One of the most underrated composers and guitarists, Leni Stern, releases yet another strong album that melds American jazz with West African thoughts. Along with guitar, Stern sings a bit and plays the West African stringed instrument n’goni, but not…
Month: July 2020
Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra: Four Questions
Questions posed by author W.E.B. Du Bois in his book The Souls of Black Folk are espoused in both word and song by Arturo O’Farrill in this penetrating and serious of his most recent albums. There is an inclusion of…
BELLA! Sissy Castrogiovanni: Terra
This album by vocalist/composer Sissy Castrogiovanni reminds me of the years I lived in Rome, Italy, and was exposed to Italian pop sounds. The Italians have a unique style and delivery, always putting in a ton of lyrics, melded with…
Alain Mallet: A Wake of Sorrows Engulfed In Rage
French keyboardist Alain Mallet creates a Raphaelesque tapestry of sounds and moods with a mix and match collection of artists that include Daniel Rotem/ts, Anat Cohen/cl, Jamey Haddad/perc, Leandro Pellegrino/eg, a string section that includes oud, sinter, violin and lauto…
Peripheral Vision: Irrational Revelation and Mutual Humiliation
This is an ambitious two disc set featuring the core team of tenor saxist Trevor Hogg, guitarist Don Scott, Michael Herring on bass with drummer Nick Fraser along with guests Michael Davidson/vib, Craig Harley/key, Jean Martin/org-synth and Chris Pruden/synth. The…
Ajoyo: War Chant
Here’s an album filled with fresh and vibrant ideas, sometimes with clever instrumentals or passionate vocals. Singer Sarah Elizabeth Charles is featured in front of Yacine Boulares/sax, Jesse Fischer/key, Michael Valeanu/g, Kyles Miles/b and Philippe Lemm/dr on a multi-cultured collection…
Mathis Sound Orchestra: World Unity
No, this is not a band that does versions of “Chances Are” or “Misty”, but the Mathis Sound Orchestra is an 11 piece band lead by keyboardist/composer/producer Mathis Picard (anyone want to do a Star Trek reference?), and the five…
Evelyn Rubio: Crossing Borders
Vocalist and alto saxist Evelyn Rubio delivers a wide ranging rhythmic album that includes rootsy guitarist David Grissom, (John Mellencamp) and Josh Sklair of Etta James fame. You get some swampy Memphis stews, therefore with a gritty voice and attitude…
Mayita Dinos: The Garden Is My Stage
Vocalist Mayita Dinos brings wide-eyed wanderlust in her tone as she takes a collection of standards and makes pastel impressionistic portraits. There is a mix and max collection of artists Rich Eames-Bill Cantos/p, Dori Amarilio/g, Alex Budman/fl-ss, Steve Hass-Tiki Pasillas/dr-perc,…
The Mark Harvey Group: A Rite For All Souls
Recorded from a 1971 performance at Old West Church, Boston, MA, this complete and unedited performance on two discs the quartet of Mark Harvey on brass instruments, Peter H. Bloom on woodwinds, and the percussion team of Craig Ellis with…