Alto-saxist Maceo Parker has dug a niche that is hard to resist, mixing blues, jazz and vintage R&B with artists ranging from James Brown to Parliament as well as his own solo career. Here, he brings together a Crescent City…
Month: October 2020
VOICES THAT TIME FORGOT…Kitty White: Intimate Kitty White Sings, Donna Drake: Donna Drake Sings Dinah/Paula Haliday: Haliday Sings Holiday, Tony Travis: I See Your Face Before Me/Come Swing With Me,
It’s amazing how many jazz vocalists have been overlooked over the decades. Here are three reissue sets that make you wonder how some singers strike it big and others get overlooked, as no one here deserved the obscurity that they…
Jesse Fischer: Resilience
Keyboardist and composer Jesse Fischer creates rich and dramatic post bop material with a key team of Billy Buss/tp, Godwin Louis/ss-as, Morgan Guerin/ts-EWI, Jordan Peters/g, David Cutler/b, Obed Calvaire/dr, Keita Ogawa/perc and various special guests. Trumpet star Christian Scott lends…
EARTH TONES…Andrew “Smokey” Hogg: The Andrew “Smokey Hogg Collection 1937-57
Blues ranging from back porch casuals to juke joint smokers were delivered by Texas bluesman Andrew “Smokey” Hogg (1914-1960). Influenced by the likes of Big Bill Broonzy and Lightnin’ Hopkins (who might have been his cousing), Hogg’s career is captured…
Nicole Zuraitis: All Wandering Hearts
I’ve gotta admit that I’m a sucker for a jazz singer who writes her own stuff. I mean, do we really need one more “My Funny Valentine”? Nicole Zuraitis has a nice use of the pen, sometimes feeling like a…
Christian Euman: Allemong
Drummer Christian Euman steps out from his role as a sideman for the likes of Billy Childs, Walter Smith II, Marquis Hill and Geoff Keezer and shows his style and styles on this soulful disc with a core team of…
Adam Kolker: Lost
Adam Kolker plays tenor and a bit of soprano sax as he leads an impressive team anchored by legendary drummer Billy Hart, pianist Bruce Barth and bassist Ugonna Okegwo on this collection of jazz covers and a couple originals. Of…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Mon David & Josh Nelson: D+N+A
Two of LA’s finest get together for a meeting made in jazz heaven. Pianist Josh Nelson has made a career balancing swinging small group jazz with being one of the best vocal accompanists while Mon David is one of the…
Michael Silverman: Human Spirit
Pianist/composer Michael Silverman has made an impressive career out of recording pieces for film and TV, including productions as “The Good Wife” and “Two and a Half Men”. An enviable position ofr any musician, and now he delves into his…
Bartosz Hadala Group: Three Short Stories
Pianist and composer Bartosz Hadala leads a post bop team of Michael Manring/b, Brad Cheeseman/b, Marito Marques/dr, Luis Deni/as, Kelly Jefferson/ts, Eric St-Laurent/g and Joao Frade/acc through an eclectic collection of originals. The rhythm team is able to deliver funky…