Guitarist Larry Corban teams up with a blues-grooved team of Harvie S/b, James Weidman/p-key, Steve Williams/dr and guest Steve Slagle/as-ss for some picking and grinning. The team gets a bit funky and Headhunter-y with hip keyboards and thick bass work…
Month: January 2017
JUMPIN’ THE BLUES..Roy Milton: The Roy Milton Collection 1945-61
It could be argued that drummer and vocalist Roy Milton was the personification of the “Jump Blues,” which was immensely popular in the 40s and 50s. He was a charter member of the famed Specialty label, and had a number…
Martin Bejerano: Trio Miami
Pianist Martin Bejerano forms a trio with Josh Allen/b and Michael Pioiet/der for a mix of originals and covers. Bejerano’s touch is classical, serious and confident, as he reflects on the solo “Entrance to Eden” and teams up with Pioiet’s…
Bill Laurance: Live At Union Chapel
Away from the litter of Snarky Puppy, keyboardist Bill Laurance more than holds his own delivering his own material with a rich mix of acoustic swing and electronic grooves. He’s got a joyful touch on the piano as Puppy drummer…
EVERYTHING, RIGHT WHERE YOU NEED IT…Lisa Hilton-Solo Piano: Day & Night
Malibu-based pianist-composer Lisa Hilton has made a catalogue of impressive albums surrounding herself with top notch artists like Larry Grenadier, JD Allen, Antonio Sanchez, Sean Jones and Rudy Royston to interpret her material. More akin to her performances, she delves…
OBSCURE GEMS FROM AVID…Ralph Burns: Four Classic Albums Plus, Lightnin’ Hopkins: Four Classic Albums, Modern Jazz Quartet: Four Classic Albums, Toots Thieleman: Four Classic Albums, George Wallington: Four Classic Albums
UK-based Avid Records keeps current sounds in perspective with 5 pairs of releases that show how fresh and exciting music was a generation ago. Ralph Burns was best known as a first rate arranger and composer for Woody Herman, but…
A REAL OBSCURE GEM…Hank De Mano: Quartet in Concert
I have absolutely no idea how Fresh Sound Records even HEARD of this guy, let alone found material by him. Back in the 50s, Hank De Mano started his career in Los Angeles and was some part of the West…
Dizzy Gillespie & Friends: Concert of the Century
Some of bebop’s best got together on November 24, 1980 in Montreal for a concert that gave tribute to Charlie Parker. Dizzy Gillespie, still sounding strong, brings together icons Ray Brown/b, Milt Jackson/vib, Hank Jones/p, Philly Joe Jones/dr and James…
LEGENDARY BASSIST…Oscar Pettiford & Friends: Blues In My Mind
Oscar Pettiford was one of the handful of bassists that unbridled the bass from the strict feel of swing to the more fervent flexibility of bebop. He made his name with the likes of Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, Coleman Hawkins,…
Matt Savage: Piano Voyages No. 12
Pianist Matt Savage does solo readings of his own material as well as some clever versions of standards on this intimate and classy album. He goes smooth and impressionistic on the Beatles’ classic “Got to Get You Into My Life”…