If singer Giacomo Gates knew any more about hip, he could be a chiropractor. His latest album (from a highly recommended catalogue) reveals another perspective of the man of the world-turned jazz vocalist. Teaming up with Tim Ray/p, John Lockwood/b…
Month: April 2022
Maggie Gould & Nanny Assis@Catalina’s 04.20.22
Leave it to a New Zealander to bring out the best in Brazilian jazz! Kiwi vocalist Maggie Gould joined forces with guitarist/percussionist/vocalist Nanny Assis for an evening of soulful and sensuous samba, using the genre as a puree for material…
Juan Carlos Quintero: Table For Five!
Guitarist Juan Carlos Quintero hits my weak spot for Brazilian jazz, as his Wes Montgomery-styled strings take on bop standards and South American tunes. Teamed with Eddie Resto/bo, Joe Rotondi/p, Aaron Serfaty/dr and Joey DeLeon/perc, he sizzles over the lithe…
Alex “Apolo” Ayala: Bambula
Bassist Alex “Apolo” Ayala creates a richly mooded and exotic album with drummer Ivan Renta and Ivan Renta on soprano or alto sax. Journeys far and wide are travelled to, with the title piece featuring Ayala’s elastic strings supporting Renta’s…
Farzin Farhadi Trio + String Quartet: The Cure
Lovely moods are created by Farzin Farhadi on the soprano and alto saxes, joined by his jazz team of Trey Henry/b and Christian Jacob/p along with the Allegria String Quartet directed by Benedikt Brydern. The strings add a rich texture,…
Chuck Lamb & Peter Mack: Exit 33
Pianist Chuck Lamb teams up with bassist Peter Mack for some deft and swinging interpretations of standards and originals. Lamb has a folkish and traditional feel in his fingers for the title track, while upbeat on the bopping “B.E” and…
CROONERS AND PRE BEATLES POP FROM AVID…Johnny Hartman: Four Classic Albums Plus, Freddy Cannon: Four Classic Albums Plus
After Elvis and before the Beatles, what did people listen to. Well, clean pop and crooners! Billy Eckstine-inspired baritone Johnny Hartman is best known for his collaboration with tenor saxist John Coltrane, but his own catalogue is quite impressive. His…
THE FUSE OF FUSION STILL BURNS…Stephan Thelen: Fractal Guitar 2 Remixes, Markus Reuter: Truce 2, Simon Phillips: Protocol 5
Enduring through 5 decades of styles that have come and gone, the mix of jazz and rock, called “fusion”, is still shining brightly. Here are three recent plugged in adventures. Stephan Thelen brings his electric guitars, basses, synths and programming…
BIG BANDS…The BBB Featuring Bernie Dresel: The Pugalist, Manuel Valera New Cuban Express Big Band: Distancia
Though few and far between, there are still existent big bands, usually created for the studio, but if one comes to town, by all means take advantage of the opportunity. Here is a nice sample… An alumnus of Gordon Goodwin’s…
WOMEN AT THE MIC…Scott Kinsey/Mer Sal: Adjustments, Angela Verbrugge: Love For Connoisseurs
Ah, the stories women tell… The team of vocalist/bassist Mer Sal and keyboardist Scott Kinsey mix and match with fusion drummers like “Gergo Borlai-Gary Novak as well as guitarists including Scott Henderson, Pedro Martins, Oz Noy and Nir Felder on…