In this day of ubiquitous “last” recordings of artists, it will probably take a year or two to determine if this Aug 2014 jazz club recording of Phil Woods with fellow alto saxist Greg Abate along with the Tim Ray…
Month: February 2016
Bill O’Connell & The Latin Jazz All Stars: Heart Beat
Since the beginning of jazz, the “latin tinge” has always been a selling feature to America’s classical music. Pianist Bill O’Connell brings together a hip team of Conrad Herwig/tb, Steve Slagle/woodwinds, Luques Curtis/b, and Richie Barshay/dr along with a carload…
Robby Ameen: Days in the Night
Drummer Robby Ameen delivers a kinetic album here along with a strong team of Troy Roberts-Bob Franceschinii/ts, Conrad Herwig/tb, Manuel Valera/p and Lincoln Boines-Yunior Terry/b. The sparks fly in a variety of settings ranging from funk to Afro-Cuban and post…
AMEN! The Jones Family Singers@Smothers Theatre 02.05.16
Well, the Smothers Theatre may not have been completely filled with people on Friday night, but it sure was filled with the Holy Spirit, as the Jones Family Gospel Singers came into town and created a mighty army that would…
LEO’S LATEST…Trio Kimmig-Studer-Zimmerlin & John Butcher: Raw, The Octopus: Subz(o)ne, Elisabeth Coudoux: Some Poems-Cello Solo, Frank Gratkowski-Sebi Tramontana: Live at Spanski Borci, Simon Nabotov: Monk ‘n’ More
UK-based Leo Records states that it is committed to deliver “music for the inquiring mind and the passionate heart.” Here are five new releases that stick with the Statement of Purpose The quartet of John Butcher/ts-ss, Harald Kimmig/v, Daniel Studer/b…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Lenny Sendersky-Tony Romano Quartet: Intersection
There aren’t many jazz albums that feature the classical guitar, so for that feature alone this album with Tony Romano should get your attention. But, the fact that he teams with Lenny Sendursky/as-ss and the supporting cast of Steve LaLpina/b…
Jacob Roved Quintet: Remembering Billy Strayhorn
With all of the headlines about Sinatra and Holiday’s 100th birthday, no one seems to remember that Billy Strayhorn was also born in 1915. Leave it to a drummer, Jacob Roved, to do something about it, as he leads John…
Lori Bell Quartet: Brooklyn Dreaming
Lori Bell brings uses flute and composing skills to great reward here with an all star cast of Tamir Hendelman/p, Katie Thiroux/b and Matt Witek/dr. Her own material has some impressive moments, with Thiroux’s bass creating a funk pulse on…
Peter Erskine: Dr. Um and the Lost Pages
He’s played drums for some of the best, ranging from Stan Kenton to Joni Mitchell to Steely Dan, Diana Krall and Pat Metheny. But Erskine reveals where his heart is along with John Beasley/key, Janek Gwizdala/b, Bob Sheppard/ts, Jeff Parker-Larry…
ELLING’S PIANIST COMES FORTH…Laurence Hobgood Trio: Honor Thy Fathers
Best known for his collaborations with famed vocalist Kurt Elling, pianist/arranger Laurence Hobgood has been quietly creating an impressive catalogue all his own. This latest trio effort with John Patitucci/b and Kendrick Scott/dr is an elegant collection of originals and…