What first attracted me to jazz was that, unlike in classical music, I was actually able to still see in concert performers who created a musical style or genre. Guys like Mozart, Beethoven or Mahler were long gone, so all…
Month: October 2015
Denise Donatelli: Find A Heart
Vocalist Denise Donatelli continues to create an impressive catalogue with this strong release that mixes forward looking material with traditional melodicism. The core supporting team of Geoffrey Keezer/p, Leonardo Amuendo/g, Carlitos Del Puerto/b and Marvin “Smitty” Smith is able to…
Vlad West: Green Light
Better known in Russia as Vladimir Sermakashev, Vlad West was the inspiration and consultant as for the movie Moscow on the Hudson, and is famed in his own country as one of its most important musicians. On this recent release,…
Wayne Horvitz: Some Places Are Forever Afternoon
Wayne Horvitz assembles a chamber-like jazz band to create a charming pastoral collection of originals. The themes and accompanying writings of each song focus on wide open prairies and plains, with Ron Miles/ct, Sara Schoenbeck/bassoon, Peggy Lee/cel, Tim Young/g, Keith…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Bobby Bryant: Chicago Years
I’m not sure how Fresh Sound Records keeps finding these obscure gems, but all I can say is, whoever you’re bribing to get them, keep slipping them the money. This single disc from trumpeter Bobby Bryant is a SMOKER! Bryant…
Matt Panayides: Conduits
The name “Panayides” comes the Greek meaning “pure” and “awesome.” Give me a word, ANY WORD! Guitarist Matt Panayides teams up with Rich Perry/ts, Thomson Kneeland/b and Mark Ferber/dr for a swinging session of pure and awesome jazz that swings…
Jon Burr Quintet: Very Good Year
Bassist Jon Burr leads an impressive post bop quintet here with Tim Ouimette/tp, Steven Freider/ts, Mike Eckroth/p and Jerome Jennings/dr. Their specialty seems to be taking jazz standards and tweaking them a bit; thus you get a slightly prismatic “All…
LATIN LOVES…Sammy Figueroa: Imaginary World, Lulu All Stars: Salsa De La Buena!
The flavors of Latin jazz is one of the long lasting influences to El Norte’s classical music. Here are some recent impressive samples. Percussionist Sammy Figueroa leads an impressive team of Silvano Monasterios/p, Gabriel Vivas/b, Alex Pope Norris/tp, Troy Roberts/sax…
IN YOUR EARS AND EYES…John Basile: Penny Lane
John Basile plays guitar and a wide variety of electronics on this clever tribute to The Fab Four. Except for George Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” all the tunes are by Lennon and McCartney, and they all work well…
KuKu: Ballads & Blasphemy
New York born, but raised in Nigeria by strict religious parents, Kuku uses his voice and guitar along with a team to deliver what he describes as “The Irreligious Gospel of Adebola Kuku.” Mixing Western African instruments as well as…