Pianist Lara Downes mixes rich and lyrical piano solo originals, and mixes them between intimate duets with singers including Judy Collins, Rhiannon Giddens and Rachel Barton Pine.” At her own at the ivories, she glows like vintage George Winston with…
Month: June 2019
Aberdeen: Downpour
Based in Brooklyn, the band Aberdeen is one of those rare birds that can be considered “Instrumental Rock” or “Highly Arranged Jazz.” The band includes a 3-5 member horn sections, strings, electric and acoustic guitarists, bass, drums, percussion and even…
Ellen Rowe Octet: Momentum
Subtitled “Portraits of Women in Music,” this album has pianist Ellen Rowe with a double x chromosome team of Tia Fuller/as, Virginia Meyhew/ts, Lissa p arrott/bs, Janelle Reichman/cl, Ingrid Jensen/tp, Melissa Gardiner/tb, Marion Hayden-Marlene Rosenberg/b and Allison Miller/dr dedicating songs…
URBAN SOUL…RC & The Gritz: Analog World, Anu Sun: Sanguine Regum, Doobie Powell: Finding Myself Again,Vivian Sessoms: Life
Here are some sounds from the hip hop, modern R&B and urban side of things. RC Williams plays piano and a variety of keyboards mixing and matching with artists including Matt Ramsey/b, Mark Leteri/g and Cleon Edwards/dr. The songs are…
Carolyn Fitzhugh: Living In Peace
Sleek and soulful vocalist Carolyn Fitzhugh mixes originals with clever covers with keyboardist/arranger Amina Figarova’s band of Yasushi Nakamura/b, Rudy Royston/dr, Rez Abbasig and a four member horn section that includes tenor saxist Wayne Escoffrey. The horns are rich on…
Dan Navarro: Shed My Skin
Dan Navarro is a throwback to the days of 70s singer/songwriters; unpretentious, relaxed, folksy with a tale to tell. He composes most of the material here, while making pieces like Jimmy Webb’s “Witchita Lineman” and Billy Idol’s “Sweet Sixteen” all…
Eli Wallace: Barriers
Pianist Eli Wallace gives a one song 37+ minute flowing improvisation for this recording. His touch is confident, with his approach on the intuitive side of things. He mixes space with free floating moments as well as a few middleweight…
Paulie Cerra@Bogies 06.11.19
Usually on tour with Joe Bonamassa, tenor saxist Paulie Cerra brought his own band into Bogies Bar Tuesday night and by the end of the set had the audience wonder why this guy isn’t touring on his own, with Joe…
DOES IT GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS?!? Stan Getz: Getz at the Gate (Live At The Village Gate)
Can there ever be such a thing as “too much” previously released Stan Getz recordings? Would you turn away from finding a book of undiscovered movies of Rita Hayworth or Ava Gardner? Next Question! There are few things in musical…
CHAMBER BE-BOP…The Modern Jazz Quartet: The Early Years 1952-56
One of the longest standing bands, the Modern Jazz Quartet of John Lewis/p, Milt Jackson/vib, Percy Heath/b and either Kenny Clarke or Connie Kay/dr distinctly melded bebop with baroque-styled harmonics that appealed to fans worldwide. They had a unique appeal…