Very few horn players attempt it, and even fewer succeed. Many are called, few are chosen, as our Lord once said. Saxist Phil Davison takes the Pepsi Challenge and delivers 14 compositions and one traditional piece with just his soprano,…
Month: May 2014
JOHN CLAYTON: FAMILY VALUES
It’s probably impossible to have seen a jazz concert in Los Angeles that hasn’t either had John Clayton performing, or at lease had an artist who either played with once him or has been coached by the legendary Angeleno. As…
PIANO TRIOS…Shahin Novrasli: Bayati, Sean McCluskey: The Beginning
European-based and Azerbaidjan born, Shahin Novrasli fronts a team with Nathan Peck/b and Ari Hoenig through a collection of originals and traditional tunes from afar. He shows his Chopinesque touch as he delves into “Prelude in E Minor” giving hints…
Gypsy Dream: Featuring Ferenc
Friends of Hot Club jazz are going to have a field day on this quartet consisting of Ferenc Illenyi/v, Erich Avinger/g, Andrew Lienhard/p and Chris Maresh/b as they bring guests into and out of their gypsy caravan for a collection…
FEMME FATALS…Brigitte Zarie: L’Amour, Glennis Houston: I’ll Reminisce You, Natalie Cressman: Turn The Sea
What to sing? What to sing? How to sing it? Here are three two ladies that take different paths. Brigitte Zarie knocked me out with a left hook with her smoking debut last year. This sophomore release is just as…
Amanda Homi: Till I Reach Bombay
Vocalist and songwriter Amanda Homi mixes musical sounds and styles like a flavorful curry on this album. Instruments from the West, Mid-East and Central Asia stand comfortably next to each other like a World Cup Soccer match as guitars, ouds,…
VINTAGE BLUE NOTE? Mike Bardash Quintet: Polygon
If you are a fan of classic jazz from the Blue Note period of the 50s and 60s (and if you’re not, WHAT’S YOUR PROBLEM?!?!?) then you are going to salivate over this session by pianist Mike Bardash. He leads…
20th ANNIVERSARY EDITION…Cassandra Wilson: Blue Light ‘Til Dawn
Cassandra Wilson’s paradigm-shifting release from one score year ago, Blue Light ‘Til Dawn, still sounds fresh, exciting and invigorating on this remaster. Her earthy, lazy and back porch voice breathed fresh life into material back in 1994, ranging from Boomer…
David Wiatrolik: Dave and The Gin Mill Gypsies
David Wiatrolik take you back in time and then back up to the moment again with his original tunes that mix pre-swing Depression era sounds with modern day themes. He has a Hot Club of France sense of delivery, as…
MR. STERN’S NEIGHBORHOOD
What’s the difference between involvement and commitment? Ask a chicken and a pig; the chicken is involved with breakfast, the pig is committed to breakfast. That is essentially the difference between most artists and Mike Stern’s passion for playing with…