From a 2016 concert performance recorded in Austria, bassist Arild Anderson and his team of Paulo Vinaccia/dr and Tommy Smith/ts deliver a high energy set of improvisations and mood creations. Vinaccia works overtime on the ride cymbal, fluttering like a…
Month: April 2018
Don Gibson: The Best of the Hickory Records Years (1970-1978)
If you ask people in the know, Don Gibson is one of the true prototypes of post WWII country and western music. He had a ton of hits in the 50s and 60s, with a gorgeously rich voice and relaxed…
Wishbone Ash @ The Canyon Club 04.20.18
The simple phrase “two lead guitars” is up there along with “twilight night doubleheader” as one that evokes excitement and anticipation to the fans in the know. Few bands have been able to carry it off. Wishbone Ash (along with…
Cecile McLorin Salvant@The Soraya 04.18.19
With each year, even in this early part of her career, vocalist Cecile McLorin Salvant is becoming more and more of an artist who sings than simply a “jazz singer.” Instead of performing in her more usual trio format, Ms.…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Brenda Navarrete: Mi Mundo
Vocalist and percussionist Brenda Navarrete brings all facets of Cuban music together on this richly rewarding album. From tribal villages to city streets, Navarrete creates authentic and riveting material that reaches the heart, soul, viscera and feet. Tribal choruses and…
BRAGGIN’ IN BRASS…Craig Fraedrich: Out of the Blues
Craig Fraedrich plays trumpet and flugelhorn,and he doesn’t like to do it alone. He’s created the Jazz Trumpet Ensemble, which includes Mark Wood, Ken McGee, Graham Breedlove and Kenny Rittenhouse on the horns along with Tony Nalker/p, Jim Roberts/g, Steve…
GET DOWN! Chris Daniels and the Kings with Freddi Gowdy: Blues with Horns Vol. 1, Under the Lake: Jazz, Groove & Attitude
Put on your dancing shoes… Chris Daniels sings with a vengeance, plays slide guitar, synth guitar and “regular”guitar as he brings growling vocalist Freddi Growdi in the front of a Tower of Powerful core team of Randy Amen/dr, Kevin Lege/b,…
Valentin Caamano Trio: The Blind Wrestler
Cool post bop moods are created by guitarist/vocalist Valentin Caamano and his team of Alfonso Calvo/b, LAR Legido/dr and Xose Miguelez/ts. His guitar tone and style gives hints of Jim Hall, with a sleek coolness as he teams with Miguelez…
Matteo Liberatore: Solos
Guitarist Matteo Liberatore goes solo on this dozen originals, using his strings in a wide variety of motifs. Most successful is his melodic banjo-like picking on “Causeway” or delicate soft strums on “Agnes.” Other times he uses the strings to…
Sue Foley: The Ice Queen
Sue Foley mixes acoustic and electric blues and boogie on this album of wide ranging originals. She veers towards a Delaney and Bonnie feel as she slurs with Charlie Sexton’s slide guitar and a tight team on “Come to Me”…