Patrick Bradley plays piano and various keyboards along with funky jazzers Jeff Lorber/b-key, Jimmy Haslip/b, Paul Jackson/p, Gary Novak/dr, David Mann/horns and Adam Hawley-Michael Thompson/g for a collection of material that both swings and rocks. Some of the material, such…
Month: November 2017
Vandivier: Under One Roof
Guitarist Rick Vandivier goes both electric and acoustic with Dan Robbins/b and Lorca Hart/dr-perc on this mix of originals and covers. On acoustic, he is intimate and flows gently on “New Man” while doing some nice interplay with Robbins on…
Garth Alper: Stratus
Pianist Garth Alper leads a rich and upbeat post bop band of Michael Jenner/sax, Bob Nash/b, Chris Munson/dr and Jeff George/g through a mix of originals and a couple of standards. His touch is warm and bouncy as on the…
FUNKY BEATS…Esso! Afrojem Funkbeat: Juntos, The Ellameno Beat: Surface
Catchy grooves from rich cultures… Esso Afrojam Funkbeat is a large conglomeration with a rich guest list, mixing upbeat salsa on pieces like “Baila” and “Mariposa Negra” to hip hop tunes such as “Mi Gente” and the electric grooved “Cumbia…
Akshara: In Time
The word “Akshara” translates into “imperishable” or “indestructible.” That’s fitting as the team of Bala Skandan, Nitin Mitta, Arun Ramamurthy, Max ZT, Dave Eggar and Kabilan Jeganathan supply traditional and solid Indian instrumentation, while Thejeswini Raj, Beenakumari Viju and Shrinath…
Cheryl Bentyne: Re-arrangements of Shadows
Better known for her work with Manhattan Transfer, Cheryl Bentyne has created an impressive catalogue on her own, ranging from swing to smoky standards. This time around, she delves into the songbook of Stephen Sondheim with a team of LA’s…
IVO INNOVATIONS…Ivo Perelman: Octagon, Live In Brussels, Scalene, Philosopher’s Stone, Baltimore, Heptagon
Tenor saxist Ivo Perelman has to be one of today’s most prolific artists. Here is his latest batch of 6, count ‘em, 6 albums, all in various formations. Heptagon finds Perelman in a familiar quartet setting with Matthew Shipp/p, William…
THE BEST FROM BUDAPEST…Trio Kontraszt: From Dyonisian Sound Sparks to the Silence of Passing, Balint Gyemant: True Listener, Andras Des Trio: The Worst Singer in the World, Szakcsi/Monniot/Horvath/Balazs: Density of Standards, Pulcinella: ¾ D’Once
Are you Hungary for some new sounds? Budapest Music Center Records delivers sounds of jazz from Easter Europe. Give them a listen, they’re fresh and exciting! Trio Kontraszt consists of Stevan Kovacs Tickmayer/p-key, Istavan Grencso/ts-ss-bcl-fl and Szilveszter Miklos/dr for eleven…
Danny Grissett: Remembrance
Best known for his work with Tom Harrell and Jeremy Pelt, pianist Danny Grissett is developing his own strong catalogue as a leader, this time with a new team of Dayna Stephens/ts-ss, Vicente Archer/b and Bill Stewart/dr on a mix…
SOUTH AMERICA, THEN AND NOW…Andina: The Sound of the Peruvian Andes, Corina Bartra: Takunde
If you’re only exposure to Peruvian music is pan flutes and charangos, hang on tight! Andina is a collection of various bands ranging from folk, psychedelic big bands and even electronic rock collected from 1968-1978. Earthy and primitive funk from…