I think that Josh Hoyer must have been weaned on Memphis dry rub BBQ, as this disc that he leads along with Benny Kushner/g, Justin Jones/dr, Josh Bargar/b, Mike Dee/sax, Tommy Van Den Berg/tb, Brian Morrow/fl and a trio of…
Month: February 2015
Karen Oberlin & Sean Harkness: A Wish
Here’s a cozy duo recording put together by vocalist Karen Oberlin and guitarist Sean Harkness. Oberlin has a rich range that never sounds strained, yet always flexible, and she weaves well around the tasty picking and strumming of Harkness’ acoustic…
THIS IS DOO-WOP 101…Sonny Til and the Orioles: Live In Chicago 1951
It was actually simply called “Rhythm and Blues,” but the specific style of harmonized vocals that began with the Mills Brothers and formulized by the Ink Spots that became what we now know as “Doo-Wop” essentially began in the late…
Kenny Wheeler: Songs For Quintet
Without a piano or guitar, the mood is light, spacious and flexible for this session lead by soft toned Kenny Wheeler and his bates Stan Sulzmann/ts, John Parricelli/g, Chris Laurence/b and Martin France/dr. Except for the slightly jarring guitar and…
Roger Davidson: Te Extrano-Buenos Aires
I’m convinced pianist Roger Davidson must have been kidnapped by South American gypsies as a child. He puts out some of the best latin material, and it can come from Brazil or like here in Argentina. He writes his own…
Rose Kingsley: This Is My Life
Rose Kingsley made a name for herself as a 4 octave singer for the Metropolitan Opera before transitioning into the jazz idiom. Here, the diva is with a sensitive and adroit team of Bob Corwin/p, Danny Flahive/b and Doug Dean/perc…
Dario Chiazzolino: Paint Your Life
Ah! To be a guitar fan! This is a great year for lovers of the six strings! Not only are we having some great concerts, but new artists like Dario Chiazzolino are making themselves known to us. This guy is…
AMERICAN ROOTS…JD McPherson: Let the Good Times Roll, Pokey LaFarge: Something In the Water,The Gibson Brothers: Brotherhood
There are times when it’s so easy to get caught up in “progress” that you forget where you’ve come from. Here are three recent releases to remind us of the fertile soil of what has made jazz, blues and what…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Jim Norton Collective: Time Remembered-Compositions of Bill Evans
While this collection represents a tribute to Bill Evans’ compositions, Jim Norton could easily have subtitled this as a remembrance of another Evans, Gil. The woodwind/bandleader here focuses on the famed pianists work as a writer, but Norgon brings together…
Danny Green Trio: After The Calm
Pianist Danny Green leads a lyrical and melodic trio with Justin Grinnell/b and Julien Cantelm/dr through some well conceived originals on this latest session. He’s got a strong left hand, and uses it as a counter melody or a power…