Month: July 2021

Frank Macchia: Songs for Tracy

Best known for his rich tenor work and clever orchestral arrangements, Frank Macchia delivers an album more in a pop MOR mode with ballads and light jazz. Featuring Tracy London on vocals and pushed along by Brock Avery’s drums, Macchia…

Jacqui Naylor: The Long Game

Deep toned jazz vocal veteran Jacqui Naylor mixes originals with standards on this latest release with Art Khu/p-key-g, Jon Evans/b-g and Josh Jones/dr-perc. Her muscled delivery is up beat on her own “I’ll Be Loving You” and title piece, while…

Gabriel Evan Orchestra: Global Entry

Playing alto and soprano saxophone, Gabriel Evan brings together a team of Joe Goldberg/cl-ts, John Zarsky/tp, Joe Kennedy/p, Ben Fox/b and Michael Voelker/dr-perc for a collection of songs that sound like pre-swing two steppers. Hints of early Fletcher Henderson or…

Marius Neset: A New Dawn

Tenor saxist Marius Neset goes solo on this outing of passionate originals. His tone is breathy blue on pieces like “A New Creation” while he mixes subtones and sighs as he clips with his pads on “Old Poison (XL)”. Rapid…

Tommy Ward: From This Moment On

25 year old Tommy Ward  shows impressive vocal skills and chops on this introductory ep of cleverly read standards. He’s backed by some of the best, with John Patitucci-Chris Colangelo/b, Marvin “Smitty” Smith-ray Brinker/dr, Larry Koonse-Jake Langley/g and Bill Cunliffe/p…