A mix of jazz and ambient moods work well on these two recent releases from the always creative Rare Noise Records Denver-based trumpeter forms a trio with Norwegians Jacob Young/g and Stale Liavik Solberg/dr-perc on this collection of songs that…
Month: April 2018
Roger Kellaway Trio: New Jazz Standards Volume 3
As the old saying goes, if it was as easy to play as it sounds, why can’t anyone else do it. Veteran pianist Roger Kellaway gives a textbook on easy swing with compatriots Jay Leonhart/b and Peter Erskine/dr. Kellaway explores…
WE’LL TAKE MANHATTAN…Cy Coleman: A Jazzman’s Broadway
Cy Coleman is probably best known for his Broadway composing skills, with songs such as “Witchcraft” and “The Best is Yet to Come” part of the jazz canon. He was also a capable jazz pianist, and this nifty little disc…
Terence Blanchard featuring the E Collective: Live
Throughout his career, Terence Blanchard has never shied away from using his music to address social issues, such as Hurricane Katrina. With this t album he brings his E Collective team of David “DJ” Ginyard/b, Charles Altura/g, Fabian Almazan/p-synth and…
Justin Hinds: Justin Hinds and the Dominoes: Travel with Love, Justin Hinds: Know Jah Better
One of the more successful reggae artists, Justin Hinds has had two of his most important albums recently released, and the time between the two albums shows the progression of the genre. 1984’s Travel With Love has Hinds with the…
WHEN DOO WOP RULED THE WORLD…The Cleftones: The Complete Releases 1955-62
One of the apotheoses of 20th Century music was during the 1950s-60s when the vocal style of doo wop hit the airwaves. Street corner symphonies produced by urban artists, usually black or Italian, created crooning melodies and gorgeous harmonies that…
Roxy Coss: The Future is Female
Saxist Roxy Coss delivers an album that focuses on women’s issues via the titles and musical attitudes. While there are no lyrics to the pieces, the titles speak volumes, as she states a desire for “women around the globe to…
Ryan Meagher: Lost Days
Ryan Meagher conjures up various post bop moods as he plays guitar, Irish bouzouki and glockenspiel with a flexible team of Bill McHenry/ts, George Colligan/p-key, Chris Higgins/b and Mark Ferber/dr. His guitar tone is warm and wiry, making lonely sounds…
Sylvia Bennett: I Wish You Love
Warm-toned vocalist Sylvia Bennett invites you into a world of romance on this smooth and seductive collection of standards. The musical support is programmed by Hal S. Batt, who mixes in horns, strings and rhythms while he brings in his…
Detroit Bop Quintet: Two Birds
I usually don’t review eps, but these two songs by Paul Keller/b, Rick Roe/p, Pete Mills/as, Dwight Adams/tp and Nate Winn/dr are just too fun to ignore. They perform a pair of obscure Charlie Parker tunes, the easy swinging “Bluebird”…