With some artists, you can just tell by listening that they like playing their instrument. That’s the impression you get with tenor saxist Christian Winther as he leads a team of Allyn Johnson/p, Reuben Rogers/b, Billy Williams Jr/dr and Mike…
Month: April 2016
CELESTIAL SEASONINGS…The Pacific Harp Project: The Pacific Harp Project, Brandee Younger: Wax and Wane
Jazz and the harp have been a tenuous couple since the beginning. Dorothy Ashby bopped it, Alice Coltrane put it into modal form, and Carol Robbins does some nice bluesy stuff. That’s about it, but here are a couple albums…
Marc Copland: Zenith
Pianist Marc Copland has been teaming with guitarist John Abercrombie lately, finally breaking away to make some of his own music. Here, he brings together Ralph Alessi/tp, Drew Gress/b and Joey Baron/dr for an elastic post-bop collection. The co-op of…
Nancy Erickson: While Strolling Through the Park
Vocalist Nancy Erickson showcases a clear and mature alto sound, as well as a gift with the pen as she mixes standards with originals on this release. The working team of Darin Clendenin/p, Clipper Anderson/b and Ken French/dr sublimely swings…
The Great American Music Ensemble: It’s All In The Game
Here’s a fun album that takes you through the history of jazz, as Doug Richards leads a big band through some clever arrangements of jazz standards. He delivers things like a kaleidoscopic read of “In the Mood” with lots of…
Van Wilks: 21st Century Blues
Van Wilks plays guitar and sings rocking blues on this album with a rotating rhythm section and assortment of guest vocalists. His voice and delivery has hints of Eddie Money and Rick Springfield with an extra dash of earthiness on…
Buyepongo: Todo Mundo
This album is going to throw you for a loop. Ok, so the core members of Jorge Vallejo/g-acc-reeds-voc, Angel Hernandez/wwinds, Edgar Modesto/perc-voc, Kris Castro/key and Larry Harvey/perc claim to deliver “Pan Latin” music. But if it weren’t for my working…
Kenny Barron Trio@Lobero Theatre 04.18.16
Kenny Barron’s trio of Kiyoshi Kitagawa/b and Johnathan Blake/dr has been together for ten years, but the legendary pianist took until now to finally record everyone together. This Monday night at The Lobero, Barron’s lyrical touch lead the team through…
THIS IS SWING 101… Count Basie & His Orchestra: Kurhous Concert 1954
Once upon a time, jazz was actually defined by that pulse called “swing.” We even had the “Swing Era” in the 30s and 40s, even though jazz swung before then with Louis Armstrong and Sidney Bechet. While there have been…
THE BEST EVER? Sonny Rollins: Road Shows Volume 4-Holding the Stage
Here’s the good news; one of the greatest tenor sax players of all time is still alive. The bad news is that Sonny Rollins is probably never going to play in concert again near your home, so this series of…