Here are a couple of albums that lean left. The trio of Mike Fletcher/as-fl, Ollie Brice/b and Tymoteusz Jozwiak/dr create six pieces that feel loose and fairly free form. Suplle pieces such as “Dedication” and “Nick of Time” float like…
Month: September 2014
Beverly Taft: Meets The Nathan Hiltz Orchestra
Want some sounds that feel like all that’s right about jazz vocalists, but sick of the standards? Step right up and give an ear to Canuck canary Beverly Taft. She’s got a feel and sound like a husky Anita O’Day,…
NEWER FEMALE VOICES: Chiara Izzi: Motifs, Ellynne Rey: A Little Bit of Moonlight, Julia Karosi: Hidden Roots
Here are three singers from various exotic parts of the world: Italy, Hungary and Brooklyn… Chirara Izzi sings with an attractive Mediterranean lilt in her voice, as she teams up with Andrea rea/p, Nicola/b and Gino del Prete/dr for a…
Robin Jones’ Latin Underground: Seven Steps To Heaven
Conga master Robin Jones puts together a swinging salsa team of Nick Walker/bari-fl, Gavin Broom/tp, Chris Kibble/p, Jonny Gee/b and Marac Cecil/perc for a mix of jazz standards and originals. He, together with Cecil and Gee lay down a sizzling…
Western Michigan University Jazz Orchestra: Travel Notes
You know that the world is changing when hot big band jazz is coming out of Western Michigan. What is next? Upper U? Anyway, the band is directed by Tom Knific, and he’s worked with some heavy hitters like Randy…
XY VOICES! Paul Jost: Breaking Through, Jua: Colors of Life
Jazz vocalists have about the same guy to girl ratio as colleges, at least a 2:1 differential. It’s like Surf City! Here are a couple guys that I think you’ll like. Paul Jost has a voice that has Elling’s elasticity…
MINGUS’ DYNASTY? Dvorak/Dunmall/Sanders/Mapp: Cherry Pickin’
If you’re a fan of Charles Mingus’ musical vision, this album by Paul Dunmall/ts, Mark Sanders/dr, Chris Mapp/b and Jim Dvorak/tp is going to put a big smile on your face. They mix deeply swinging and bluesy originals with a…
Gene Segal: Mental Images
Six string electric guitarist Gene Segal mixes 70s rock steady rhythms with some jazz feel on this driving disc with Jon Irabagon/as, Sam Sadigursky/reeds, Sean Conly/b and Jaimeo Brown/dr. The release is divided into “Mental Images” and “Circus Music,” but…
BOP, SWING AND SING FROM AVID…Donald Byrd: Four Classic Albums, Buddy DeFranco: Four Classic Albums Plus, Gene Krupa: Four Classic Albums, Anita O’Day: Four Classic Albums Plus
If you want to get the basics of swing and bop, you’d be hard pressed to do better than the UK-based label Avid Group, which puts out a handful of classic-era jazz each month. Get them while the getting’s good!…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Denny Zeitlin: Stairway to the Stars
First, a disclaimer-I was in attendance at the Jazz Bakery (when IS it reopening?!?) when Denny Zeitlin’s trio with Buster Williams/b and Matt Wilson/dr played for a week back in November of 2001. What went through my mind at the…