Writer Dave Usher here reflects on his long time relationship with Dizzy Gillespie, from the trumpeter’s early days with the Dee Gee label up to his final days succumbing to cancer. This intimate and personal book gives great insight into…
Month: June 2015
Lost Songs: The Basement Tapes Continued
This film by director Sam Jones is part of the “Lost in the River” project in which 2 dozen sets of lyrics written by Bob Dylan during his famed 1967 sessions of The Basement Tapes in upstate New York were…
IN THE POCKET…Steve Smith & Vital Information: Viewpoint, Opus: Definition
Call it “creating a groove,” or “being in the pocket,” it’s one of the most treasured and most attractive reasons people flock to jazz. It’s felt more than described, that rhythmic flow when all time stops. Here are a couple…
ALTO SAX TRIOS…Gavin Templeton Trio: Some Spinning, Some At Rest, Dmitry Baesvsky: Over and Out
Back in the day, only the most adventurous saxists dared to go the pianoless trio format. Here are two gents that rush in where angels fear to tread, and come out looking pretty good. Gavin Templeton teams up with Rich…
Terence Blanchard: Breathless
One of the most important jazz artists, Terence Blanchard has created music ranging from straightahead jazz to sound tracks to sermonettes to even opera. This time around, he goes into the funk mode with his band of Charles Altura/g, Fabian…
Joshua Redman & The Bad Plus: The Bad Plus Joshua Redman
They’ve been touring around together for over a year, so it was inevitable that Joshua Redman would eventually collaborate with the trio of Ethan Iverson, Reid Anderson and David King. A couple of the songs, “Silence is the Question” and…
TWO HOT AND OBSCURE 50’s TRUMPET STARS…Jon Eardley: Quartet, Quintet & Septet, Hal Stein-Warren Fitzgerald Quintet
So much great music came out of the mid 50s that it’s forgivable to overlook various artists. Fresh Sound Records brings back into sharp focus two trumpet players that will make you wonder where they’ve been your whole life. Jon…
Snarky Puppy and Metropole Orkest: Sylva
This cd/dvd features the exciting sounds of Snarky Puppy as they team up to create a panoramic mix of strings and soul. The twelve member band includes Michael League/b, Bob Lanzetti-Mark Leftieri-Chris McQueen/g, Bill Laurance-Cory Henry-Justin Stanton/key, Jay Jennings-Mike Maher/tp-fh,…
Eddie Daniels & Roger Kellaway@The E Spot 06.06.15
Bringing to the E Spot the music and songs that won the French equivalent of a Grammy for their Duke at the Roadhouse album, Eddie Daniels and Roger Kellaway gave tribute to the sounds and inspirations of Mr. Ellington while displaying…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Harold Mabern: Afro Blue
Pianist Harold Mabern has made a career out of being a reliable sideman for guys ranging from James Moody, George Coleman and as of late Eric Anderson. Here, he finally gets his due, as he forms a trio with John…