With a family background of Sicilian and Iberian, Chick Corea returns to his dna influences as he revisits material from his classic albums Touchstone and My Spanish Heart. As with all things Corea, these versions are fresh and different from…
Month: July 2019
A FORGOTTON TROUBADOUR…Steve Goodman: Artistic Hair, Affordable Art
An artist during the heyday of what was called “Singer/Songwriters,” Steve Goodman (1948-1984) was one of the most clever of his genre, mixing Mort Sahl-like humor in his songs along with an ecumenical approach to music that melded bluegrass, swing…
THE BEST VOICES TIME FORGOT…Martha Hayes: A Hayes Named Martha/Ilene Woods: It’s Late, Gloria Smith: Like Soul!/Helyne Stewart: Love Moods
Fresh Sound Records continues its brilliant idea of reissuing sessions from the 50s and 60s from female vocalists that underservedly got overlooked. It was a time when there was a surfeit of these ladies, and while it wasn’t due to…
Gianluigi Trovesi and Gianni Coscia: La Misteriosa Musica Della Regina Loana
In tribute to their late friend and famous novelist Umberto Eco (1931-2016), clarinetist Gianluigi Trovesi and accordionist Gianni Coscia create a rich and nostalgic collection of lyrical duets, mixing songs from the swing era as well as free-associated themes inspired…
Lisa Maxwell’s Jazz Orchestra: Shiny!
Conductor and arranger Lisa Maxwell delivers some fun and feisty big band works on this collection of modern swingers with a vintage sound. The big band includes heavyweights Oz Noy/g, Mike Stern/g, Randy Brecker/tp and DannY Gottlieb/dr, and they flex…
TENOR TITAN…Luciano Pavarotti: Music From The Motion Picture, The Greatest Hits
Arguably the greatest tenor of the 20th Century, Luciano Pavarotti is having a resurgence in appreciation, in no small thanks to a recent film directed by Ron Howard, as well as a three disc “Greatest Hits” which shows the breath,…
WOMEN ON FIRE…Billie Williams: Hell To Pay, Cheyenne James: Burn It Up
These two recent releases give a whole new meaning to “Hot” women… With clear and muscular voice, Billie Williams fronts a team with Stew Cutler/g, Jeremy Mage/key-g, Double Z/g, Tony Allen/dr and a STAXY horn section along with guests on…
Jacques Kuba Seguin: Migrations
Trumpeter Jacques Kuba Seguin displays a warm and glowing horn as he fronts a post-bop sextet with famed pianist Jean-Michel Pilc and Yannick Rieu/ts, Olivier Salazar/vib, Adrian Vedady/b and Kevin Warren/dr through a collection of originals. His rich tone is…
Chris Stamey and the Modrec Orchestra: New Songs For the 20th Century
Composer Chris Stamey shows his wares by bringing a wide range of vocalists and jazz musicians together on this warm and personal album. Singers including Nnenna Freelon, Caitlin Cary, Kirsten Lambert, Django Haskins and Millie McGuire are accompanied by John…
Paulie Cerra: Hell & High Water
Best known as holding the tenor sax chair for blues rocker Joe Bonamassa, Paulie Cerra shows on this album that he should talk to his boss for a couple features on his own next tour. Not only is Cerra top…