While guitarist and vocalist Carl Verheyen is best known for his work with Supertramp, he also pumps a bleeding blues heart, exampled by his latest album Essential Blues and demonstrated during his sizzling set Friday night with some of LA’s…
Month: October 2017
Lizz Wright@Smothers Theatre 10.12.17
Throughout her almost 20 years of performing, vocalist Lizz Wright has brought her sorghum-toned voice to modern R&B with nuances of her church upbringing. But on this performance which focused on material from her latest album Grace, she has stripped…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Gerald Beckett: Oblivion
Gerald Beckett hits the jackpot as he plays flute and alto flute on this rich collection of material and moods. Ranging from post bop to modal and even chamber, Beckett teams with a string section and a rotating jazz rhythm…
OTIS REDDING, SAM & DAVE, ETC…Soulsville U.S.A.: A Celebration of Stax
In celebration of the 60th anniversary of the birth of STAX Records, Concord has put together a tidy 3 disc set the covers the highlights of the celebrated label. What set STAX apart from other labels such as Motown was…
Mindi Abair and the Boneshakers: The Eastwest Sessions
Saxist and vocalist Mindi Abair gets down and gritty on this successfully swampy outing with Randy Jacobs/g-voc, Rodney Lee/key, Derek Frank/b/voc and Third Richardson/dr/voc. Sweet Pea Atkinson guests on a grooving R&B bluesy “Let Me Hear It From You,” and…
Brian Landrus Orchestra: Generations
Brian Landrus showcases his warm sounding baritone sax and bass clarinet in a rich orchestral settings with strings on this rich and luscious album. Much of the material sounds made for daydreaming or for a pastoral soundtrack, with Landrus’ wide…
Ethan Sherman: Building Blocks
Guitarist Ethan Sherman puts together a subtle and nuanced trio with Chris Rolontz/b and Christian Euman for nine originals. One of the pieces, “Jungle Room” is interpreted at two different paces, but are both quite mellow in delivery, with soft…
BLUESBREAKER…Eli Cook: High-Dollar Gospel
Folk blues and roots grow deeply together on this album by Eli Cook. He plays guitar, mandolin, lap steel guitar and electric bass along with Peter Spaar/b, Nathan Brown/dr and Zach Samel/perc. His voice is reminiscent of early Paul Rodgers…
SOUL MEN…, Nooky Jones: Nooky Jones, Robert Kraft Trio: North Bishop Ave.
No posing or supposing. No screaming or histrionics. Just let the melody do its job, set a groove and trust in your voice. Old School R&B on a blue plate special… Nooky Jones consists of Cameron Kinghorn/v, Andrew Foreman/b, Kevin…
Subhi: Shaitaan Dil (Naughty Heart)
Based in Chicago, vocalist Subhi mixes pop and jazz on this accessible and quirky album. The team of Joaquin Garcia/p, Rajiv Halim/sax, Gustavo Cortinas Fouilloux, Ivan Taylor/b, Aaron Shapiro/g and Constantine Alexander/tp are mixed and matched, ranging from a folksy…