Pianist and composer Johannes Wallmann releases an ambitious album to celebrate “marriage equality” laws and legal decisions that have recently occurred in America. While many things can be stated about such a cultural change (does this “equality” include polygamy? Mother-Son?…
Month: June 2018
BE BOP FROM THE RIVE GAUCHE…Hubert Fol: and His Bebop Minstrels
Even the most ardent jazz fan may not know of how strong the bebop movement was in post WWII Paris. Usually, sounds from Sidney Bechet or Django Reinhardt are associated with the French jazz scenet, but alto saxist Hubert Fol…
Dave Koz & Friends: Summer Horns II From A to Z
There are plenty of musicians that are easily relegated to the Smooth Jazz field, such as Kenny G or Najee. Other guys, like Dave Koz or Gerald Albright (who guests on this latest album) are more the “Jazz/R&B” vein, not…
Mike LeDonne and the Groover Quartet: From the Heart
Rivulets are dug deep with B3er Mike LeDonne and his quartet of Eric Alexander/ts, Peter Bernstein/g and either Joe Farnsworth/dr or Mike Clarke/dr. The mix of tenor sax and guitar with the Hammond is something designed in heaven, as it…
JAZZ LIVES MATTER…R&R NOW: Collagically Speaking
The brainchild of the trendsetting Robert Glasper, who is working to mix modern jazz with urban sounds, R&R NOW is a band (one-off?) that sounds like the musical goal of Miles Davis, combing warm trumpet with 21st Century R&B with…
Sam Javitch Quartet: People and Places
The beefy and muscular tenor sax of Rich Perry is featured on pianist Sam Javitch’s album along with Adrian Moring/b and Matt Niedbalski/dr. The team is quite nimble and dexterous as it works around tricky pieces like “The Pitch to…
Freddy Cole: My Mood Is You
When you want to stump someone on a “Blindfold Test,” Freddy Cole is the singer of choice. I play him all the time in my office, and visitors always say, “It kind of sounds like Nat Cole, but with a…
Marc Sinan: White
Pastoral and contemplative moods abound on this collaboration between guitarist Marc Sinan and Oguz Buyukberber, who alternates between clarinet and bass clarinet for these 10 pieces. The tunes are divided between colors of “Upon Nothingness” and Roman Numerals of “Upon…
Deanne Matley: Because I Loved
Deanne Matley has a strong and confident voice, and uses it well on this collection of tunes the includes some covers and intriguing originals. She teams up with Paul Shrofel/key, Adrian Vedady/b, Jim Doxas/dr, Steve Raegele/g, Kiko/perc and a collection…
Sullivan Fortner: Moments Preserved
Sullivan Fortner has carved out a career as pianist for the likes of Cecile McLoren Salvant, Bria Skonberg and Lauren Henderson, but he’s also showing what he can do on his own, as his 2015 Aria was an impressive debut,…