Here’s an intriguing duet album that mixes Bill McBirnie and his flutes/piccolo and Bruce Jones’ guitar, voice, percussion and synthesizers. Lots of Brazilian, latin and world flavors are served well her, ranging from hints of hip hop on “Se Eu…
Month: June 2015
VOCALS! Rachel Caswell: All I Know, Laura Dickinson: One For My Baby
Here are some ways the female voice can be presented. In full bloom or with simple pedals. Rachel Caswell does a series of duets of standards with either bassist Jeremy Allen or guitarist Dave Stryker. Her voice gives hints of…
Andy Galore: Out & About
Bassist Andy Galore puts together an assertively electric session here with some of the heaviest hitters around. Mike Stern and Oz Noy make up the formidable pair of guitarists, who go it alone and together along with saxists Bob Franceschini,…
Carlos Averhoff Jr: iRESI w/ Greg Osby
Tenor saxist Carlos Averhoff Jr. creates a two sax front line with altoist Greg Osby along with Francisco Mela/dr, Aruan Ortiz/p and John Lockwood/b on this album that is filled with rich harmonies and exciting grooves. The teams bops well…
Alex Norris Organ Quartet: Extension Deadline on “What Happened Here”
Here’s a meat and potatoes combo for you. Trumpeter Alex Norris leads a combo with the high cholesterol tenor sax of Gary Thomas as they lead a smoking B3 combo with George Colligan/org and Rudy Royston/dr. Norris uses his flugelhorn…
HEY, MON…TreeHouse!: Treehouse!, John Brown’s Body: Kings and Queens in Dub
The band TreeHouse! Consists of Jeremy Anderson/g-tp-voc, Matt Link/b and Trey Moody/dr along with guests Jason Hazinski/sax, Joe Harley/key, Parker DeWitt-Alex Winchester/perc and various other friends in cameo roles. The music is a dash of reggae and world music, mostly…
Manuel Valera Trio: Live At Firehouse 12
Pianist Manuel Valera forms an impressive trio here with Hans Glawischnig/b and EJ Strickland for a gig in New Haven CT. Valera’s touch on the piano is confident and lyrical, and he needs both qualities as Strickland’s busy drumming underneath…
SOUND FROM THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST…Tom Collier: Alone In The Studio, Unhinged Sextet: Clarity, The Michael Waldrop Big Band: Time Within Itself
The Seattle-based Origin Records (and its subsidiary OA2) is making a strong name for itself with impressive and original jazz material. Here are three of the latest releases. Tom Collier plays vibes, marimba, piano, drums and bass synthesizer all by…
XX CHROMOSOMED VOICES…Vanessa Bley-Stuart Matthewman: Twin Danger, Sarah Partridge: I Never Thought I’d Be Here, Jessi Teich: Twisted Soul
Here are three different ways woman can deliver “jazz vocals.” The tradition of vemale vocals alongside the tenor sax dates back to at least the days of Lady Day and Prez. Here is a modern day incarnation that works alarmingly…
Robert Plant & The Sensational SpaceShifters w/ JD McPherson@The Greek Theatre 06.02.15
The audience seemed like a 40 year old high school reunion of sorts, as people came with canes, walkers, oxygen tanks and even teddy bear packs to give a whole new meaning to the term “60s Rock.” Opening the show…