UK based Leo Records has built up an impressive reputation for releasing music that is creatively left of center, always looking for hew sonic turfs to conquer. Here are a couple of their latest that show the various colors and…
Month: February 2015
GENIUS! Darrell Katz and the JCA Orchestra: Why Do You Ride?
Composer/guitarist Darrell Katz puts together a forward thinking big band that gives tribute to one of the most forward thinking of them all, Mr. Albert Einstein. Sandwiched between a slightly outside “A Zen Story” and a fragrant sax quartet reading…
Ireesh Lai: Ethnotronica
Trumpeter Ireesh Lal brings out six tunes here that mix disco synth grooves with some lyrical melodies. He’s got a muted horn with layers of electronic that is layered like a German Chocolate cake on ”ElectroLounge,” with Central Asian beats…
Manuel Valera Sr: Recuerdos
Just get a load of Manuel Valera Sr’s opening alto sax all unaccompanied on the intro to “Longina” and you’ll know all you need to want this album. His horn is like honey from Peru-just silky sweet with a hint…
Deanna Witkowski: Rain Drop
Here’s an intriguing idea and realized concept by pianist Deanna Witkowski, the subtitle of the solo album is “Improvisations with Chopin,” which is not what most artists do, in that they “swing the classics.” No, Ms Witkowski takes a Chopin…
Aki Takase & Alexander Von Schlippenbach: So Long, Eric-Homage to Eric Dolphy
A pair of pianists give a tribute to an avant garde reed player? Hey, it works! Aki Takaswe and Alexander Von Schlippenbach (from her on referred to as “AT” and “AVS”) put together a simpatico team that captures the sonic…
Koko Jones: Who’s That Lady?
Percussionist Koko Jones has used her skills with the sticks with artists ranging from Archie Shepp to Charles McPherson to Whitney Houston, so she knows a few things about both melody and freedom. Here, she creates mix of upbeat and…
David Haney: Solo
his is a recording dating back from 2011 when pianist David Haney put together fourteen of his own compositions as solo pieces. His touch and deliver comes across as a mix between an extroverted Claude Debussy and a slightly jazz…
Rana Mansour: Rana Mansour
Rana Mansour mixes traditional Middle East sounds and rhythms with various moods on this impressive and accessible album. Her voice has that earthy nasal quality, adding sensuous mystery to the upbeat rhythms and folk guitar of pieces such as “Mahtab.”…
The Evergereen Classic Jazz Band: Early Tunes 1915-1932
Listening to these 17 songs from before The Great War into The Great Depression makes you realize how far music creation and listening has changed. Back in these days, each tune was a concise 2-3 2/2 minute statement, and every…