Striding pianist Tom McDermott gives a fitting tribute to ragtime master Scott Joplin in variety of formats on this richly hued session. Even on the solo performances, which are in abundant supply, he adds clever introductions that add to rather…
Month: May 2019
Satoko Fujii: Stone
The prodigiously productive pianist Satoko Fujii goes solo on this collection of pieces recorded at Samurai Hotel, NY back in 2018. She uses just about every part of the piano, from strings to the wood, even putting paper between the…
EVEN MEN GET THE BLUES…Chuck Mead: Close To Home, Whitey Johnson: More Days Like This, Gary Nicholson: The Great Divide
Here are a few gents that sing stories of a full life. Chuck Mead sings and plays guitar with a team that inclues Mark Andrew Miller/b, Martin Lynds/dr, Rick Staff/p-key and others on this collection of vintage sounding originals. The…
Patrick Battstone: The Last Taxi-New Destinations
Things get fun and frisky on this album lead by pianist/composer Pat Battstone, featuring the flexible voice of Chiara Liuzzi and the wide ranging flute collection of Giorgia Santoro. Teamed alongside Adolfo La Volpe/g, Giacomo Mongelli/dr and Chris Rathbun/b, the…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Yotam Silberstein: Future Memories
I caught guitarist Yotam Silberstein at The Blue Whale a couple years ago and was impressed by his mix of lyricism and creativity. This studio album with John Patitucci/b, Vitor Goncalves/key, Glen Zaleski/p-rhodes, Daniel Dor/dr and Andre Mehmari/synth continues Silberstein’s…
Jaelem Bhate: On The Edge
Jaelem Bhate displays his composing skills with a large 18 member jazz ensemble on this collection of modern orchestrations. He combines shorter pieces with a centerpiece of a four part “Pacific Suite,” which is almost Copland-esque in its wonder and…
Terry Robb: Confessin’ My Dues
Flat picker Terry Robb comes from the impressive guitar school of Stefan Grossman and Duck Baker, creating a calliope of strings the ring with the blues on this rich and wonderfully rural album. He plays both acoustic and resonator, adding…
Christian Scott Atunde Adjuah: Ancestral Recall
Once hailed as the next Freddie Hubbard, trumpeter Christian Scott has created a career that veers between vintage hard bop and tribal Africa. This time out he goes to the Motherland for inspiration, mixing tribal sounds with American R&B and…
Cathy Segal-Garcia: Dreamsville
Three of LA’s best and most lyrical artists get together for a sublime session. Emotive toned Cathy Segal-Garcia teams with multi-guitarist Larry Koonse and melodic pianist Josh Nelson for a collection of sublime interpretations. Koonse switches between electric and nylon…
Ben Winkelman Trio: Balance
The title of this album fits well, as pianist Ben Winkelman creates a symbiotic balance between interplay and soloing with bassist Matt Penman and drummer Obed Calvaire on this ten song collection of originals plus a cover. Of the latter,…