Clear toned vocalist Robyn Spangler teams up with Todd Schroeder/p-key, Tim Christensen/b, Chris Jago/dr, Tony Mandracchia/g and Robert Kyle/ts for a collection of more obscure Christmas tunes. The wise decision to mostly stay away from the Natal Classics works well…
Month: December 2018
OY TO THE WORLD…Jake Ehrenreich w/ Roger Kellaway Trio: A Treasury of Jewish Christmas Songs
It makes sense that our most famous Christmas songs were written by Jews, with Mel Torme’s “The Christmas Song” and Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas.” After all, Jesus was (and is!) Jewish, so do kvetch about this! Vocalist Jake Ehrenreich has…
WHEN SWING WAS SWEET…Russ Morgan: The Hits Collection 1935-56
There was a time when big bands were the background music for America. Russ Morgan (1904-1969) created a series of orchestras that dominated not only the airwaves with recordings, but was a major sound on radio and the early days…
Laura Dickinson 17: Auld Lang Syne
Vocalist Laura Dickinson delivers a shining snow globe of a Christmas album here. Her voice ranges between Disney-esque and Andrew Sisters swing, as she mixes traditional with new here. Of the latter, she is cozy and coy on the TV…
Ray Greene (Featuring Dow Brain): Tell Me The Story of Christmas
Earnest and soulful deliveries of the Yuletide are presented here, with warm and understatedly charming renditions of traditional Christmas songs supplemented by some enticing originals. Greene also plays trombone, teaming with Dow Brain/p-org, Kendall Eddy/b, Scott Goulding/dr, Jeff Lockhart/g, Joe…
Jovino Santos Neto Quinteto: Por Causa De Voce (Because of You)
The eternally blissful music of Antonio Carlos Jobim was given an excuse for being celebrated on January 25, 2015 as it was what would have been the 88th birthday of the Brazilian legend. As if we need a reason! Pianist…
Collective Order: Volume 3
The 21 member Collective Order mixes voices, brass, keys, reeds and rhythm on this 13 song album that seems to be a sonic version of Ralph Waldo Emerson, in that it gives a veneration bordering on worship of “Mother Earth.”…
Diana Ross: Wonderful Christmas Time, Lynne Fiddmont: Spirit of Christmas, Kristin Korb: That Time of Year
Women bringing in the Christmas spirit… This reissue of Diana Ross’ 1994 Christmas album is a rich and textured affair, with wondrous orchestra and strings for “Winter Wonderland,” oboe on “ What the World Needs Now” and rich textures for…
Luciana Souza@Royce Hall 12.01.18
Usually the mix of jazz and poetry conjures up images of beatniks reciting obscure lines with a background of freely improvised horns. As she demonstrated at Royce Hall Saturday night, vocalist Luciana Souza has completely transformed that concept, combining the…
Gregory Porter: One Night Only-Live at Royal Albert Hall
If you’ve followed vocalist Gregory Porter’s career, you know it makes perfect sense to combine his soulful jazz orientation with some rich orchestral accompaniment. This cd/dvd brings that idea to realization, with Porter’s long time team of Emanuel Harrold/dr, Chip…