Pianist and composer Manuel Valera gleaned well from his days with Arturo Sandoval and Paquito D’Rivera, creating an album with a vibrant and extroverted big band featuring vocalists Sofia Rei and Camila Meza. The songs are themed around writings of…
Month: October 2020
ON THE WINGS OF A BEATLE…Ulf Wakenius: Taste Of Honey
A trio led by Swedish guitarist Ulf Wakenius and teamed with bassist Lars Danielsson with drummer Magnus Ostrom give tribute to Sir Paul McCartney’s pen with some clever takes of tune’s he composed or was associated with when he was…
Sam Decker: Shrove
Soft and pastoral pastels are painted by the breathy tenor sax of Sam Decker as he brings together the clarinet and bass clarinet of Michael Sachs, Dov Manski’s pianos, Areyh Kobrinsky on bass and drummer Nathan Ellman-Bell for eight originals.…
Savoy Brown: Ain’t Done Yet
Guitarist, vocalist and founder Ken Simmonds continues to wave the Savoy Brown flag after 50 years with his team of Pat DeSalvo/b and Garnet Grimm/dr on decalogue of blues. He shows his tasty chops and style on the instrumental “Crying…
Ella Fitzgerald: The Lost Berlin Tapes
Can you ever have enough Ella? Not judging by this latest release, a recording of her working team of Paul Smith/, Wilfred Middlebrooks/b and Stan Levey/dr working the crowd and in an enthusiastic mood in March 25, 1962, just two…
Victor Janusz: A Song To Love-Music and Lyrics of Victor Janusz 2004-2020
Singer, pianist and composer Victor Janusz displays the wares of the past 16 years on this collection of material having him singing in a variety of settings with a rotating team of musicians. His own voice has a street-wise feel…
Rick Cutler: Women & Children
Pianist and composer Rick Cutler mixes tunes ranging from solo to intimate groups on this subdued and unassuming session. He mixes and matches with Lawrence Feldman/ts, Richard Boukas/g, David Katzenberg/b and Billy Mintz/dr throughout, going solo on casuals such as…
John Finbury: American Nocturnes-Final Days of July
Pretty watercolors are painted by pianist/composer John Finbury, who actually only plays one song on this gorgeous album, an intimate solo “Waltz For Patty” to close things out. Otherwise he employs Tim Ray at the ivories to team up with…
William Chernoff: Aim To Stay
Leader William Chernoff trades off between electric and acoustic bass on this lyrically swinging album with Chet Baker inspired trumpeter Thad Bailey-Mai, pianist Johnny Tobin, and drummer Carson Tworow for the electric tracks and Bobby Wiens for the upright ones.…
Adonis Rose: Piece of Mind
Caught in concert at Blue Llama Records, drummer Adonis Rose creates a classic sounding post bop team with a front line of Tia Fuller/ss-as, Maurice Brown/tp, Miki Hayama/p Jasen Weaver/b and guest vocalist Sasha Masakowski for a mix of originals…