Derrick Hodge brings jazz and urban hip hop together in a vein similar to Robert Glasper on this album with a new band consisting of keyboardists Jahari Stampley-Michael Aaberg, drummers Mike Mitchell-Justin Tyson, and DJ Jahi Sundance on the turntables,…
Month: July 2020
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Brian Landrus: For Now
Brian Landrus brings together an all star lineup with pianist Fred Hersch, drummer Billy Hart, bassist Drew Gress, Michael Rodriguez on trumpet and a sleek string team of sara Caswell/vi, Joyce Hammann/vi, Lois Martin/va and Jody Redhage-Ferber/cel for a rich…
Shawn Bell: Trio
Warm-toned trombonist Shawn Bell leads a dynamic trio with organist Mitch Towne and drummer John Kizilarmut through this 5 song EP of originals and covers. The team likes to play with dynamics, giving a big one-two punch before digging into…
Jim Robitaille Trio: Space Cycles
Jim Robitaille uses a wide variety of guitars and sounds in this colorful trio album with electric bassist Bill Miele and drummer Chris Poudrier. The strings have almost a country flavor as he twangs out a bluesy post bopper “Natural…
Matthew Shipp: The Piano Equation
Usually associated with the free form sax of Ivo Perelman, pianist Matthew Shipp shows he can (literally) go it alone on this wide ranging, personal and accessible collection of crafty originals. His fingers are a wonder, able to show strength,…
Jonathan Barber & Vision Ahead: Legacy Holder
Drummer Jonathan Barber uses both his drumsticks and writing pen on this collection of (mostly) originals with his band of Taber Gable/p-key, Andrew Renfroe/g, Godwin Louis/as and Matt Dwonsyk/b on this collection of fluid post-bop themes. With Barber encouraging the…
Gabriel Chakarji: New Beginnings
Pianist and composer Gabriel Chakarji brings together vocalist Carmela Ramirez, trumpeter Adam O’Farrill, tenor saxist Morgan Guerin and percussionist Jeickov Vital along with a core trio with drummer Jongkuk Kim and bassist Edward Perez on this eight song collection of…
David Bixler Bixtet: Blended Lineage
When he’s not holding down the alto sax chair of Arturo O’Farrill’s Orchestra, alto saxist David Bixler creates an impressive catalogue of his own. This one has the Phil Woods-inspired saxist mixing jazz and strings in a tasty fashion on…
The Nighthawks: Tryin’ To Get To You
Rocking the blues since the 1970s, The Nighthawks still pack a wallop. Here, everyone sings, with Mark Wenner on the howling harp, Dan Hovey mixing up Gibsons and Teles, Mark Stutso shuffling the drums and Paul Pisciotta throbbing the bass…
#Bloomerangs: Moments and Fragments
The collective of Stefan Lenthe/b, Clay Wulbrecht/p-key, Chris Parker/dr and Rodrigo Cotelo/g deliver thirteen tunes and fragments that show rich interplay and communication. A handful of tunes are quicky vignettes, featuring Cotelo on banjo for “Layers of Complexity” and Lenthe…