Drummer Tom Cohen mixes mini drum solo workshops between full readings of jazz standards on this quartet recording with Benito Gonzalez/p, Tim Ries/ts-ss and Kris Funn-Mike Boone/b. The concise intermezzos’ have him get down on “Funky Tony,”snap on the snares…
Month: December 2016
SOLOS! Yuki Numata Resnick: For Ko, Peter Saltzman: Blues, Preludes & Feuds (Parts 1-4)
The art of the solo album has changed over the years. Here are a couple interesting excursions. Violinist Yuki Numata Resnick mixes freedom and form here, combining the worlds of classical and modern. He displays a rich tone and sense…
Alemay Fernandez: Hard to Imagine
You can tell that earth toned vocalist Alemay Fernandez has grown up in the church. On this rewarding R&B infused album, she brings moods and sounds that sound like it’s Sunday all week. She works hard to win you over,…
Lawrence Axelrod: The Heart Revival
Lawrence Axelrod plays piano, composes and conducts the music on this wide ranging collection of modern classical music. There are nine solo piano pieces performed by Axelrod, all with a direct and 21st Century tone. Marcus Ostermiller performs a 9…
Lorraine Klaasen: Nouvelle Journee
South African vocalist Lorraine Klaasen delivers a celebrative album that mixes rhythms and melodies from all parts of the world on this upbeat album. Her voice is strong, optimistic and elastic; teamed with Mongezi Ntaka/g, Noel Mpiaza/dr, Assane Seck/g, Sebastian…
GONE TOO SOON…Tim Buckley: Wings-The Complete Singles 1966-1974
Like his son Jeff, Tim Buckley was taken from us too soon, dying of a heroin overdose at 28 in 1975. His legacy as a singer-songwriter is captured on this single disc that collects all of the A and B…
Robert Cray@Smothers Theatre 12.08.16
Robert Cray made sure that Malibu had a blue Christmas with his soulful band Thursday night at Pepperdine’s Smothers Theatre. Together with his indigo’d team of Richard Cousins/b, Les Falconer/dr and Dover Weinberg/key, Cray used his 4 guitars and richly…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK***NHOP & Mulgrew Miller: The Duo-Live!
Neither the bassist Niels-Henning Orsted Pederson nor the pianist Mulgrew Miller are with us on earth anymore. This collection of concert recordings from July 15, 2000 shows us what we are missing. Taken from the North Sea Jazz Festival, the…
DIG IN…Red Callender: The Complete RCA Sessions 1951-1952
This is the kind of material that makes Spain-based Fresh Sound Records the standard bearer for historic recordings. Red Callender made his name in the jazz circles as bassist for the likes of Lester Young, Nat Cole, Erroll Garner, Benny…
Rob Reddy: Citizen Quintet
Soprano saxist Rob Ready brings together John Carlson/tp, Brandon Ross/g, Dom Richards/ b and Pheeroan AkLaff/dr for a free spirited collection of originals. Ready has a clear and liquid sound on his horn, opening up gently on “Hear Me?” before…