When you think of trumpet players from the swing era, usually the names of Roy Eldridge, Harry James and Harry Edison come to mind. One of the most prolific, wide ranging and respected horn players was Frankie Newton (1906-1954), who…
Month: May 2019
RURAL ROADS…Matt Andersen: Halfway Home By Morning, Taylor Scott Band: All We Have
Off the freeway and onto the back roads. Singer/songwriter Matt Andersen teams up with a core of Steve Dawson/g-org, Mike Farrington/b, Jay Bellerose/dr, Chris Gestrin/key and a collection of guests in voice and horns for a rich and soulful outing.…
Jake Leckie: The Abode
Bassist and composer Jake Leckie mixes a post bop team of Kenny Warren/tp-fh, Nathan Ellman-Bell/dr and Sebastien Ammann/p with a collection of guests including sax, voice, organ and a string section to create a rich sonic tapestry . The string…
Cory Weeds Quintet: Live at Frankie’s Jazz Club
Hard Bop Heaven is reached on this album that feels like a vintage Blue Note session as alto saxist Corey Weeds fronts a team with Terell Stafford/tp, Harold Mabern/p, Michael Glynn/b and Julian MacDonald/dr. The tunes feature material by the…
Beat Circus: These Wicked Things
A mix of 50s rock guitar, C&W, film noir atmospheres and avant garde are displayed by the team of Brian Carpenter/p-voc-effects, Andrew Stern/g, Abigale Reisman/vi, Emily Bookwalter/va, Alec speigelman/bcl, Brad Balliett/bsoon, Paul Dilley/b and Gavin McCarthy/dr. Eerie clouds hover on…
Pete Coco: Lined With A Groove
Bassist Pete Coco forms a snappy little trio with pianist Sullivan Fortner (who took some time off touring with Cecile McLorin Salvant) and famed drummer Matt Wilson. The three mix deft interplay with dep grooves, as Fortner gets impressionistic with…
Urbanity: Urbanity
Rich textures and melodies are produced by the duo of Albare, who plays a myriad of guitars, and Phil Turcio, bringing in an equal number of keyboards and programs. The moods range from an upbeat African temper for “Time Travel”…
Nicky Barbato Project: Every Day Is A Bad Hair Day
Guitarist and intermittent vocalist Nicky Barbato leads an eclectic team of Tony Mason/dr, Chris Anderson/b, guest Jon Irabogon/ts-key and a string quartet for a mix of originals and covers. The album opens with a mix of rock and strings on…
Kenney Polson: For Lovers Only
While he’s posing on the cover of this album with his alto sax, Kenney Polson displays a mastery of many reeds, including bass clarinet, even some times alternating on the same tune on this smooth sailing session. His alto is…
Bill Frisell & Thomas Morgan: Epistrophy
This concert recording from the Village Vanguard is a reunion session with guitarist Bill Frisell and bassist Thomas Morgan. By this stage of his career, Bill Frisell’s followers understand his way of pureeing a tune; the only question is what…