Warm sounds ooze forth n this quartet date lead by saxist Don Aliquo and pianist Beegie Adair. The team is rounded out with Roger Spencer/b and Chris Brown/d, and they all play a part on this cohesive collection of sophisticated…
Month: November 2015
Alba’s Edge: Run to Fly
Lead by pianist and keyboardist Neil Pearlman, Alba’s Edge includes Lilly Pearlman/fiddle, Doug Berns/b, and Jacob Cole/dr for a collection of originals that range from folksy swing to hard hitting fusion. Athe band goes high on the octane as fiddle…
Bucky Pizzarelli: Renaissance
No, the title is not to suggest that legendary guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli was strumming back when Da Vinci was doing work in Florence. It just seems that way as he’s able to perform in every setting and style. Here, he…
Cuban Jazz Train: Como Suena
Here’s some exciting Cuban sounds provided by producer/drummer Calixto Oviedo and his team of Yosmel/b, Joel Nunez/sax, Christian/cong and Nathaneal Molina-Alex Rivas-p along with a handful of guests. The percussion is lively here, and mixes well as piano and rhythm…
CANADIAN CAJUN?!? Vishten: Terre Rouge
They released an album a couple years ago that simply knocked me over. This album shows it was no fluke; Emmanuelle LeBlanc sings and plays a gazillian things like mandolins and whistles, Pascal Miousse sings, plays violin and doubles on…
MINIMALISM…Gregg Belisle-Chi: Tenebrai, Phil Haynes: Sanctuary, Clay Giberson: Minga Minga
Here are a few jazz albums that are as close to Spartan as you can get. Electric guitarist Gregg Belisle-Chi creates dreamy and ruminating landscapes with his strings. He can go dreamy as on”Victim” where he emphasizes long tones and…
NEW FROM ORIGIN…Tad Britton: Cicada, Juli Wood Quartet: Synkka Metsa
Not only is Seattle known for giving us Starbucks coffee, but it is the home of Origin Records, who gives dome fresh sounding modern jazz sounds from rising stars. Here are a couple newer releases that show promise. Drummer Tad…
SMALL LABELS, BIG SOUNDS…Konstantin Ionenko Quintet: Deep Immersion, Daniel Fortin: Brinks
One of the most intimidating things about being a jazz fan is the surfeit of recording labels out there. Which ones are reliable? Who’s a “fly by night”? Is any of this material worthwhile? How’s the sound quality? Here are…
Daby Toure’: Amonafi
West African vocalist Daby Toure’ delivers a rich and endearing album here, for the most part keeping the sounds simple and letting the mood speak for itself. His voice is rich and carmelized, and teamed with gentle guitars, woodwinds, percussion…
Francesca Blanchard: Deux Visions
Singer-songwriter Francesca Blanchard sounds like a throwback to the old days of folk singers that came from Laurel Canyon in the 70s. This album has her singnig in English and French, with acoustic and electric guitar, with a voice that…