The quartet Violet Spin consists of Fabian Jaber/v, Martina Bischof/va, Irene Kepl/v and Andreas Semlitsch/v with Kepl supplying the modern sounding compositions. The songs range from longing Latin sensuality as on “Wind” to melancholic jazz broods during “Mulciber.” The team…
Month: May 2018
The “New” New Age…Flow: Flow
Sounds from Windham Hill return from the 80s as legendary guitarist William Ackerman teams with Fiona Joy/p-voc, Lawrence Blatt/g-uk, Jeff Oster/tp-fh and a handful of guests to give a 21st Century interpretation of what used to be called “New Age”…
Mark Murphy: Pocketful of Miracles
This is not an album by the jazz vocal pioneer Mark Murphy, but rather a relaxed take of standards with a dash of 70s James Taylor mellowness. Mark Murphy has a warm and avuncular tone, with a delivery that is…
Mud Morganfield: They Call Me Mud
Son of the famed Muddy Waters, Mud Morganfield brings some of his dad’s dna into this mix of blues and earthy vintage R&B. Some of the tunes, with steamy saxes in support, give hint of Al Green during “Cheatin’ Is…
LADIES WITH THE KEYS TO LIFE!
Since this month celebrates Mother’s Day, and we’re focusing on masters of the keyboard, it only seems fitting to make a list of some of the most important female artists on the piano and organ. Usually when you think of…
Aaron Comess: Sculptures
Drummer Aaron Comess teams with Leon Gruenbaum/samchillian, Grey McMurray/dg, Oli Rockberger/key and John Davis/b for some moody originals. Gruenbaum’s samchillian is a keyboard that creates more flexible pitches than traditional instruments, and is used to spacy effects as on “The…
Eliot Zigmund Quartet: Live At Smalls
Drummer Eliot Zigmund shows why jazz is best heard in clubs, as he leads his smoking quartet of Allen Farnham/p, Matt Garrison/ts-ss and David Kingsnorth/b through a swinging set from a October 2017 gig at Greenwich Village’s Smalls. The quartet…
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…
PROKOFIEV SWINGS! The New England Jazz Ensemble w/ Giacomo Gates: Peter and the Wolf
The New England Jazz Ensemble mixes the music of Prokofiev with that of its members on this exciting and fresh album. Ex-road crew worker cum jazz vocalist Giacomo Gates provides the hip narrative to the classic “Peter and the Wolf”…
Nels Cline 4: Currents, Collaborations
Guitarist Nels Cline builds on his clever duet album with Julian Lage of 2 years ago, adding a rhythm team of Tom Rainey/dr and Scott Colley/b for extra textures and drive. The result is a more assertive and muscular album.…