Here are a couple vocalists that mix jazz feel with more popular and popular moods. I tend to get worried when I see covers of female vocalists in cheese-cake type poses. Fortunately, I’ve heard Anna Danes’ last album a couple…
Month: December 2016
AN INTRIGUING SIDE BAR…Bill Evans: Symbiosis
Bill Evans’ 1974 Symbiosis is an interesting side bar in his extensive catalogue. Reissued and re-mastered by MPS Music, it is one of the very rare times where he eschewed his traditional trio format (at this time with Eddie Gomez/b…
Gustavo Assis-Brasil: Chromatic Dialogues
Guitarist Gustavo Assis-Brasil teams up with Tony Grey/b, Vardan Ovsepian/p-synth, Jose Pienasola/b and Mauricio Zottarelli/dr for a collection of intimate conversations. The leader shows his rock chops on the prog rock “Gee” which gives hints of the Genesis band, while…
Wadada Leo Smith: America’s National Parks
Trumpeter/composer Wadada Leo Smith has made some creative albums dedicated to various subjects ranging from the Nile River, to the Great Lakes to even our great country itself. This time around, he directs a quintet with Anthony Davis/p, Ashley Walters/cel,…
Paul Kelly & Charlie Owen: Death’s Dateless Night
All of the sides of Americana are portrayed here on this intimate album with vocalist/guitarist Paul Kelly and pianist/guitarist Charlie Owen. Kelly is able to take you through the Depression, to the streets and even the back porch on this…
The Dave Liebman Group: Expansions Live
One of the last living pioneers of the post bop movement, Dave Liebman continues to deliver strong sounds and directions. This double cd set has his current band of Matt Vashlishan/as-cl-fl, Bobby Avey/p-key, Tony Marino/b and Alex Ritz/dr in settings…
The Wee Trio: Wee + 3
The cohesive team of James Westfall/vib-mar, Dan Loomis/b and Jared Schonig/dr display their skills at working as a symbiotic team as well as working impressively with guests on their latest release. With guitarist Nir Felder, they create some gentle and…
MEMORIES FOR HIPPIES…Marvin Gardens: 1968
One of the forgotten bands from the “Psychedelic” era of rock remains the San Francisco band Marvin Gardens. Other bands such as Jefferson Airplane, Quicksilver Messenger Service and the Grateful Dead hit it big, but the team of Carol Duke/g-v,…
Carsten Dahl Experience: Caleidoscopia
Pianist Carsten Dahl states that he finds his most recent group of Jesper Zeuthen/as, Nils Davidsen/b and Stefan Pasborg/dr “the most challenging and innovative musical constellation I ever recorded and played with in my musical life.” The inspiration is palpable…
Various Swinging Artists: Jazz Loves Disney
Besides being known as “The Happiest Place on Earth,” Disney is now trying to be “The Hippest Place on Earth” with a number of their best known songs being delivered by today’s artists. The width and breath of the artists…