This is Hiromi’s second solo album, showing her wide range of talents, as she’s done settings in her own trio, fusion, with Stanley Clarke, duets with Chick Corea and beyond. Her core worldview of music comes out grandly here, displaying…
Month: October 2019
SAXOPHONE COLOSSUS…Clarence Clemons: Who Do I Think I Am?
Best known as the tenor saxist and anchor of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, Clarence Clemons reveals himself on this documentary as a “searcher.” This wonderful and personal 90 minute documentary, completed not long before the musician’s death in 2011…
BEBOP SPOKEN HERE…Howard McGhee: Collection 1945-53
While most people may recognize the names of bebop progenitors Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker and Thelonious Monk, for some reason trumpeter Howard McGhee gets little notice. He was one of the very first beboppers, arguably on the very first recording…
Fleur Seule: Standards and Sweet Things
Vocalist Allyson Brigg of Fleur Seule has a sound, style and soul hauntingly reminiscent of a young Peggy Lee. Her sweet tone has just enough of a dash of early Billie Holiday to mix a sweet smile with infectious swing,…
Shannon Gunn: Gunn’s Ablazin’
Trombonist Shannon Gunn slides home in two different settings, one in The Firbird Organ Trio with Hope Udobi/key and Kelton Norris/dr and the Shannon Gunn Quintet including Gunn and Norris with Chris Garrick/vibes, Garrett Gleason/g and Mikel Combs/b. The threesome…
Aaron Weinstein: 3 x 3
Violinist Aaron Weinstein swings that thing with guitarist Matt Munisteri and bassist Tom Hubbard on this hot’cha mix of two step stompers from Tin Pan Alley along with his own compositions. The team mixes the gypsy spirit of Django Reinhardt’s…
MUSIC UNDER THE LAMP POST…Acute Inflections: Electric Psychology
Here’s a richly haunted collection of tunes that sound like a jazz duet version of films noir. Bassist Sadiki Pierre does a collection of pas de deux with sorghum toned vocalist Elasea Douglas to create an intimate, personal and seductive…
The Vaughan Nark Quintet: Back In The Day
You want chops? We got chops! Vaughan Nark plays trumpet, flugelhorn and valve trombone with bold and brassy confidence as he leads his team of Pete Barenbregge/ts-as-bs-fl, Stef Scaggiari/p, Tom Williams/b, and Dave Palamar/dr on a recording that has been…
Dong Xi: Out Of The Blue
The Yanguin is a Chinese hammer dulcimer, and it’s played by Chao Tian as she teams up with Tom Teasley on the djembe, choro and other percussion instruments on this collection of a dozen themes. Moods vary, ranging from a…
Kelley Johnson: Something Good
Kelley Johnson sings with style and confidence, even whistling a bit, as she gives warm reads of standards with John Hansen/p, Michael Glynn/b, Kendrick Scott/dr and guest Jay Thomas on sax and trumpet. She’s dreamy with Hansen on the clear…