of talent as a songwriter as well. Sounds from the church, Peru, West Africa…
ORIGIN-ALL…Marc Seals: American Songs, Vol 2: Blues and Jazz, Scenes:…But Not Heard
The small Washington state label Origin Records is creating an impressive catalogue of post bop material. Here are the two latest arrivals to check out. Pianist/keyboardist Marc Seals mixes jazz with its blues root on this cookin’ session with Fred…
Krakauer: The Big Picture
Clarinetist David Krakauer gives a creative and imaginative tribute to songs from the silver screen along stars Jenny Scheinman/vio, Adam Rogers/g, Rob Burger/key, Jim Black/dr-perc and an assortment of cameo appearances. If you’re expecting John Barry or John Williams orchestrations,…
PJ Rasmussen: Another Adventure
Last year, he put out a hip little album focusing on flying, but this time around guitarist and composer PJ Rasmussen gives a tribute to the sea on a collection of nine tunes along with a post bop band with…
Braveheart: Motions
The trio Braveheart consists of Ted Crosby/reeds, James Meger/b and Omar Amlani, and this collection of five tunes consists of fairly free improves with a hint of framework. Crosby’s subtoned tenor gasps on the title track, while most of the…
Norma Winstone: Dance Without Answer
Here is the third release by the quiet and intimate trio of vocalist Norma Winstone and Glauco Venier/p and Klaus Gesing/bcl-ss. The opening instrumental title track sets the tone for deeply ruminating pieces, right up to the closing cover of…
Render unto Caesar…
Yes, it’s that time of the year. If I ruled the world, I would make Election Day April 16th, as people would vote MUCH differently if they had just finished paying their taxes. I’m not a conspiracy theorist, but it…
THE ROOT OF RANDY WESTON
Is he a pianist? Composer? Musical historian? Most likely Randy Weston is a mix of all three. His latest album, a collection of duets with tenor saxist Billy Harper summarizes Weston’s career in its title, The Roots of the Blues.…