“Train up a child in the way he should grow, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6 On Wednesday evening at the Smothers Theatre, both solo artists mentioned that they began learning their instruments…
Month: January 2018
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Richie Cole: Latin Lover
Back in the 70s, Richie Cole was the creator of Alto Madness, a tribute to all things from the bop infested alto sax. After being out of the limelight for awhile, Cole has returned with a vengeance. He put out…
THE PUREST VOICE OF THE SWING ERA…Jo Stafford: The Centenary Hits Collection 1944-59
Unfortunately overlooked today, Jo Stafford had one of the most pure and technically perfect voices of the swing/postwar era. She started out as a Pied Piper with Tommy Dorsey’s Orchestra, teaming with some bum named Frank Sinatra before going out…
SWINGING IN THE 50s…The Basie-ites: Featuring Beverly Kenney
Taking a day off from touring with Count Basie, members of The Atomic Band such as Joe Newman-Thad Jones/tp, Al Grey/tb, Frank Wess/fl, Billy Mitchell-Frank Foster/ts, Freddie Green/g, Eddie Jones/b and Sonny Payne got together with pianists Barry Harris or…
Steve Heckman & Matt Clark: Some Other Time/Slow Café
Tenor saxist Steve Heckman creates some ebullient jazz duets with pianist Matt Clark over 3 recording dates going back to 2004. Heckman’s tenor is rich, warm and palpable, and Clark is a perfect partner in going from stride to bop…
Sergej Avanesov: Secret Language
Post bopping saxist Sergej Avanesov mixes his thick tenor sax with a flexible team of John Escreet/p-key, Boris Kozlov/b and Samvel Sarkisyan through 9 originals, one of them spotlighting his soprano stylings. Of the latter, the closing “ Yoonmi” is…
Earl MacDonald: Open Borders
Pianist/arranger Earl MacDonald uses his orchestra to deliver a political message that doesn’t have to be agreed with to musically appreciate. His 9 piece team which includes Wayne Escoffery/ts mixes originals with clever choices of standards. Kris Allen’s alto floats…
Lorenzo Feliciati: Elevator Man
Lorenzo Feliciati plays fretted bass, moog bass, electric guitars, upright bass, keyboards and the obligatory “effects” on a collection of jazz fusion originals with a series of rotating guests. Moments opf King Crimson influence pop up with Cuong Vu’s trumpet…
Francois Bourassa Quartet: Number 9
Pianist Ferancois Bourassa brings together a team of Andre Leroux/wwinds, Guy Boisvert/b and Greg Ritchie/dr for a collection of his own compositions on this post-modern album. The moods are predominantly sepia toned, with Bosvert’s bass clarinet brooding with the leader’s…
Roswell Rudd/Fay Victor/Lafayette Harris/Ken Filiano: Embrace
Extroverted and free wheeling tunes mix together as earthy sounding vocalist Fay Victor stretches like Turkish Taffy along with Roswell Rudd/tb, Lafayette Harris/p and Ken Filiano/b over a “name that tune” collection of standards. A piano placid “Something to Live…