Yeah, I know…”is this one of those ‘jazz meets classical projects’ where neither types of fans are satisfied?” “Au, Contrare!” If you didn’t know that the ten songs on this album were composed by the pianist Frederic Chopin, you ‘d…
Month: May 2022
TRIOS…Lynne Arriale Trio: The Lights Are Always On, Andy Ostwald Trio: Filed Guide
Pianist Lynne Arriale has a Bill Evans-inspired lyricism with her trio of Jasper Somsen/b and EJ Strickland/dr on a collection of originals dedicated to inspiring people and social events. There is a thoughtful cadence to modal moods as on “March…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Micah Graves: Pawns
Guys like keyboardist/composer Micah Graves drive me crazy. Here’s a great album, full of energy and excitement, yet there’s no web site in which to tell you where to get it, if they go on tour. Who’s this guy’s manager?…
Josh Nelson/Bob Bowman Collective: Tomorrow Is Not Promised
I’ve been following pianist Josh Nelson’s career, and since he was the house pianist for the Pasadena restaurant Red, White and Blues he has become one of the most important artists in the LA area. This album has him co…
HI DE HO…Cab Calloway: The Hits Collection 1930-56
There have been few artists who could bridge the gap between artistry, humor and popularity, but Cab Calloway was able to make a career of it. The vocalist/bandleader created a unique singing style that was a mix of bel canto…
Jared Sims: Against All Odds
Warm and bold sounding tenor saxist Jared Sims leads a post bop team of Steve Fell/g, Keala Kaumeheiwa/b and Luther Gray/dr through seven modern toned originals. His rich sound flows easily over Fell’s guitar on the graceful title tune, with…
GUITAR GRACES…Dr. Dave & The Housecall Band: Carefree Revisited, Doug MacDonald and the LA All-Star Octet: Overtones, James Brown: Song Within The Story, Chieli Minucci: Someone’s Singing
Six strings in various forms… Sounds like vintage Benson, Ritenour and Carlton are delivered by the good Dr. Dave and his Housecall Band. John Rekevic’s flute adds to the breeze of “Carefree” and digs into the R&Bish soul during “GB…
NOTES, OR SOUNDS? Natsuki Tamura: Summer Tree, Satoko Fujii & Joe Fonda: Thread of Light, Mostly Other People Do The Killing: Disasters Vol. 1ing: Disasters Vol. 1
And the melody is…where? Going essentially solo, Natsuki Tamua plays trumpet, piano and wok for a four piece tribute to summer. The result is more of an atmospheric journey than music, as he squeezes out sighing gasps through his valve…
Tritone Asylum: The Hideaway Sessions
Led by the electric valve instrument of Philip Topping the Tritone Asylum band with Ian Vo-Allen Mascari/ts, Gar Herbig/fl-ss, Mitch Forman-Henri Wilkinson/key, Peter Sepsis/b, Dave Johnstone/dr and guests tap into the grooves and sounds of vintage Headhunters on this funk…
James Gaiters Soul Revival: Understanding Reimagined
Dry rubbed ribs are served with a rich sauce by drummer James Gaiters and his B3 team of Robert Mason/B3, Edwin Bayard/ts and Kevin Turner/g. Gaiters leads the team through a foot stomping boogaloo with Bayard wailing on the fin…