Directed and produced by Brent Fischer, the Clare Fischer Latin Jazz Big Band carries on the tradition of the founder’s cleverly textured arrangement. The band delivers some sweet reeds on the hip take of “Algo Bueno” while Roberta Gambarini turns…
Month: January 2017
Jason Vieaux & Julien Labro: Infusion
Music of the Americas is delivered by classical guitarist Jason Vieux and accordionist-bandoneonist Julien Labro on a collection of modern compositions. The team mixes folk moods and classical impulses on Leo Bouwer’s “Tres Danzas Concertantes” while Pat Metheny’s “Antonia” delivers…
Michael Tracy: Hora Certa
Saxist Michael Tracy brings Brazilian jazz up to date on the exciting and energetic album. He teams up with Eudes Carvalho/g, Flavio Silva/p, Hamilton Pinherio/b and Pedro Almeida while he switches between beefy tenor and sweet soprano on songs that…
TRUTH IN LABELING…Rale Micic, John Abercrombie, Peter Bernstein & Lage Lund: Inspired
Four of the best living guitarists get together for a fitting tribute to a deceased legend, Jim Hall. The sound, style and compositions of the famed cool-toned six stringer has Rale Micic, Lage Lund, Peter Bernstein and John Abercrombie mixing…
Jeff Oster: Live!
Jeff Oster brings his trumpet and flugelhorn to The Fenix in San Rafael, CA with a fusion team of Michael Manring/b, Celso Alberti/dr, Frank Martin/key and Todd Boston/g for a mix of funk, blues, and spacy moods. Oster’s horn is…
Andrew Van Tassel: It’s Where You Are
Andrew Van Tassel brings post bop sounds with his alto and soprano saxes with a core team of Julian Shore/p-key, Edward Perez/b and Colin Stranahan/dr as well as a handful of guests. On alto, he and the band bring in…
Felix Peikli & Joe Doubleday: It’s Showtime!
The classic Benny Goodman Quartet is brought back to life on this swinging set with clarinetist Felix Peikli, vibraphonist Joseph Doubleday and a simpatico team of Russell Hall/b-acc and Ralph Peterson Jr/dr. Peikli has a warm and fluid tone, and…
BIG SESSIONS: Buselli-Wallarab Jazz Orchestra: Basically Baker Vol 2, The Delegation: Evergreen (Canceled World)
If you want some bang for your musical buck, here are a pair of 2 cd sets. Not only that, but the bands are pretty hefty; one is a “traditional” big band, and the other has a wide variety of…
TEXTURES…Ken Schaphorst Big Band: How to Say Goodbye, Dino Massa Kansas City Quintet: Echoes of Europe
Sometimes, the allure of jazz is not in the solos, but in the harmonies of the arrangements. Here are two excellent examples of what can be accomplished with some forethought in both large and smaller ensembles. Besides leading a large…
DUETS IN TWO FORMS…Satoko Fujii & Joe Fonda: Duet, Mili Bermejo & Dan Greenspan: Arte del Duo
The most intimate form of communication in jazz is arguably the duet. There’s simply nowhere to hide. Here are two wildly divergent ways of it taking two to tango. Joe Fonda plays bass and flute, and Satoko Fujii plays the …