Corey Christiansen makes his guitar sounds range from folksy countrified to post bop fusion on this collection of mostly originals. A team of Jeremy Allen/b, Matt Jorgensen/dr, Zach Lapidus/key and Michael Spiro/perc go from assertive fusion grooves with rapid note…
Month: November 2017
Charles Billingsley: It’s Christmas Time Again
Rat pack-toned Charles Billingsley keeps it class on this album that covers a wide range of moods. He’s in front of a Count Basie-inspired orchestra for swinging pieces such as “The Man With The Bag” and a peppy “Silver Bells.”…
Tobin Mueller: Afterwords
Here’s an intriguing 2 cd set along with a bonus disc; Tobin Mueller delivers 2+ hours of rich and impressionistic piano, akin to Debussy and Satie, but with a swing and blues feel. On the two cd collection, he intersperses…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Chuck Owen and the Jazz Surge: Whispers On The Wind
One of the uncharted waters for jazz is country and traditional Americana. Usually, any attempt gets either too hokey or lost in the translation. Composer and orchestrator Chuck Owen does an impressive melding of Montana and 52nd Street on this…
FEEL THE HEAT! Chris Pierce: You’ve Got To Feel It!
Here’s an old school singer that takes you back to the days of STAX Records and ATCO. Chris Pierce reunites members of The Swampers, The Muscle Shoals Horns and The Shoals Sisters for a stomping and sweaty collection of soul…
ROCKERS WITH ROOTS…Ali Handal: That’s What She Said, Matthew O’Neill: Trophic Cascade
Modern and tradition meld together with a rocking groove. Ali Handal plays guitar and keyboards while singing with an earthy team of Bikki Johnson/b, Jimmy Paxson/dr, David Leach/perc, Juan Covarrubias/key and other guests on a set of mostly originals. Her…
50 YEARS AND STILL STRONG…The Moody Blues: Days of Future Passed-Deramic Sound System Edition
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the iconic Days of Future Passed, this 2 cd 1 dvd covers the waterfront of the album that is the high water mark for mixing rock and classical music. Originally intended as simply a sonic…
Grand Valley State University New Music Ensemble: RETURN
Directed by Bill Ryan, the Grand Valley State University New Music Ensemble consists of Hannah Donnelly/wwinds, Ryan Schmidt/cl, Darwin McMurray/sax, Makenzie Mattis/perc, Reese Rehkopf, p, Jenna Michael/v and Kirk McBrayer/cel. Together, the create fifteen pieces that are strong on gentle…
POWER TRIO: Negroni’s Trio: New Era
The dynamic team of Jose’ Negroni/p-key, Nomar Negroni/dr-perc and Josh Allen/b create a wildly big sound on this album that sparks with electricity. The material ranges from Swing Era to modern R&B, but this team makes each song their very…
RAVEL SWINGS…VEIN: VEIN Plays Ravel
The trio VEIN consists of Michael Arbenz/p, Thomas Lahns/b and Florian Arbenz/dr, and for this album they approach the book of modern classical composer Maurice Ravel. Rather than “swinging the classics,” the trio use the songs as formats for rich…