Of all the jazz pianists around, Sal Mosca has got to be one of the most overlooked of the pioneers. He was born n 1927, so he’s got the heart of a bopper, and it’s palpable on this sumptuous feast…
Month: April 2016
Hiromi: Spark
Hiromi’s latest release has her back with her teammates of the past few years, Simon Phillips/dr and Paul Jackson/b. With Hiromi being a fan of fusion bands like King Crimson, it’s a natural that Simon (who’s been with David Gilmour…
Matt Parker Trio: Present Time
Matt Parker goes a bit Jekyll and Hyde here on this exciting session. He trios it up with Alan Hampton/b and Reggie Quinerly/dr along with vocalist Emily Braden on a handful on tracks. On tenor, he sounds like an old…
Bob Wijnen: NYC Unforeseen
Pianist Bob Wijnen puts together a strong, swinging and lyrical album as he mixes and matches with Peter Bernstein/g, Dezron Douglas/b and Billy Drummond/dr. In quartet form, the material keeps it basic and bopping, delivering Blue Note sounds a la…
Rossano Sportiello-Nicki Parrott-Eddie Metz: Strictly Confidential
The symbiotically swinging trio of Nicki Parrott/b-voc, Rossano Sportiello/p and Eddie Metz Jr/dr teams up for a winning release her on a collection of swingers and boppers. Sportiello has a clean and easy touch to the piano and does wonders…
David Haney: Stix and Stones
Pianist David Haney teams up with a plethora of drummers and percussionists in a wonderfully swinging collection of duets. The teammates include Bernard Purdie, Jimmy Bennington, Giovanni Barcella, Han Bennink and Marvin “Bugalu” Smith, and they are caught together in…
Aruan Ortiz Trio: Hidden Voices
Pianist Aruan Ortiz leads a trio with Eric Revis/b and Gerald Cleaver/dr through a mix of intricate originals and covers. Ortiz displays strong fingers that must have spent multiple hours on exercise books as he builds layers of sounds along…
DIGNITY, ALWAYS DIGNITY…Bill Charlap Trio: Notes From New York
As I always say, if it were so easy, why doesn’t everyone do it? This trio session by Bill Charlap with Peter Washington/b and Kenny Washington/dr sounds like a soundtrack from another era. The tunes are clever, melodic and uncluttered;…
THE AVANT GARDE IN SCANDINAVIA…Cadentia Nova Danica: August 1966, Finn Von Eyben Workshop & Radiojazzgruppen: 1966-1967
Back when there was excitement and adventure in music, free and avant garde jazz was a way of showing that the times were a-changing in the late 60s, and it wasn’t only happening in the US. These two cds show…
VOICES TO CONSIDER…Sofia Ribeiro: Mar Sonoro, Erica Papillion-Posey: The Standard Reimagined
There’s life beyond the standard approach to the Standard songbook, be it from North or South America. Here are two worthwhile vocal albums that make singing sound fresh again. Sofia Ribeiro puts together an album that gives a nod to…