You’ve got to admit that it gets your attention when an album touts itself as including “jazz all stars”. So, who are these “All Stars” these days? Well, you get a pretty impressive team with saxists Rick Margitza and Ralph…
Month: February 2021
Rick Margitza: Sacred Hearts
Tenor saxist Rick Margitza blow strong and hard with a muscular team of Alex Acuna/perc, Jake Langley/g, Manuel Rocheman/p, Peter Giron/b0voc, Jeff Boudreaux/dr, guest vocalists Chole Cailleton-Pierre de Bethmann, Oliver Louvel/b-banj, Xavier Desandre Navarre/perc and tenor titan guest Bob Sheppard…
Andy James: Tu Amor
Husky voiced Andy James surrounds herself with some of the best in jazz on this impressive album of standards and obscurities. The supporting team includes a horn section of Rick Margitza/Bob Sheppard/ts, Terell Stafford/tp and Michael Dease/tb, Bill Cunliffe and…
Miguel Espinoza’s Flamenco Fusion: Veneta KARI
You’ve only got 6 songs on this ep led by guitarist Miguel Espinoza, but a lot is said, making you beg for more. He brings together a band that is kind of a chamber/flamingo affair, with Dianne Betkowski/cel, Lynn Baker/ss-ts,…
Baker’s Brew: New Works
Usually, when you read phrases like “spontaneous compositions” on the liner notes of an album, your first association is usually, “cacophonic ramblings”. Well, in the hands of vets like drummer Maury Baker, guitarist Daniel Coffeng, Jim Goetsch on sax and…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****BROTHERLY LOVE…Nicki & Patrick Adams: Lynx
Pianist Nicki Adams creates rich duets with brother and trumpeter Patrick on this rich and communicative collection of modern jazz readings. Their taste in song selection is as good as their delivery, with Nicki going full stride on an energetic…
Terry Jahz Lewis: Rise Up Universe
Need an antidote for all of the negativity in the news, as well as some acoustic relief during the COVID lockdown? This album by bassist/composer Terry Jahz Lewis needs to be played from start to completion about 3 times a…
Andrew Gutauskas: Look Out!
Andrew Gutauskas is a double threat on baritone and soprano saxes on this bopping session with a core of bassist Josh Paris and drummer Chris Smith in a trio setting, sometimes going quartet with trombonists Robert Edwards or Willie Applewhite.…
Byron Dowd: High Road
Texas singer/songwriter Byron Dowd delivers a variety of homespun moods on this 5 song ep of originals. Some slide guitar from Milo Deering creates a Nashville skyline on”High Road” while some bluegrass flows from the upbeat “Raindrop” and bluesy “Gasoline”…
Tony Glausi: When It All Comes Crashing Down
Tony Glausi mixes dramatic sounds with dark and introspective messages as he sings, plays various keyboards and blows a glorious horns in a wide variety of settings with Emmet Cohen/p, Dan Chimielinski/b, Bryan Carter/dr and various guests. He bookends the…