Various ways for ladies to present jazz at the microphone… Sinne Eeg has been noted for delivering albums of intimate, small group affairs. This time, the delicate chanteuse is backed by the Danish Radio Big Band, and she even contributes…
Month: February 2020
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Christian McBride: The Movement Revisited-A Musical Portrait of Four Icons
It is a rare treat when the mix of music and message is balanced to please both the hearers of the music and not feel preached at by the messenger. Christian McBride perfectly walks the tightrope on this combination of…
The Westerlies: Wherein Lies The Good
The Westerlies Quartet literally brags in brass with two trumpets by Riley Mulherkar and Chloe Rowlands alongside a pair of trombones in Andy Clausen with Willlem De Koch for 18 mostly concise themes. The songs range from tradition and spirituals…
Danny Lerman: Ice Cat
Saxist Danny Lerman puts together a soulful ep on this latest release. You get some AWBish sizzling funk on “Mendi” and a snazzy bass line on “Boris The Cat” with a nice solo by Lerman in the latter. Some rich…
Lawson Rollins: True North
One of today’s masters of the nylon strings, Lawson Rollins delivers twelve originals with a gypsy flavored team of Dave Bryant/dr-perc, Mads Tolling/vi, Dan Feiszli/b and guest Stephen Duros. Rollins mixes it up with acoustic and electric, teaming with Tolling…
Yelena Eckemoff: Nocturnal Animals
Pianist and composer Yelena Eckemoff has built up a catalogue of impressively themed albums. This recent one is a two-disc affair with bassist Arild Andersen and drummers Jon Christensen and Thomas Stronen. The songs are dedicated to and reflective of…
LADIES IN SONG…Ellen Edwards: A New York Session, Amber Weekes: Pure Imagination, Elena Gilliam & Michael Le Van: Then Another Turns, Carol Albert: Stronger Now
Relaxed voiced Ellen Edwards sounds street smart on this 5 song ep with Robbie Kandor/p, Jeff Mrionov/g, Will Lee/b, Gen Lake/dr, Jason Miles/vib-B3-str, Randy Brecker/tp and Richie Morales/perc. She writes all of the material and it ranges from an lilting…
IN GROUPS OF THREES…IN Trio: Cascade, Negroni’s Trio: Acustico, Graewe Reijseger Hemingway: Kammern I-V
The IN Trio, consisting of Harvie S on bass, Christian Finger on drums/percussion and Tim Armacost on saxes, alto flute and electronics weave back and forth between atmospheric moods and post bop pulsations. With Armacost on flute and electronics, you…
TRUMPET SOUNDS…Benny Benack III: A Lot Of Livin’ To Do, David Longoria: Mood
Benny Benack mixes hip trumpet and voice on this mix of standards and originals with a core team of Takeshi Ohbayashi/p, Ulysses Owens Jr/dr and all star bassist Christian McBride along with some guests. His horn bops like Kenny Dorham…
Ron Burris: Mr. Cool
Warm toned saxist Ron Burris plays tenor, alto and soprano with a team of Leo Cavanaugh/g, Wayne De La Cruz/key, Steve Webber/b, Evan Carr/dr, Ron Carson/perc and guest Laurice McCoy-Ozyuwah. On soprano, he sounds like a young Coltrane as he …