Month: January 2019

Amu: Weave

I think that pianist Satoko Fujii is celebrating her 60th year by releasing an album for each birthday, as she’s putting out an overwhelming amount of material lately. This latest album is quite interesting and original, as it includes “percussive…

SUM: SUM

Consisting of Steve Belvilus/dr-key, Patryce Williams/voc, Andrew Gould/as-fl, Gil Defay/tp-fh, Joel Desroches/p-org, Olivier Rambeloson/skyth and Francesco Beccaro/b, the band SUM delivers soulful and jazz moods on this 9 song collection. Some hip R&B complete with DJ i=pulsates on “Funk Hip…

James Martin: Keep Moving

James Martin sings and plays a soulful tenor sax on this collection of his compositions with josh Starkman-Sam Dickey/g, Beck Burger-Oscar Rossignoli/p, Beck Burger/org, Cesar Bacaro/perc, Steven Glenn/souse and Walt Lundy-Thomas Glass/dr. his voice is dramatic on the R&B is…

NYSQ: Heaven Steps to Seven

Playing off of the famous Miles Davis tune, the team of Tim Armacost/ts-ss, David Berkman/p, Ugonna Okegwo/b and Gene Jackson/dr give homage to vintage ESP-era Miles Davis with sleek post bop material and moods. Jackson gives and aggressive and driving…

Trio Untold: Trio Untold

The organic team of guitarist Mike Nord, pianist James Miley and drummer Ryan Biesack mix moods ranging form Bill Evans to Brian Eno on this intriguing collection of originals. Guitar drapery and cymbals make for an atmospheric “Bending Toward the…

Jim Roberts: The Tao of Time

Drummer, percussionist and guitarist Jim Roberts takes you on a wild journey with funky jams and excursions to wild climates. Besides a guest list of vocalists and “passengers” that include Victor Wooten and Bekka Bramlet , the band includes John …

Devin Gray: Dirigo Rataplan

Drummer Devin Gray teams with Michael Fromanek/b, Dave Ballou/tp and Ellery Eskelin/ts for a rich and open collection of originals. Cool hipness has Gray and Fromaneck link together on “Congruety” with the drummer getting suave on brushes during “What We…