Blues vet Joanna Connor is shown in her bluesiest best outfit on this Joe Bonamassa-produced session which includes Joe B in the band with the iconic Reese Wynans/key, Josh Smith/g, Calvin Turner/b, Lemar Carter/dr and a STAXY horn section of…
Month: March 2021
Jack Brandfield: I’ll Never Be The Same
Relaxed and casual swing is served up in a classy fashion by tenor saxist Jack Brandfield, teamed up with guitarist Randy Napoleon and bassist Rodney Whitaker on a mix of classy standards and Brazilia. Brandfield’s tone is big enough to…
David Larsen: The Mulligan Chronicles
Baritone saxist David Larsen gives a tribute to the sound and arranging skills of the iconic Gerry Mulligan on this album of interpretations of the master. He’s teamed with a West Coast Cool team of trombonist Dave Glenn, piano vet…
WELL PRESERVED JAMS…Joe Castro: Passion Flower (for Doris Duke)
Pianist Joe Castro had one of those jazz lives that unfortunately got overlooked but fortunately got re-discovered by Sunnyside Records. In the 1950s, he was a fledging bebopper, playing with the likes of Teddy Edwards and Billy Higgins in the…
BLUES AND FOLK FROM AVID…B.B. King: Four Classic Albums Plus, Classic Folk: Four Classic Albums Plus
Sounds that still sound fresh today from the taproot of modern American music. B.B. King’s (almost) first albums are covered in this two cd set. From 1960, his King of the Blues is essentially a mix of his Crown, Kent…
Steve Lukather: I Found The Sun Again
Famed session guitarist, Toto member and part of Ringo’s All Stars, Steve Lukather taps into all of his talents on this vintage sounding mix of rock, jazz and blues with long-time stablemates. Lukather is teamed with his Nerve Bundle band…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****A ONE-OFF GEM…Hasaan Ibn Ali: Metaphysics
Here’s a pianist I guarantee you’ve never heard before, as he only did (to my knowledge) only this one session as a leader and then dropped off into even deeper obscurity. Pianist Hasaan Ibn Ali was discovered by drummer Max…
Monder-Malaby-Rainey: Live at the 55 Bar
Just before the world shut down its door to prevent any live gigs, the team of guitarist Ben Monder, saxist Tony Malaby and drummer Tom Rainey snuck in one more show at NYC’s 55 Bar. Luckily it was recorded, so…
The Rooibos Quartet: Rooibos
The team of guitarist Jesse Shafer, bassist Fisher Wilson, pianist Tyler Sim and drummer Kain Naylor put together an album or rich and sophisticated modern originals. The team gives a CTI soul feel as they stretch out on a 15…
Diego Barber: Drago
Guitarist Diego Barber gets a bit experimental on the electronic side of sounds on this most recent recording, mixing strings, loops and effects in a wide variety with ways along with some guests. Vocalist Theo Bleckmann brings in rich textured…