Resonance Records seems to annually be in competition with itself for the Best Historical Album of the Year Award. Last year, they were 1, 2, 3 and 4 with their Getz, Young, Evans and Montgomery sets, and already this year…
Month: May 2017
MUSIC FOR AVID JAZZ FANS…Freddie Hubbard: Four Classic Albums, Hank Mobley: Four Classic Albums, Sam Most: Four Classic Albums, Sauter-Finegan Orchestrea: Four Classic Albums Plus, Andy Williams: Four Classic Albums
Uk-based Avid Records continues to dig deep and find gems from vocalists, main-streamers and vintage hard boppers. This month’s crop is a duster! One of the premier all time trumpet masters, Freddie Hubbard is well represented on this two disc…
Jazzmeia Horn: A Social Call
Concord Records is doing jazz a great service by producing albums by the winners of the Thelonious Monk Competitions. Marquis Hill and Ben Williams have been recent beneficiaries, and now here’s a debut recording by vocalist Jazzmeia Horn, and it’s…
Sean Jones: Live From Jazz At The Bistro
Trumpeter Sean Jones has carried the Freddie Hubbard-styled trumpet torch throughout his career, mostly in the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra but also with a handful of impressive albums under his own name. This one, with his band of Obed Calvaier-Mark…
Seiko Matsuda: Seiko Jazz
Classy and high society jazz is presented by vocalist Seiko Matsuda as she wisps and coos through richly produced standards. Her strength here are her takes on the bossa nova genre, as her soft and seductive voice fits in well…
Willie Nelson: God’s Problem Child
The past year or so has seen Willie Nelson handle material ranging from George Gershwin to Ray Price. This time around, Nelson takes on all new material and makes it sound vintage, with seven of the thirteen pieces collaborations with…
Camille Thurman: Inside the Moment
Camille Thurman comes off as a double threat as she sings with a dash of Ella Fitzgerald and plays tenor with a hint of Zoot Sims on this swinging session recorded at a show in the Rockwood Music Hall, New…
Simi Valley Cajun & Blues Music Festival 05.27.17
Although the Simi Valley Cajun & Blues Music Festival has been going on for almost 30 years, I’ve only been going the past handful of years. What had I been missing? Some incredible “soul” food that is finger licking good,…
Jazz Bakery’ “Moveable Feast” Presents: Billy Childs’ Rebirth Band @The Moss Theatre 05.26.17
While pianist/composer Billy Childs is best known for both his gentle and melodic chamber projects as well as producing vocal tributes to the likes of Laura Nyro, he showed that he is also able to flex his muscles when required.…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Steve Khan: Backlog
Guitarist Steve Khan puts together a clever concept on this most recent album with Ruben Rodriguez/b, Mark Walker/dr, Marc Quinnones/perc , Bobby Allende/perc and guests including Randy Brecker/tp and Bob Mintzer/ts. Most of the tunes are either arranged by Rob…