Melvin Sparks has had a career as one of the most important guitarists in the R&B scene, backing the likes of Marvin Gaye, Jackie Wilson and Marvin Gaye before going down the jazz line of life. This album has him…
Month: May 2017
SE-Quartet: Going North
Comprised of David Ehrlin/ss-ts-bcl, Rasmus H Thomsen/p, Antti Ojala/dr and Martin Sundstrom/b, the SE-Quartet delivers spacious and impressionistic sounds akin to acoustic water colors. Ehrlin’s tone on tenor is palpably thick and warm, floating on pastoral pieces such as the…
SLAM INTO SPRING…Alex Maguire & Nikolas Skordas Duo: Ships and Shepherds, Szilard Mezei & Jon Hemmersam Duo: Floating Orange, Pippo Lionni-Sergio Corbini & Stefano Franceschini: Actionreaction 1, Dimitar Lioleve Quartet: Eastern Shadows
Four new and exciting releases from UK-based Slam Productions, a label that keeps music fresh and free. Nikolas Skordas plays soprano and tenor sax along with various pipes, flutes, bells and whistles as he teams up with pianist Alex Maguire…
Raging Fire: These Teeth Are Sharp
Originally formed in 1983, Raging fire reunites here with a slightly different cast of Joe Blanton/g, Jeff Cease/g, Mark Medley/dr, Giles Reaves/key, John Reed-Dr. Les Shields-Rusty Watkins/b and vocalist Melora Zaner. The material is fairly hard edged, coming across as…
Hiroe Sekine: One World One Sun
Pianist Hiroe Sekine does a successful job in taking various sounds from all over the world and bringing them into the jazz family. The core team of Peter Erskine/dr and Michael Valerio/b team up with a Pier One Imports collection…
Aaron Parks: Find The Way
Pianist Aaron Parks’ trio with Ben Street/b and Billy Hart/dr create a deep and rich mosaic of intricate sounds on this collection of originals. Parks has a rich and classical feel to his delivery, and is able to create rich…
The Jazz Bakery’s “Moveable Feast” Presents: Peter Erskine’s “Dr. Um” Band @ The Moss Theatre 05.12.17
Although he’s been part of some of the most important bands ranging from Maynard Ferguson to Steps Ahead and Weather Report, drummer Peter Erskine demonstrated Friday night at the Moss Theatre that he has no intention of resting on his…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Stephane Wrembel: The Django Experiment I & II
Gypsy-inspired guitarist Stephane Wrembel gives tribute to the iconic Django Reinhardt through sound and compositions, but he doesn’t stay glued to the mid 20th Century on this pair of exciting discs. Both albums consist of the leader with Thor Jensen/g,…
Marilyn Scott: Standard Blue
Vocalist Marilyn Scott has had a decades long career mixing soul, jazz and pop. This indigo-hued album with Gary Novak/dr, Michael Landau/g, Russell Ferrante/key, Jimmy Haslip/b, Bob Mintzer/bcl and Ambrose Akinmusire/tp is definitely from her blue period. Scott has a…
Tom Kennedy: Points of View
One of the most respected and versatile bassists around, Tom Kennedy goes to his iphone to call his bosses and teammates from various sessions and gigs to deliver a satisfying and rich session. He brings together fellow sidemen and employers…