Co-founder of the famed band NRBQ, Joey Spampinato has friends getting together to make t his album to provide funds in which to help the bassist pay off financial burdens as he gets treatment for cancer. All 14 tunes are…
Month: August 2021
Bruce Harris: Soundview
Trumpeter Bruce Harris takes you back to the classic and vintage days of boppers like Blue Mitchell and Kenny Dorham on this swinging collection of tunes with a nifty team of Sullivan Fortner/p, David Wong/b and Aaron Kimmel/dr. Samara McClendon…
Brandee Younger: Somewhere Different
The harp is probably the most ignored instrument in jazz, usually identified with the avant garde strummings of Alice Coltrane, and then forgotten for anything that swings along with Dorothy Ashby. Brandee Younger makes the harp not only swing, but…
Brad Vickers and his Vestapolitans: The Music Gets Us Through
Guitarist and warm toned vocalist Brad Vickers delivers blues and boogies along with vocalist/composer Margey Peters for a footstomping collection of mostly originals. Peters belts out a gospel inflected “Now It’s Time For Me To Sing The Blues” and is…
A BOOK FOR HIS MUSIC….Nik Baertsch: Listening-Music Movement Mind
You’re probably most familiar with pianist/keyboardist Nik Baertsch through his creative “zen-funk” quartet Ronin, but the artist is equally adept at the pen. This creative and enjoyable book is a series of writings about his passion about the holistic view…
Shawn Glyde: The Pyramid Factor
Drummer, keyboardist and composer Shawn Glyde hits the fusion button on this album that includes all stars John Patitucci-Jimmy Haslip/b, Larry Koonse/g and Jason Galuten among the sessionmeisters here. Some hot and intricate piano work is displayed on the plugged…
NEW NEWS FROM NEUMA…Juraj Jojs: Imagine, Sonidos Cubanos 2, Ros Bandt: Medusa Dreaming
Fresh ideas and sounds are released by the Minnesota-based label Neuma Records. Sort of classical, sort of jazzy, and definitely creative, these latest three show the fermentation of fertile ideas. Juraj Kojs plays electronics, narrates and composes the material on…
Elijah Rock: Matters of the Heart
Male singers that don’t stick to the cookie cutter format are hard to come by, which is why I appreciate Elijah Rock so much. He’s got a delivery with his high baritone voice like he knows the score, but still…
Elijah Rock CD Release@Catalina Jazz Club 08.18.21
It takes a certain kind of artist these days to carry on the torch passed on from the likes of Nat “King” Cole, Freddie Cole, Billy Eckstine and Joe Williams. Judging by the success of Elijah Rock’s 90 minute set…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****The Fabia Mantwill Orchestra: Em.Perience
This debut recording by composer/conductor Fabial Mantwill boldly states that there’s a new and fresh wind blowing in the big band scene. This nine song album includes a 12 pieces string section, a seven member horn section, vibes, harp, guitar…