On this album, Elan Mehler plays piano and keyboards, while singing like he’s tapping into his inner Tom Waits as he’s joined by guitar wunderkind Bill Frisell, Simon Willson/b, Dor Herskovits/d and a horn section including Eric Stilwell/tb, Paul Melhus/ts,…
Month: June 2019
David Kikoski: Phoenix Rising
Vintage mainstream sounds come from pianist and leader David Kikoski as he leads a team with beefy tenor saxist Eric Alexander and the snappy rhythm team of drummer Joe Farnsworth and bassist Peter Washington. The team jumps out of the…
BIG BAND BLOWOUT!…Rich Willey’s Boptism Big Band: Down and Dirty, Eyal Vilner Big Band: Swing Out!
While not many big bands can afford to tour anymore, don’t let that discourage you, as these years there is a plethora of wonderful studio bands that are swinging, clever and filled with wonderful sounds for the ears. Here are…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Rogerio Souza-Edinho Gerber-Ami Molinelli: Historia Do Choro
The lovely pulses and fragrances of Brail’s choro music is exquisitely captured on this collection of songs by a pair of 7 string guitarists, Rogerio Souza & Edinho Gerber, along with percussionist Ami Molinelli. The joyful strings and precious pulses…
Skip Wilkins Quartet: Czech Wishes
Pianist and composer Skip Wilkins mixes rich Eastern European themes with modern swing as he features tenor saxist Daniel Wilkins in a bopping band with Miroslav Hioucal/tp-fh, Tomas Baros/b and Marek Urbanek/dr. The front line of horns is bright and…
Matthew Shipp Trio: Signature
While known for his intuitive work with the likes of Ivo Perelman, pianist Matthew Shipp shows a hidden card trick here with a rich sense of lyricism on this trio album with bassist Michael Bisio and drummer Newman Taylor Baker.…
Fumi Tomita: The Elephant Vanishes
Bassist Fumi Tomita gives “Jazz Interpretations of the Short Stories of Haruku Murakami” in a jazz vein teamed up with Jason Rigby/ts-ss, Mike Baggetta/g, Art Hirahara/p and Mark Micklehwaite/dr. Tomita takes the band on a bop trip during “Wind-Up Bird…
Akira Tana & Otonowa: Ai San San-Love’s Radiance
Drummer and leader Akira Tana displays taste and strength on this rich and swinging album of mostly original material with a straightahead team of Masaru Koga/ts-ss-fl, Art Hirahara/p and Noriyuki Ken Okada/b. Koga is assertive as he drives the band…
Petra van Nuis & Dennis Luxion: Because We’re Night People
Piano-vocal duets tell much of the heart of each participant. This one by singer Petra van Nuis with Dennis Luxion is a rich collection of heartfelt stories. Van Nuis has a vocal tone that is has a dash of late…
John Dokes: True Love
Rich baritone vocalist John Dokes does some clever deliveries with his swinging team of Mark Gross/as, Steve Einerson/p, Alex Claffy/b and Lawrence Leathers/dr on this decalogue of standards. The team has a steady pulse as they sway to Dokes’ clear…