Drummer and percussionist Vanderlei Pereira sizzles in a series of Brazilian sambas and beyond along with a team of Jorge Continentino/woodwinds, Rodrigo Ursaia/ts, Susan Pereira/voc-perc, Deanna Witkowski/p, Paul Meyers/g and Gustavo Amarante-Itaiguara Brandao/eb. The front line of Ms. Pereira’s rich…
Month: June 2020
Pericopes +1: Up
Emiliano Vernizzi plays a Sonny Rollins-thick tenor saxophone, as well as bringing in some electronics, with keyboardist and pianist Alessandro Sgobbio doing the same with drummer Nick Wight on these mostly band-composed pieces. The three give a wide variety of…
BORN TO BE BLUES…Jay Willie & James Montgomery: Cadillac Walk, Lisa Mills: The Triangle
The blues are brewin’… Jay Willie plays a slick guitar and nasty slide, singing along with lead vocalist and harpmeister James Montgomery and a supporting cast of Paul Opalzch/b-keys-stg, Bobby T Torello and backing vocalsist Lee-Ann Lovelace and Kyle Mangold…
THROW IN A DOLLAR…Harrison Argatoff: Toronto Streets Tour
Tenor saxist Harrison Argatoff literally takes it to the streets as he takes the role of the sax players that you pass by at street markets or corners and gives a solo symphony. You can detect the background sounds of…
Michael Whalen: Sacred Spaces
Michael Whalen plays all of the instruments, ranging form a plethora of keyboards to percussion and guitars with even some voice on this collection of ten mood pieces. Hints of Edward Grieg come up on the atmospheric “ A Metaphysical…
Naama Gheber: Dearly Beloved
Blossom Dearie-voiced Naama Gheber brings a fluid form and rich vibrato to this rich mix of standards as she’s supported by a simpatico team of Steve Nelson/vib, Ray Gallon/p, David Wong/b and Aaron Kimbel/dr. Nelson’s vibe chime well with Gheber’s…
Willie Nile: New York At Night
A mix of 70s New Wave and 60 peppy vintage rock are delivered by Willie Nile as he sings, plays guitar and piano with a snappy team of Johnny Pisano/b, Matt Hogan/g-key, Jon Weber/dr, and a collection of guests. When…
MORE OF THE BEST VOICES THAT TIME FORGOT…Shelley Moore: For The First Time…/Ann Williams: First Time Out, Lynn Taylor: I See Your Face Before Me/Marjorie Lee: Remembering With Marjorie Lee, Carole Simpson: Singin’ and Swingin’/Connie Haines: A Tribute to Helen Morgan
This latest series of BEST VOICES from Fresh Sound Records consistently makes me wonder why I bother listening to any of today’s singers. These obscure ladies have a better vocal delivery, inherent swing, clarity and musical support than anyone out…
MEHLDAU MOMENTS…Brad Mehldau: Suite-April 2020, Joshua Redman-Brad Mehldau-Christian McBride-Brian Blade: RoundAgain
Though socially distanced, pianist Brad Mehldau is releasing music for us still under some sort of lockdown, either from COVID or riots. Stay safe and healthy, and enjoy… Mehldau teams up with fellow top tier artists Joshua Redman/ts-ss, Christian McBride/b…
Roberta Flack: First Take 50th Anniversary Edition
Not only was 1969 a year of fusion in rock music, but this debut album by Roberta Flack demonstrates that soul music was taking a major turn as well. This two disc Anniversary set of First Take includes the legendary…