No one creates sounds of crystalline night skies like pianist/composer Tord Gustavsen and his team of Steinar Raknes/b and Jarle Vesperstad/dr. This time around, electronics are added to a few of the tunes to add texture, with the leader in…
Month: June 2022
THE GAUNTLET…Ornette Coleman: Genisus of Genius-The Contemporary Albums
It all seems so innocent now, but back in 1958, alto saxist Ornette Coleman created a tectonic musical shift with his two debut albums on the Contemporary jazz label. First there was Something Else!!! And then the 1959 followup Tomorrow…
Ianniello-Cervi-Tombolesi-Mazzenga-Weston: My One and Only Planet
This co-op of an album features group and solo excursions by Lucia Ianniell/tp, Robert Cervi/g, Paolo Tombolesi/p-key, Mario Mazzenga/b and Grant Calvin Weston/dr. The group format includes a dark “Over The Wind” featuring Iannielli’s haunting horn, Cervi tensile over Weston’s…
Joey Alexander: Origin
At age 19, old enough to vote, but not to drink at the clubs that he plays at, Joey Alexander has come of age to where he is now evaluated by his own talents and not just as a “jazz…
EARLY AND LIVE SOFT…Soft Machine: Facelift France and Holland
Here’s a find for fusion fanatics… One of the best and enduring jazz rockers, Soft Machine, finally has a definitive “live” recording from their halcyon days. Taken from 1970 gigs during a March 2 concert in Paris France and a…
Mark Christian Miller: Music In The Air
Vocalist Mark Christian Miller has that classy, casual way of singing that sounds personal and conversational, never forced. Here, he teams up with pianist and arranger Jamieson Trotter along with Mike Gurrola/b, Kevin WInard/dr, Larry Koonse/g and Danny Janklow/as for…
Wolfgang Haffner Dream Band: Live In Concert
Drummer and bandleader Wofgang Haffner brings together a big band that includes allstars Randy Brecker/tp, Bill Evans/sax, Thomas Stieger/b, Simon Oslender/b, Nils Landgren/tb and Christopher Dell/p-perc-vib on this collection of rich delivers. Haffner s hows his wares on a hard…
Camille Bertault & David Helbock: Playground
French vocalist Camille Bertault teams up for a series of intuitive duets with p ianist David Helbock for material ranging from pop to noir. Bertault’s voice gives a late Billie Holiday artsy sound to the avant gard “Lonely Supamen” with…
Christian Jacob: New Jazz Standards Vol 5-The Music of Carl Saunders
Since branching off from his work as part of vocalist Tierney Sutton’s band, pianist Christian Jacob has formed a trio with fellow Angelenos Joe LaBarbera/dr and Darek Oles/b to delve into various “songbooks” of overlooked composers. For this album, he…
CALYPSO AND SMALL GROUP BOP FROM AVID…Harry Belafonte: Four Classic Albums Plus, The Poll Winners: Four Classic Albums
Vintage Harry Belafonte and California Cool jazz is represented in the latest two reissues from Avid Records The unique Harry Belafonte changed America’s taste in music with his first handful of albums. His 1956 Calypso is a hands down classic…