There have been many tributes to Nat Cole during his 100th Birthday celebration; this one may be the most creative. Orice Jenkins’ voice is not a copy of Cole; he’s got a mid range tenor, for some reason reminiscent of…
Month: November 2019
*****RINGER OF THE WEEK****THE LAST LIVING MASTER-Ahmad Jamal: Ballades
Here are the basic facts: 1) There are only a handful of artists that are still alive that actually started and perfected a musical style in jazz 2) Ahmad Jamal is the only one who is still active. Therefore, we…
Slim Gambill: Fake Jazz & Theme Songs
Best known for his work with Lady Antebellum, guitarist Slim Gambill shows tasty chops on this album that mixes rockish R&B and some jazz licks on a decalogue of his own tunes. He’s got a team of support with Justin…
Tad Robinson: Real Street
If foot stomping soul is your thing, get a load of Tad Robinson, who sings like Al Green and plays the harp like John Mayall on this cookin’ session with Charles Hodges/B3, Leroy Hodges/b, Howard Grimes/dr, Joe Restivo/g, Kevin Anker/p…
Andrew Munsey: High Tide
Drummer Andrew Munsey paints with a dark brush while leading a quintet with Ochion Jewell/ts, Steph Richards/tp-fh, Amino Belyamini/p-key and Sam Minaie/b. Munsey locks in well with Minaie as they pulsate on “Schema” and build up to a dramatic climax…
Jason Yeager: New Songs of Resistance
Pianist Jason Yeager melds musical environs of rich post bop chamber with a politically progressive message on this recent album. The core of Yeager with Fernando Huergo/b and Mark Walker/dr mix and match with horns supplied by Milena Casado/fj, Cosimo…
Nao Yoshioka: Undeniable
Vocalist Nao Yoshioka delivers modern R&B moods with this album of synth pulses. She sings in a sultry fashion and coos out sensuality on hip hopping pieces like “Got Me,” “Celebrate,” and the clapping “All In Me.” There’s a bit…
Mark Sherman: My Other Voice
Pianist Mark Sherman p lays to his strengths and comfort zone of hard bop on this red meat of a session with Vincent Herring/as, Nana Sakamoto/tb, Ray Drummond-Dan Chmielinski/b and Carl Allen/dr. The tunes are either from or inspired by…
Just Play Peru: The Warrior Women of Afro-Peru Music
The band Just Play is a collection of women with vocalists Araceli Poma, Rosa Guzman, Charo Goyoneche, Sofia Buitron, Maricarmen Padill, Milagro Guerrero and Victoria Villalobos. They are backed by the scintillating team of percussionists Catalina Robles with Gisella Giurfa,…
Joel Miller: Unstoppable
Tenor and soprano saxist Joel Miller conducts a large jazz orchestra through a number of his sophisticated compositions on this album. There is a centerpiece of a six-movement “What You Can’t Stop” that features reeds and woodwinds akin to a…