Pianist and composer Richard D. Johnson teams up with saxist Sharel Cassity, bassist Alexander Claffey, and Mark Whitfield Jr./dr on this collection of post bop originals. His touch owes a debt to McCoy Tyner when he digs in with Cassity’s…
Month: December 2021
Graham Dechter: Major Influence
Judging by the music on this album with stablemates Tamir Hendelman/p, John Clayton/b and Jeff Hamilton/dr, it’s a pretty safe bet that the major influence in guitarist Graham Dechter’s musical experience has to be either Herb Ellis or a generation…
Lena Bloch & Feathery: Rose of Lifta
Rich and breathy toned tenor saxist Lena Bloch brings together Russ Lossing/p, Cameron Brown/b and Billy Mintz/dr for seven originals from the saxist or pianist. Her puffy reed broods gorgeously over Lossing’s melancholy ivories on “Mad Mirror” and on his…
The Bowmans: Scrutiny
Twin sisters Claire and Sarah Bowman produce a deeply personal album reflecting grief following the passing away of their mother. The introspective collection of songs delve into family topics of dysfunction, mental illness, coping and destructive relationships. The music itself…
Brandon Goldberg: In Good Time
Pianist Brandon Goldberg features possibly the last session of hard bopping drum legend Ralph Peterson on this vintage sounding album along with Luques Curtis/b, Josh Evans/tp, Stacy Dillardss-ts and guest Antoine Drye/tp on a mix and match of standards and…
Dave Liebman: Expansions-Selflessness
One of the true disciples of late period John Coltrane, saxist/flutist David Liebman explores the posthumously released album Selflessness and other material from the master saxists end of career with a sympathetic team of Matt Vashlishan/as-fl-cl-synth, Bobby Avey/p-key-synth, Tony Marino/dr…
Bill Banfield’s Jazz Urban 2: Hey..Holla When You Hear Me
Here’s an album, endorsed on the liner notes by Quincy Jones, that mixes modern jazz with the heat and beat of the inner city. Divided into three parts, the album goes from bop to hop with ease and grace. The…
WAYNE ESCOFFERY: THE SOUNDS OF LEGENDS…
HOW DOES ONE KEEP THE MUSIC OF LEGENDS ALIVE, WHILE STILL RETAINING YOUR OWN IDENTITY? THERE ARE SOME ‘GHOST’ BANDS THAT ATTEMPT TO EMULATE THE EXACT SOUNDS OF A COMPOSER OR ARRANGER. THE COUNT BASIE ORCHESTRA AND EVEN THE LINCOLN…
Putumayo Presents: Jazz Christmas
The stockings are swinging this Christmas in Putamayo’s latest collection of Christmas cheer. You get some nostalgic sounds with the Dixieland Ramblers with a buttery trombone delivering “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” while Houston Person blows smoke from the chimney…
STOCKING STUFFERS…June Bisantz: 7 Shades of Snow, Carolyn Lee Jones: Christmas Time Is Here
Yule like these two new Christmas albums… Vocalist June Bisantz delivers modern and original Christmas-themed songs, composed by Arnold Miller & Connie Pearce with a team of Jon Burr/b-leader, Mike Eckroth/p, James Chirillo/g, Marc Pianeuf/wwinds, Brandon Lee/tp and Alvester Garnett/dr.…