Tensile toned guitarist Rotem Sivan mixes trio and solo performances on this collection of originals with a team of Haggai Cohen Milo/b and Colin Stranahan/dr. He has a subtle quietude to his delivery, weaving around Stranahan’s brushes on the suave…
Month: August 2017
Steps Ahead: Steppin’ Out
The venerable band Steps Ahead, consisting at this stage of Mike Mainieri/vibe, Bill Evans/ts-ss, Chuck Loeb/g, Tom Kennedy/b and Steve Smith/dr, teams up with the WDR Big Band Cologne conducted by Michael Abene for a hard hitting and swinging session…
HUES OF BLUES…Mississippi John Hurt: Live at Oberlin College 4-15-65, The Nighthawks: All You Gotta Do, Ray Wylie Hubbard: Tell the Devil…
The blues come in many shades, and here are three rich palates that rivals’ Picasso’s Blue Period… You’re not going to get more basic than this hour+ long concert by the legendary Mississippi John Hurt. Sitting, singing and picking along…
THIS IS BEBOP VOCALS 101…Joe Carroll: The Epic & Prestige Sessions and more
Quick…name 5 bebop singers. See, that’s the problem. There were and are a ton of big band singers from the Swing Era, but after Jon Hendricks and Mark Murphy the well looks pretty dry for the bebop era vocalists. Joe…
Cyrus Chestnut: There’s A Sweet, Sweet Spirit
Few artists this side of JS Bach have made a living playing music in both the church and the secular world. Pianist Cyrus Chestnut leads the worship at his church, and also preaches from the ivories in jazz clubs during…
ROSSINI’S OVERTURES…Bianca Rossini: Vento do Norte
If you like your Brazilian sounds romantic and sensuous, then Bianca Rossini is set to cater any meal. These ten songs have the velvet toned chanteuse creating lovely sounds with a mix of her own lyrics with traditional samba themes.…
A FORGOTTEN TUNESMITH…Arthur Alexander: Arthur Alexander
Back in the 60s and 70s, Arthur Alexander was known as one of the more important composers, having penned pieces such as “Anna (Go to Him)”, which was covered by the Beatles, as well as “You Better Move On.” Artists…
Nicole Johanntgen: HENRY
Alto saxist Nicole Johanntgen brings together a light-on-its-feet team of Jon Ramm/tb, Steven Glenn/sous, and Paul Thibodeaux/dr for some Swiss interpretations of vintage New Orleans sounds. The originals are fresh and frisky, with Glenn’s sousaphone holding down the bottom while…
Larry Newcomb Quartet w/ Bucky Pizzarelli: Living Tribute
Guitarist Larry Newcomb teams up with guitar legend Bucky Pizzarelli for a swinging tribute album to various inspirations both musical and personal. Material ranging from the Depression to current pieces dot the eleven selections, with Pizzarelli contributing gorgeous strums of…
Art Fristoe Trio: Double Down
Pianist Fristoe puts together an impressive double disc of trio sessions with Tim Ruiz/b and either Daleton Lee or Richard Cholakian/dr. He mixes his own impressive originals with some intriguing covers, ranging from a nifty and deft “Lucy In The…