Since the days of Glenn Miller, the Airforce has been used in both march and swing time. This latest album by “Airmen of Note” is an exciting collection of material under the command and conducting of Colonel Larry Ha. Lang…
Month: April 2019
Branly-Ruiz-Haslip: Elemental
Vintage fusion sounds abound with this sleek session by drummer Jimmy Branly, bassist Jimmy Haslip and Otmario Ruiz on piano, synths and Fender Rhodes. All three know their way around a groove and pass around melodies and themes like a…
Jeff Morris With Strings: Live Sampling In Counterpoint
Using “live electronics”, Jeff Morris creates modern sonatas with electric cellist Ulrich MaiB and violinist Eric KM Clark for a pair of summit meetings. A five part “Bach Loot” mixes dashes of Bach Cello suites with swirling synth on “3ld3r_up”…
Joyce DiDonato: Songplay
Armed with a clear and classical voice, Joyce DiDonato mixes Italian arias with jazz standards on this clear as Waterford crystal collection She teams with an impressive lineup arranged by pianist Craig Terry, which includes Chuck Israels/b, Jimmy Madison/dr, Lautaro…
Gentleman’s Dub Club: Lost in Space
The eight member Gentleman’s Dub Club takes you on a journey that gives warning, warning to Will Robinson on this spacey mix of Jamaica and unknown galaxies. Vocalist Jonathan Scratchley sings with a mix of sweat, punk and indie while…
LOW CEILING’D NIGHTS…John Fusco: And The X-Road Riders, Gurf Morlix: Impossible Blue
Music with dirt under the nails. John Fusco sings like he was raised singing on the back of a flat bed truck on a dusty road, while paying Hammond B3, organ and acoustic guitar with a bluesy and gritty vocalist…
Monterey Jazz Festival On Tour @ Campbell Hall UCSB 04.08.19
During its 61 years of history the Monterey Jazz Festival has always provided some of the veterans of the jazz scene; likewise the 11 year touring All Stars has in the past included long time legends. For this most recent…
Caetano Veloso’s Ofertorio @ The Ace Theatre
“This is my way of celebrating reproduction” So joked Grammy winning Caetano Veloso, as he sat and sang amongst his three sons Moreno, Tom and Zeca during a 90 minute family fest of song. The father, in rich voice and…
Clemens Grassmann: Midnight Apple
Drummer and composer Clemens Grassmann is my kind of guy for the future of jazz. He is able to combine the tradition of jazz but add modern and clever textures to point the music into a creative direction. Even his…
JUST BEFORE HIS GIANT STEPS…John Coltrane: Coltrane ’58-The Prestige Recordings
Just on the cusp of breaking out into his own solo career on the major label Atlantic Records with albums like Giant Steps and My Favorite Things, John Coltrane was honing his skills and reigning in his unique personal sound…