Saxist/composer Jackiem Joyner takes the accessibility of smooth jazz and adds a bit of kick in the pants on this latest collection of tunes. He brings together some impressive compatriots including Keiko Matsui/p, Gerald Albright/ts and multi instrumentalist Matt hamel,…
Month: June 2014
MIX AND MATCH…The Young Presidents: Coalition, Ahmed: Dhaalu Raa
Here are a pair of releases that mix sounds from various traditions with some vintage pop vibes. I’m not sure of the concept behind naming a band The Young Presidents. Are they that enamored with the “hope and change” of…
Harvey Mason’s Chameleon Jam@The Blue Whale 06.03.04
This is going to take some faith, but at one time, jazz was actually so popular that albums would be multi-million sellers and bands could fill arenas like the Bowl. Here, let me pick you up from fainting… Don’t believe…
THIS IS BEBOP 101…Chubby Jackson Big Band: Ooh, What An Outfit! NYC 1949
There are certain times in your life when you think everything is the way it’s supposed to be, and then something comes to shake you up to realize how far you’ve strayed from your path. Sometimes I get that way-I…
THE BLUESBREAKER…John Mayall: A Special Life, Stories-Road Dogs-In the Palace of the King
If you have any blues album recorded after 1960, odds are they guitarist has either a) played with or b) been influenced by the Father of the Modern Blues, John Mayall. Back in 1962, Mayall was part of the London…
Holly Hofmann: Low Life
Subtitled “The Alto Flute Project,” this release by Ms. Hofmann has her in the symbiotic company of Mike Wofford/p, John Clayton/b, Jeff Hamilton/dr and Anthony Wilson/g for some rich and enriching originals and covers. Wilson appearance of four of the…
THE STANDARD BEARER…Mark Murphy: Sings
Few people realize how influential Mark Murphy has been to today’s most popular singers such as Kurt Elling. His sense of freedom within the groove has been a paradigm shifter for male vocalists since these early classic sessions first came…
John Lodge: Natural Avenue
I was able to catch The Moody Blues in concert last year, and was impressed on how well their songs have stood up over the years. Just recently, a reissue of bassist John Lodge’s solo album form 1977 came out,…
Christina Dahl: Life’s Carousel
Tenor saxist Christina Dahl must be the love child of Sonny Rollins, as she’s got that same strong, beefy and voluminous sound that is so endearing and enduring. She’s no mere imitation, though as she writes her own material and…
Male Voices…Perry Beekman: Bewitched, Bill Cote’: Where Do You Start
Perry Beekman got my attention with his last release where the singer/guitarist did a homage to Cole Porter that was disarmingly simple and effective. He revisits the winning formula with the Nat Cole-ish combo of himself with Peter Tomlinson/p and…