Al Strong has a Blue Note hard boppers heart as he brings his trumpet, flugelhorn and steelpan in a variety of settings that mix modern with traditional. He mixes and matches with drummers Jeremy Clemons-Iajhi Hampden, keyboardists Charles Robinson-Joel Holloway,…
Month: December 2016
Elage Diouf: Melokaane
Vocalist Elage Diouf mixes his African heritage with North American tastes on this thoroughly attractive album. His voice is earnest, earthy and alluring, and you don’t need to understand French to get the gist. The instrumentation varies between traditional folk…
Shawn Maxwell: New Tomorrow
Shawn Maxwell brings his writing skills to team up with his band of Victor Garcia-Chad McCullough-Corey Wilkes/tp, Matt Nelson/key-p, Junius Paul/b and Phil Beale. He switches between alto sax and flute, the latter being used on the Latin “Whole Hearted…
Darrell Katz and OddSong: Jailhuose Doc With Holes In Her Socks
Here’s an album for art majors; The team Oddsong consists of Rebecca Shrimpton/s voice with Darrell Katz composing the material delivered by a conglomerate of saxes, strings, brass and things that go bump in the night. The music itself ranges…
Craig Hartley: Books on Tape Vol. II-Standard Edition
Pianist Craig Hartley brings forth a trio with Carlo De Rosa/b and Jeremy Clemons/dr to bring new ideas into some jazz standards, and then some. He shows his touch on the piano on his lonely and lyrical “Just Wait” with…
VOICES EXOTICA…Kayle’ Brecher: This is Life, Luisa Maita: Fiodamemoria
Here are a pair of ladies with some creative musings in their delivery Vocalist Kayle’ Brecher gets moody and artsy on this varied album of left of center interpretations of jazz pieces and beyond. Her voice is elastic and fluid,…
SONG BIRDS…Sylvia McNair: Subject to Change, Alyssa Allgood: Out of the Blue
Two ways to approach the jazz lexicon; uptown and downtown. Sylvia McNair brings a Broadway-flavored sound and delivery during this collection of standards that have her performing at the Aspen Music Festival back in 2013. She mixes her perky voice…
Steve Coleman & Five Elements@The Blue Whale 12.05.16
Alto saxist, composer and educator Steve Coleman made his residential return to the Blue Whale for a fortnight of evening music with his Five Elements band. His long term teammates of Jonathan Finlayson/tp, Anthony Tidd/b and Sean Rickman/dr may not…
Kenny Burrell: Unlimited 1
With the retirement of Vin Scully, guitarist Kenny Burrell is one of the last long time Los Angeles voices. Ok, maybe not as a singer, although he does have a bit of fun here with the hip “Jeannine” and sincere…
Danish Radio Big Band: Jazzin’ Around Christmas
Conducted by Dennis Mackrel, the Danish Radio Big Band delivers swinging charts along with some seasonal solos and vocals. Sinne Eeg is fun and buoyant on “ Jingle Bells” while Mads Mathias revs up the obscure “Chop Chop (The Xmas…