Alto saxist Tim Berne beefs up his band with the addition of guitarist Ryan Ferreira for this in concert recording along with the hefty team of Oscar Noriega/bcl-cl, Matt Mitchell/p-elec and Ches Smith/dr-perc-vib. The band’s got chops, no doubt about…
Month: May 2015
BIRTH OF THE MODERN…John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers: Live in 1967
Step right up if you want to know where the rebirth of the modern blues came from. John Mayall, who’s still with us and playing with passion even in his 80s, is found here in a series of UK gigs…
David Sanborn: Time And The River
At this stage in his illustrious career, David Sanborn has nothing to prove. Yet, his latest releases seem to reflect that he believes he does, and it’s that he’s a jazzer at heart. On this latest release, produced by his…
THIS IS A BE-BOPPING ALTO 101…Art Pepper: Neon Art Volume 3
Listening to these three songs culled from 1981 concerts in Japan lead by Art Pepper and his team of George Cables/p, David Williams/b and Carl Burnett/dr, a question kept popping into my head: “Why doesn’t anyone play like this anymore?”…
THIS IS A TENOR SAX 101…Harry Allen: For George, Cole and Duke
For many years, the breathy, full bodied and melodious tone of the tenor sax was out of fashion, overshadowed by altissimo shrieks and wails. Back in the 70s, Scott Hamilton shocked the world by bringing that warm sound back, and…
COOL HEAT…Jazz In The New Harmonic: Primal Scream
If you’re into film noirish sounds from 50s B movies, this release lead by pianist/composer David Chesky is a real treat. He forms a quintet with a series of super modern studs such as Billy Drummond/dr, Javon Jackosn/ts-cl, Jeremy Pelt/tp…
Mary Stallings: Feelin’ Good
Perennially and undeservedly overlooked as one of the most tasteful singers around, Stallings delivers another solid album here of standards with Bruce Barth/p, Steve Nelson/vib, Peter Washington/b Kenny Washington/dr, Ray Mantilla/perc. Her voice is clear and soulful, and she can…
OH YEAH! Arlen Roth: Slide Guitar Summit
If you want your guitar playing with grease underneath the fingernails, then slide/rhythm guitarist Arlen Roth’s latest disc is your cup of coffee. That down and dirty twang of his bluesy guitar is teamed up with a veritable Who’s Who…
Sachal Vasandani: Slow Motion Miracles
Something definitely changed in this singer’s trajectory. Sashal Vasandani seems to have dropped his last name, and now only goes by the moniker “Sachal.” Secondly, while he’s teamed up with jazzers such as Taylor Eigsti/ key, Gerald Clayton/p, Ryan Scott/g,…
JAZZ FOR JAZZ HATERS
One of the rules of life that I live by is that “It’s not so much ‘I know what I like’ as ‘I like what I know.’” Most people don’t appreciate jazz because they have no frame of reference. Back…