Vocalist and composer Robin McKelle comes across as a wandering pilgrim, searching for answers on this intimate and personal album. Her voice is part indie, part dreamy, teaming with guests including Chris Potter/ts-ss, Shedrick Mitchell/key, Vincent Ardher/b, Daniel Sadownick/perc, Al…
Month: August 2018
J. Peter Schwalm: How We Fall
Gobs and globs of electronic musings are created by J. Peter Shwalm, as he plays (deep breath) guitars, pianos, electronic devices, acoustic and digital sound modules, mix in with Elvind Aarset/g and Tim Harries/b on 9 Jackson Pollock musical creations.…
GROOVER! Jocelyn Michelle: Live at Viva Cantina
The Mexican restaurant Viva Cantina in beautiful Burbank was rollicking back in May of 2017 as Hammond B3er Jocelyn Michelle teamed with John Rack/g, Bill Noble-Steve Mann/as-ts, Andrea Lindborg-Tony Farrell/tp, Sammy K/dr and Al Person/perc for a groove fest. The…
THIS GENERATION’S PIANO MAN…Geoffrey Keezer Trio: On My Way to You, Christine Hitt: Magical Kite
Having earned his dues as a sideman for the likes of Art Blakey, Joshua Redman, Benny Golson and Christian McBride, pianist Geoffrey Keezer has staked his claim in Southern California, putting out some impressive music on his own as well…
Ivan Baryshnikov Quartet: Journey
This debut album by tenor saxist Ivan Baryshnikov shows a lot of promise, bringing his compositions and arrangements to the for with a group of Marko Churnchetz/p-key, Ryan Berg/b, Samvel Sarkisyan/dr and guest vocalists Hiske Oosterwijk and Mark Evich. His…
SWINGING STUDIOS! West Coast Series: Tommy Alexander & Keith Williams, East Coast Series: Kent Harian & Ted McNabb, East Coast Series: Tommy Shephard & Richard Weiss
Fresh Sound Records continues to find wonderfully obscure recordings from the 50s and 60s by unsung jazz artists. They’ve recently started a series of West and East Coast two cd sets that focus on studio orchestras that were filled with…
THE EMPRESS VIA GUITAR…Rory Block: A Woman’s Soul
A tribute to Bessie Smith is delivered by Rory Block as she sings, plays a mean acoustic guitar and provides her own support on various percussion instruments ranging from hat boxes to wooden spoons. Her strings vibrate with resonance on…
VOICES FOR THE AGES…Gesualdo: Madrigals, Handel: Music for Queen Caroline, Lalande: Te Deum
Vocals from the past that sound timeless and with an eternal focus. Madrigals for Five Voices are delivered by Les Arts Florissants under the direction of William Christie. This music of the 17th Century is delivered by soprano, alto, contra-tenor,…
PICK AND GRIN…Del McCoury: Still Sings Bluegrass, The Travelin’ McCourys: The Travelin’ McCourys
The gap-toothed cousin of jazz, bluegrass, is in excellent form on these two swinging albums. Legendary vocalist and guitarist Del McCoury is in excellent and vibrant form with his collection of family and friends on this latest release. The team…
Kait Dunton: Triokait 2
Pianist/composer Kait Dunton has moved forward from her early years with Snarky Puppy to create a rich and flexible trio with Cooper Appelt/eb and Jake Reed/dr as the leader alternates between piano, Rhodes, electric piano and synth on this rich…