This two disc set from Acrobat Records demonstrates how Django Reinhardt’s unique style of guitar playing still has an influence that ripples to this day. There are dozens of “gypsy jazz” bands and guitarists that got bitten by Reinhardt’s bohemian…
Month: June 2018
LADIES AT THE MIC…Erin McDougald: Outside the Soiree, Diane Marino: Soul Serenade
Ladies with something to say. Erin McDougald takes standards and gives them a clever goose on this artistic yet swinging album. She hangs out (in more ways than one, judging by the cover photos) with a team that includes allstars…
Noah Preminger: Genuinity
Tenor saxist Noah Preminger has one of the thickest tones in jazz, and he relies on it well to keep together this loose and left of center post bop team with Jason Palmer/tp, Kim Cass/b and Dan Weiss/dr. Tricky and…
DAT DERE…Jim Snidero & Jeremy Pelt: Jubilation! Celebrating Cannonball Adderley
Up to and including the album cover which hearkens back to the classic 1959 Cannonball Adderley Quintet in San Francisco, alto saxist Jim Snidero and trumpeter Jeremy Pelt deliver a heartfelt musical tribute to the soulful quintet that mixed bop…
Enoch Smith Jr.: To Houston With Love
Pianist Enoch Smith mixes vintage bop instrumentals with upbeat soulful vocal tracks on this optimistic album. The team of Smith with Gabriel Vivas/b, Reggie Quinerly/dr and Myron Walden/ts provide hip and bluesy tracks such as “To and Fro” and the…
Todd Marcus: On the Streets
Bass clarinetist Todd Marcus tells a story about his home community of Baltimore, Maryland on this clever and endearing album. Along with his compositions, he adds interviews and street scenes with various denizens at street intersections or the local church,…
Spin Cycle: Assorted Colors
The team of Tom Christensen/ts-ss, Pete McCann/g, Phil Palombi/b and Scott Neumann/dr washes and dries smoking toe tapping originals for an hour of Martinizing music. Christensen’s tenor is warm and gruff, fogging up as Neumann supplies the backbeat for pieces…
B’s Bees: Kanata
The team of Julien Sandiford/g, Joe Feracuti/p, Alec Safy/b, Brandon Goodwin/dr and guest Masashi Usui/ts team up for some modern post bop originals. The focus of the album is Goodwin’s four part “Kanata Suite” which includes kinetic and African styled…
McClenty Hunter Jr: The Groove Hunter
A reliable sideman for the likes of Dave Stryker and Kenny Garrett, drummer McClenty Hunter steps out as a leader on this swinging album that ranges from trio to sextet. Hunter’s got a nice snap to his sticks, and uses…
SOUNDS THAT FELL THROUGH THE CRACKS…Jimmy Halperin w/ Don Messina & Bill Chattin: Cycle Logical, Jon Easton w/ Don Messina & Bill Chattin, Jon Easton Trio: Music From 7 Years Ago, Jimmy Halperin: Psalm
Sometimes, there are jazz artists that undeservedly slip through the acoustic cracks. Here are a handful of guys that put out some material a number of years ago. They recently got my attention, and deserve yours as well. Tenor saxist…