I’m always on the lookout for solid sax players who have some muscle in their tone, and this guy Nir Naaman’s a real find. He plays mostly tenor, but can slum it with alto and soprano as well with a…
Month: January 2015
Brian Lynch and Emmet Cohen: Question Answer
By now, I hope you’ve noticed that trumpeter Brian Lynch is putting together a catalogue of releases that is going to go in the books as one of the best of his generation. His one with Eddie Palmieri was a…
VOICES IN THE SKY…Antonia Bennett: Embrace Me, Kaoruko Pilkington: Bright Side of My Life
Ladies and the Standards. The foundation of today’s music. Here we go! An endorsement by Tony Bennett, recorded at Bennett studios in NJ, and engineered by Dae Bennett. What more do you want? Antonia Bennett sings with Jon Davis/p’s trio…
Nathan Parker Smith: Not Dark Yet
Nathan Parker Smith puts together a big band that sounds like it wants to be heavy metal Metallica when it grows up. Five reeds, four trumpets, four trombones and a four piece rhythm section creates thunderous sounds that thud and…
Jeff Beck: Live In Tokyo
Every year they say that it will be the last time famed guitarist Jeff Beck will ever tour. As if we needed an extra excuse to go see the guy. Here, the mopped mod is with a team of Jonathan…
Joe Clark: The C.O.W.L. Sessions
So, now we’ve got music to accompany comic books. Hey, why not? Joe Clark has written some pretty hip music for it, as well as arranging two takes of “Chicago.” Of the standard, you have a lively vocal version by…
Tineke Postma & Greg Osby: Sonic Halo
Saxist Greg Osby reminds me of a lot of single mid thirties women that I know. They’re attractive, bright and have a lot to offer, and you wonder “Why hasn’t anyone married them?” Same with Osby; he’s got a great…
Genesis: Three Sides Live
The band Genesis had gone through a number of changes by the time they performed this series of concerts in 1981. Gone were famed singer Peter Gabriel and guitarist Steve Hackett, as well as the moody progressive rock songs, moods…
Mark Minchello: Trinomial
AH! The Hammond B3 trio with sax and drums, and Hammond hitter Mark Minchello makes the team wheeze, groove and fog up an interesting and well thought collection of tunes. They keep away from the blues and instead venture into…
CAN BLUE BOYS PLAY THE WHITES? Mark T. Small: Smokin’ Blues
Here’s a guy that looks ike he should be playing surfer music, yet sounds like he was adopted by a family from Chicago’s South Side or Memphis. Mark T Small plays it smart by keeping it essentially acoustic here n…