Flugelhorn efficianado Enrico Rava performs in a 2019 concert at Antwerp with his band of fellow Italians Francesco Bearzatti/ts, Francesco Didati/g, Giovanni Guidi/p, Gabriele Avangelista/b and Enrico Morello/dr on a wide range of stretched out post bop (mostly) originals. The…
Month: November 2021
The Gipsy Kings with Nicolas Reyes, and Mikaela Davis @ The Greek Theatre 11.06.21
With all of the postponed concerts last year due to the draconian COVID restrictions, the crowd at The Greek Theatre was ready to celebrate, finally getting out into the open before the next set of Governor Gruesome’s rules come down…
Johnathan Blake: Homeward Bound
One of today’s best mainstream drummers, Johnathan Blakes makes an impressive debut with a label that is logical for him, namely Blue Note. Blake’s band Pentad includes longtime associate Dezron Douglas/b, David Virelles/p-k, as well as relative newcombers Immanuel Wilkins/as…
SWR Big Band with Magnus Lundgren & John Beasley: Bird Lives-The Charlie Parker Project
Best known for his big band interpretations of Thelonious Monk, pianist/arranger John Beasley explores the songbook of another bebop icon, Charlie Parker, along with the SWR Big Band and woodwinder Magnus Lungren and a wonderful guests list of soloists. The…
Soul Café’: Step Aside
A mix of soul and jazz reminiscent of the halcyon days of The Crusaders is delivered by the team of Ed Starrett/g, Jerry Scruggs/key, Jason Swagler/wwinds-keys, Tim Quarells/dr, Bud Quarells/b and Donald Williams/perc on this pulsating collection of originals. Quarells’…
STILL ASLEEP AFTER ALL THESE YEARS….Asleep At The Wheel: Half A Hundred Years
Celebrating 50 years of Western Swing, members and alumni of Asleep At The Wheel get together for this festive album of juke joint jumping material. Vocalist Ray Benson is still at the helm, along with old timers Floyd Domino/p, Jimmy…
Jorge Rossy-Robert Landfermann-Jeff Ballard: Puerta
It’s interesting and revealing that two of the gents here, Jorge Rossy/vib-mar and Jeff Ballard/d-perc, spent time in Brad Mehldau’s piano trio. They, along with bassist Robert Landfermann, take on originals by (mostly) Rossy on post bop themes that at…
Hasaan Ibn Ali: Retrospect in Retirement of Delay-The Solo Recordings
Early in 2021, the jazz world got re-introduced to obscure hard bop Philadelphian pianist Hasaan Ibn Ali with a stunning historical album Metaphysics. Sounding a bit like Herbie Nichols and Thelonious Monk, Ali was simply unique in his voicings and…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Kazemde George: I Insist
Reading the liner notes, and observing the serious expression of tenor saxist Kazemde George’s album, I was expecting a series of either angry or self absorbed compositions and deliveries, particularly when a self-described goal to “channel great masters like…(rapper) J…
Larry McDonough Quartet: Kind of Bill On The Palace Grounds
I remember hearing on the radio the news the death of Bill Evans; pianist Larry McDonough reminds us that it’s the 40th Anniversary of that date, giving verbal and musical tribute to the jazz giant with Richard Terrill/sax-poetry, Greg Stinson/b…