Leader of one of jazz’s best trios, Kenny Barron vies for leading the best hard bop quintet with the addition of Mike Rodriguez/tp and Dayna Stephens/sax to his working team of Johnathan Blake/dr and Kiyoshi Kitagawa/b. The team has a…
Month: May 2018
THE FUTURE KING? Joey Alexander: Eclipse
There comes a point when every piano prodigy must show something more than chops. Many have come over the years, and many have gone. Joey Alexander, just old enough for Driver’s Training, is showing on this album that by touch…
Nik Bartsch’s Ronin: Awase
Pianist Nik Bartsch has never shied away from his musical style of creating long and drawn out atmospheric pieces. His Ronin team of Sha/bcl-as, Thomy Jordi/b and Kaspar/dr this time out, however, seem to have added a new color to…
THE FUTURE IS NOW…Ornette Coleman: The Road to Free Jazz-The Early Years 1958-61
Considered the creator of what was called both “The Avant Garde” or “Free Jazz,” Ornette Coleman and his alto sax transformed jazz with an atom bomb of playing who’s shock was still resonate today. This two disc set covers his…
Leni Stern: 3
Leni Stern continues her journey of successfully melding sounds of Western Africa with American jazz on this latest album. She sings and plays both guitar and the Malian n’goni as she teams with Mamddou Ba/b and Alionue Faye/perc-voice along with…
Don Braden: Earth Wind and Wonder
Other artists have tapped into the Motown/R&B songbook, but Don Braden does it most successfully here, focusing on the songs of Earth Wind and Fire along with Stevie Wonder. He alternates quartets between Brandon McCune-Art Hirahara/p, Kenny Davis-Joris Teepe/b and…
WHEN THE BEST WAS ALSO THE MOST POPULAR…America’s Greatest Hits 1944
Yes, my grandchild, come sit on my knee and I’ll tell you of a land far away and a time long, long ago… Believe it or not, the best and most artistic music of the land was also what was…
A WRECKING CREW ALUMNUS…Nino Tempo: Purveyor of Balladry
Largely and unfairly forgotten these days, Nino Tempo has had a double life in the music industry. Back in the 60s, he had a pop hit version of “Deep Purple” which featured his warm voice in a duet with April…
Jen Hodge All Stars: All’s Fair in Love and Jazz
Bassist/vocalist Jen Hodge takes you back to the era of “hot jazz” a la small group swing/vaudeville on this two stepping stomper with Chris Davis/tp, Connor Stewart/ts-cl, Josh Roberts/g, Marti Elias/dr and guest vocalists. Stewart’s licorice stick is warm and…
Michael William Gilbert: Radio Omnibus
Composer Michael William Gilbert leads a rotating six member band with his own electronics, synthesizers and percussion through a collection of his grooves and atmospheres. Fellow members Adam Holzman/key, Mark Walker/dr, and a collection of guests on woodwinds, strings and…