For his last will and musical testament, the recently departed Lyle Mays (November 27, 1953 – February 10, 2020) gave us one last glimpse into his musical mind. The longtime musical partner of Pat Metheny gives a tribute to bassist…
Month: August 2021
Jeff Chaz: I Just Caught The Blues
Veteran Crescent City blueser Jeff Chaz displays 50 shades of blue on this collection of mostly originals as he sings with dirt under his nails while playing guitar and bass accompanied on various forms of percussion by YEDI The darker…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****THE RESISTANCE TO FUSION…Roy Brooks: Understanding
After Miles Davis plugged in and released albums like In A Silent Way and Bitches Brew, jazz became divided into two groups; those like Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and Chick Corea who joined the fusion revolution, or the shrinking minority…
Molly Miller Trio: St. George
LA guitarist Milly Miller, known for her work with Jason Mraz and Black Eyed Peas, leads a trio with bassist Jennifer Condos and drummer Jay Bellerose on this understated and unassuming collection of originals. The tones range from a Bo…
Osmond Chapman Orchestra: There’s More Where That Came From
Rat Pack vocalist David Osmond co-leads a swinging big band with alto saxist and musical director Caleb Chapman on this finger snapping mix of standards and originals. The brass is bold for Osmond on a Mel Torme-ish take of “The…
Terence Blanchard: Absence
Trumpeter/composer Terence Blanchard has carved out a career not only as one of the most important trumpeters on earth, but his composing and arranging skills are second to none, and yet sometimes overlooked. He’s done soundtracks and operas, all clever…
Dan Wilkins-James Collins-Gene Perla-Byron Landham: Horizons Quartet
Soprano and tenor saxist Dan Wilkins brings his compositions to the team of James Collins/p-key, Gene Perla/b and Byron Landham/dr for this integrated sounds of post bop and modal. On tenor sax, he broods with Collins’ piano on “Marionettes” ,…
Angela Wrigley Trio
Canadian vocalist Angela Wrigley has a Memphis soul to her voice, singing and playing piano with her team of Derek Stoll/b,-p-key, Dave Lake/dr, Bob Fenske/perc and a horn team of Cory Weeds/ts-as, Vince Mai/p and Rod Murray/tp. She shows some…
Wanderlust: All A View
I assume that when a band makes an album, it wants it to know who is playing the songs and what the songs are. I just received a cd by the group Wanderlust, giving credit to Scot Sax and Rob…
Laura Nyro: Trees of the Ages-Live in Japan
One of the most legendary singer/songwriters, the late Laura Nyro (1947-97), has one of her rarest of “live” recordings finally issued in the US. Originally only released in Japan back in 2003, Trees of the Ages catches Ms. Nyro in…