Back in 1999, Wynton Marsalis threw down the gauntlet by releasing something like 10 or 11 albums or boxed sets of studio and concert recordings. This year, Ivo Perelman is at least close to that, and has now surpassed that…
Month: December 2016
Jonny Lang w/ Reeve Carney@Canyon Club 12.02.16
The blues come in various shades, and two rich oil canvases were covered at The Canyon Club Friday night. Reeve Carney opened things up as a one man band of indigo. His 45 minute set mixed his earnest and wide…
Ron Carter Trio@Catalina’s 11.30.16
Ron Carter’s trio with guitarist Russell Malone has turned into one of the most impressive small groups since its beginnings 20 years ago. Pianist Donald Vega’s replacement of the late Mulgrew Miller didn’t even drop a stitch, as the team…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****TODAY’S MOST IMPORTANT VOCALIST…Gregory Porter: Live In Berlin
Just six years ago, the then 36 year old Gregory Porter was transitioning his career as a chef to a vocalist with his debut album Water. Now, this old soul of a vocalist has revived the art of storytelling through…
LOWELL PICKETT: COOKING AT THE DAKOTA
A TALE OF TWO CITIES… HERE IN LA, JAZZ CLUBS HAVE BEEN CLOSING LIKE THERE’S A QUARANTINE GOING ON. AT ONE TIME, THE ANGELENOS BOASTED OF AT LEAST A DOZEN SPOTS WHERE YOU COULD HEAR EXCELLENT SOUNDS AT A REASONABLE…
Little Johnny Rivero: Music In Me
Here’s an irresistibly sizzling salsa album lead by Little Johnny Rivero, who plays congas, bongos and timbales just for starters. Along with Brian Lynch/tp, Louis Fouche’/As, Zaccai Curtis/key, Luques Curtis/b, Ludwig Afonso/dr and various guests, you get a full plate…
Tom McCormick: South Beat
Tom McCormick plays a rich and thick old school sounding tenor sax on this enjoyable hard bopping session. He brings together Pete Wallace/p, Nicky Orta-Eric England/g, Carlomango Araya-David Chiverton/dr, Doug Michels/tp-fh, John Kricker/tb, Humberto Ibarra/gu, Edwin Bonilla/perc and some guests…
NOWHERE TO HIDE…Derek Brown: Beatbox Sax
You usually associate solo recordings with instruments like guitar or piano, but tenor saxist Derek Brown throws down the gauntlet on this album that mixes jazz, funk, classical and even doo wop in a fascinating display. I’m not sure if…
Jon Lundbom & Big Five Chord: Make The Changes
This 4 song ep is the fourth such release by guitarist Jon Lundbom and his mates of Moppa Elliott/b, Dan Monaghan/dr, Jon Irabagon/as and Balto Exclamationpoint/ts. The band has a loose and swinging Mingus feel, nimble, yet with moments of…
AN EXCITING NEW SOUND….Jake Shimabukuro: Nashville Sessions
If you wonder what else can be done with strings and picking, get a load of the sounds from Jake Simabukuro, who plays various types of the ukulele. This is not Polynesia night at a Luau, or The Tiki Room…