Missing melody, harmony and sublime swing? Me too! Got a cure for you-check out this THREE, count ‘em THREE disc set from tenor saxist and conductor David Angel, as he brings in some of LA’s finest studio studs for an…
Month: May 2021
Mandy Barnett: Every Star Above
Vocalist Mandy Barnett gives homage to the classic Billie Holiday album Lady in Satin by revisiting those tunes, albeit under the arrangement of the iconic pen of Sammy Nestico. Oh, there are still plenty of strings and horns as on…
Bruce Brown: Death of Experience
Bruce Brown comes off as a double threat, singing with a breezy hip style like a polished Mark Murphy, while composing tunes with clever to the core lyrics. He’s supported by a cast of John Harkins/p, Brendan Clarke/b, Andrew Kickeson/dr,…
John Stowell and Dan Dean: Rain Painting
Here’s an intimate and intriguing duet created by John Stowell on various guitars and Dan Dean who brings voice, bass, percussion and drum programming to the mix. Dean’s voice is hauntingly similar to the likes of Joao Gilberto, but Dean…
Vijay Iyer: Uneasy
Pianist and composer Vijay Iyer takes a break from his larger ensemble to strip down to a trip format with drummer Tyshawn Sorey and bassist Linda May Han Oh for a collections of (mostly) originals. The overall ambience is solemn,…
Idit Shner: Live at the Jazz Station
Alto saxist Idit Sner displays a warm and rich tone as she leads her quartet of Torrey Newhart/p-org, Garrett Baxter/b and Ken Mastrogiovanni/dr through a swinging set at Oregon’s The Jazz Station a couple years back. The team is West…
Charlie Porter: Hindsight
Trumpeter and composer Charlie Porter leads a lyrical post bop team of Nick Biello/sax-key, Mike Moreno/g, Behn Gillece/vib, Orrin Evans/key, David Wong/b, Damian Erskine/b, Kenneth Salters/dr and various guests through a wide variety of moods. The Hallowed Halls Gospel Choir,…
The Dynamic Les DeMerle Band featuring Bonnie Eisle: Hot Night In Venice
Recorded at the Venice Jazz Club in Italy back in 2014, this album is a swinging affair with drummer, vocalist and leader Les DeMerle leading a trio with Johannes Bjerregaard/p and Chris Luard snapping through some standards and occasionally joined…
David Kikoski with Boris Kozlov: Sure Thing
Gorgeous and lyrical duets between piano and bass are delivered by David Kikoski and Boris Kozlov, respectively here. The thing that always brings me to appreciate duos of any kind is simply that there is no place to hide, you…
Buck Owens, Johnny Cash, George Jones and the Whole Gang: The Greatest Country Hits of 1960
Why feature country music on a jazz site? Well, back in the 50s and 60s, country was simply the gapped-tooth cousin of jazz. Like jazz, it’s best always had a story to tell and the music swung. This four disc,…