Isn’t it amazing that almost every holiday has a song except Thanksgiving? What’s THAT all about?!? There’s even songs for The Great Pumpkin, thanks to Charlie Brown. Why do we give Thanksgiving such short shrift? Thankfulness is one of the…
Month: October 2014
Lauren Meccia: Inside Your Eyes
First, my pet peeve about female vocalists: most of them sound like past their prime princesses who are giving one last shot at doing something with their lives, or are relying on their,ahem, other resources to get their music out.…
****RINGERS OF THE WEEK****Rodney Whitaker: When We Find Ourselves Alone, Mack Avenue SuperBand: Live From The Detroit Jazz Festival-2013
Yes, even though Detroit is a disaster in so many ways, there is at least one reason to head to the Motor City-bassist Rodney Whitaker. He’s the musical director of both of these sessions, one’s his own studio recording and…
BOPPING DELIGHTS…Michael Carvin Experience: Flash Forward, NYSQ: The New Straight Ahead
Don’t lose your hope in the longevity of hard bop jazz. Here are two ensembles keeping the flame burning brightly! Long time drummer Michael Carving takes a bunch of jazz standards and brings them up to date with Keith Loftis/ts,…
Paul Bollenback: Portraits in Space and Time
Guitarist Paul Bollenback joins together with Joseph Lepore/b and Rogerio Boccato/dr for a session that attempts to emulate how “the trio would play a gig, going from song to song with all the segues improvised on the spot.” The fresh…
COZY LADIES! Cyrille Aimee: It’s A Good Day, Kelley Suttenfield/Tony Romano: Among the Stars
Here’s a pair of vocalists that keep it light, fun and simple. Cyrille Aimee teams up with Adrien Moignard/g, Guilherme Monteiro/g, Michael Valearu/g, Sak Anning/b and Rajiv Jayaweerd/dr for a lighthearted deliver some Bohemian swing. Aimee has a winsome, optimistic…
The Cookers: Time and Time Again
I’m warning you now, you better see these guys in concert, as Billy Harper/ts, Eddie Henderson/tp, George Cables/p, Cecil McBee/b and Billy Hart/dr are the last of the outside hard bop movement of the 60s-70s that are out there performing.…
Billy Childs: Map to the Treasure-Reimagining Laura Nyro
Pianist/arranger Billy Childs has been building up an impressive catalogue of his own with intriguing chamber jazz recordings. He’s also done tons of work for the likes of Sting, Chris Botti and Dianne Reeves, and this new release has Childs…
Reggie Watkins: One For Miles, One For Maynard
Trombonist Reggie Watkins gives homage to two sui generis horn players here, as tunes associated with Miles Davis and Maynard Ferguson are teamed up with some bopping originals. Watkins along with Matt Parker/ts-ss, Rick Matt/ts-ss-bs, Ian Gordon/tp, Howard Alexander III/p,…
Afro Bop Alliance: Angel Eyes
Lots of percussive grooves are felt on the collection of originals and covers presented by the septet Afro Bop Alliance on this release. The rhythm team of Joe McCarthy/dr-perc, Harry Appelman/p and Tom Baldwin/b gets an extra exotic flavor with…