Vocalist and trumpeter Bob Merrill gives an overdue tribute to Joe Bushkin, who was most known for his work as Tommy Dorsey’s pianist in the Swing Era’s heyday, as well as composing the classic “Oh! Look at Me Now.” That…
Month: July 2017
Rebecca Hennessy’s Fog Brass Band: Two Calls
A lot of polished brass shines brightly on this album by Rebecca Hennessy, who plays trumpet, flugelhorn, peck horn and baritone horn along with Tom Richards/tb, Jay Burr/tb, Tania Gill/p, Don Scott/g and Nico Dan/dr. The team can get New…
THIS IS AN ALTO SAX 101…Dave Brubeck Quartet: Zurich 1964
The label Swiss Radio Days continues its essential series with a captivating performance in Zurich of Dave Brubeck’s classic quartet of Paul Desmond/as, Eugene Wright/b and Joe Morello/dr in performance. The team was at its zenith, and ran like a…
Tom Kohl: Dances with the Sun
Pianist Tom Kohl forms a sleek trio with Steve LaSpina-Stephen Roane/b and Jon Doty/dr on this mix of originals with a couple standards. Kohl has a confident and rich touch, dark yet driving with a dash of Monk’s harmonics on…
POPULAR JAZZ?!? Johnny Hamlin: The Johnny Hamlin Quintet, Billy Ver Planck: And His Orchestra 1957-1958
By the mid 50s, the swing era was long gone, bebop was losing its luster, and rock and roll was slowly taking over as America’s most popular music. What was the reaction from the jazz world? Here are two recent…
Ahmad Jamal: Marseille
At 87, legendary pianist Ahmad Jamal still sounds more fresh and personal than artists one third his age. His prototypical styled, highly influential but rarely imitated, is in rich display here with his team of Manolo Badrena/perc, James Cammack/b and…
Andy Adamson Quintet: First Light
Keyboardist Andy Adamson brings his post bop originals together on this well paced and delivered album with a strong team of Dan Bennett/sax, Brennan Andes/b, Jonathan Taylor/dr and Ross Huff/tp. The band has a virile and muscular sound, while the…
Ron Francis Blake: Assimilation
Ron Francis Blake has a tone and style that imbibes the waters of Kenny Dorham and Blue Mitchell, letting the glowing sounds of his trumpet and flugelhorn glisten like an autumn sunrise on this collection of originals and a couple…
Kelly’s Lot: Bittersweet
Lead by the husband and wife team of vocalist Kelly Zirbes and guitarist Perry Robertson, Kelly’s Lot feels like a West Coast answer to the Tedeschi Trucks Band; bluesy, earthy and filled with passionate grit. This latest album, with the…
Carolyn Fitzhugh: Simply Amazing
Vocalist Carolyn Fitzhugh has a soul/gospel sound to her voice, and uses her instincts well on this album of originals and standards with Stu Mindeman/p, Tim Ipsen/b Alfonzo Jones/dr, Larry Brown Jr/g and Brent Griffin Jr/as. She throws herself into…