The blues are brewing on these two recent gems… Dennis Herrera mixes and matches with some foot stomping buddies on this infectious collection of originals. He divides the band between So Cal and No Cal, but the pickings are good…
Month: September 2018
ELLINGTON’S BEST VOCALIST AND ORCHESTA…The Ivie Anderson Collection with The Duke Ellington Orchestra 1932-46
Throughout his 50+ year career with his Orchestra, Duke Ellington featured many vocalists, but none of them fit the band as well as Ivie Anderson, who was on and off with the Duke from the “Jungle Band” days of 1932…
FRESH BIG BANDS…Randy Brecker & Mats Holmquist: Together, Ayn Inserto Jazz Orchestra: Down a Rabbit Hole, Greg Diaz & The Art of Imagination Jazz Orchestra: Begin the Agora
While not many big bands tour anymore, there are still some great studio sessions and one off performances that will keep fans rejoicing. Here are two recent ones. Conductor, composer and arranger Mats Holmquist teams up with the famed UMO…
Kandace Springs: Indigo
A few months ago, vocalist Kandace Springs released an intriguing and varied ep; this album includes that material and continues the mix of jazz, soul, R&B with pop inflections. The mix of originals and covers has Springs using a rich…
Jeremy Ledbetter Trio: Got a Light?
Pianist Jeremy Ledbetter leads a fresh sounding trio with bassist Rich Brown and drummer Larnell Lewis from Snarky Puppy. Ledbetter has a warm and melodic confidence, evidenced by his two solo pieces, the intimate “Gift Shop” and richly textured and…
The End: Svarmod Och Vemod Ar Vardesinnen
First, the Swedish title of the album is roughly translated to mean “dark melancholy and sadness are senses to be valued.” So much for “never is heard a discouraging word”! The twin tenor/bari sax and electronics team of Mats Gustafsson…
POP AND HIP HOP JAZZ…FKA Jazz: Stereotype Threat, Vandell Andrew: Thirty
Urban sounds of R&B team with jazz ideas. FKAjazz plays a strong tenor sax and even sings with soul on this hip hop boper with Marcus Machado/g, Lex Lemon/b, Julian Litwack/g, JSWISS/voc and a handful of guests. Fred Thomas give…
Jamie Saft Quartet: Blue Dream
Pianist Jamie Saft brings together a quartet with Bill McHenry/ts, Bradley Christopher Jones/b and Nasheet Waits/dr to mix post modern originals with edgy attitudes with melodic jazz standards. Of the latter, Saft is hip and sleek along with McHenry’s foggy…
Nick Kolassa & The Taylor Made Blues Band: 149 Delta
Earth toned blues-rocker Mick Kolassa brings his working band of David Dunavent/g, Leo Goff/b, Lee Andrew Williams/dr, Chris Stephenson/key and Susan Marshal-Daunielle Hill/voc to the front stage along with various guests for some boogying originals. Along with Eric Hughes’ wailing…
VINCE WILBURN JR.: UNCLE MILES AND THE ELECTRIC COMEBACK
ONE OF THE WATERSHED EVENTS OF THE 1980s WAS THE RETURN OF MILES DAVIS AFTER A PROLONGED HIATUS. ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO WAS PRESENT DURING THIS HISTORIC EVENT WAS HIS NEPHEW, DRUMMER AND PRODUCER VINCE WILBURN JUNIOR. WHILE TAKING…