UK-based Leo Records releases a handful of new and provocative albums sure to inspire free thinking. The quartet of Walter Faehndrich/vi-voc, Christy Doran/eg, Remo Schnyder/sax and Samuel Wettstein/synth meet together for 13 intuitive originals. There are no song titles, only…
Month: January 2019
Orrin Evans And The Captain Black Big Band: Presence
Orrin Evans strikes it rich and finds a comfortable niche as the leader of “Semi” Big Band. He plays piano, contributes a few of the compositions along with trumpeters John Raymond and Josh Lawrence with the result a pair of…
John Akapo: Paradise Blues
Folksy and casual atmospheres are delivered by troubadour John Akapo. Sometimes singing, sometimes strumming or playing harp, but always telling a story, he sits on the back porch and gives a rural rasp to “Ramblin’ On My Mind” and takes…
Doug Deming & The Jewel Tones: Complicated Mess
Doug Deming has a rough and rootsy voice as he plays guitar alongside Andrew Gohman/b, Marty Dodson/dr, a sax team of “Sax” Gorddron & Tino Barker, Bob Welsh/p, Chris Codish/org and among guests harmonica huffers Madison Slim and Kim Wilson.…
Ben Wendel: The Seasons
No, it isn’t an interpretation of Vivaldi; instead Ben Wendel goes through each month of the year for 12 (duh!) songs and moods. He plays both sax and bassoon this time around, creating a strong chamber mood with Aaron Parks/p,…
The BBB Featuring Bernie Dresel: BERN BERN BERN
Famed for his work with both Gordon Goodwins’ Big Phat Band and Brian Setzer’s Orchestra, drummer extraordinaire Bernie Dresel goes through his iphone to call up some of LA’s finest for s hard hitting and swinging collection of originals and…
Nirmala Rajasekar: The Music of Friendship
Music that combines the moods and harmonies of Central Asia are created by leader Nirmala Rajasekar, as she plays the sitar-like veena and brings her traditional voice to team up with Indian percussionist Thanjavur K. Murugaboopathi, percussionist Tim O’Keefe, cellist…
John Fedchock Quartet: Reminiscence
Culled from a pair of concerts in Virginia Beach, VA, trombonist John Fedchock teams up with John Toomey/p, Jimmy Masters/b and Dave Ratajcak-Billy Williams/dr for a mix of originals and jazz standards. The leader shows his affections as he produces…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Okan: Sombras
The vocal team of Elizabeth Rodriguez and Magdely Savigne create rich and exciting Afro Cuban sounds on this highly percussive and energic album. The supporting team of Anthony Szczachor-Frank Martinez/dr, Roberto Riveron/b, Bill King-Danae Olano-Jeremy Ledbretter-Miguel de Armas/p and various…
IT’S “TOP TEN” TIME!!!
This is a great time to be a music fan. Not only is there a plethora of independent labels releasing exciting, fresh and new material, but long time labels are branching out and putting out albums my artists you may…