Few artists are able to cross musical boundaries as adroitly and seamless as Lyle Lovett. Rising above musical genre’s, he is one of the best deliverers of what used to be called “Americana”, rooted in blues, swing and American folk,…
Month: August 2022
AND THE SOLUTION IS? Free Radicals: White Power Rage Volume 2
I haven’t heard Volume1, so I can only comment on the followup, assuming this is more of the same. Basically, you’re getting a bunch of vocalists, rappers, and hip hoppers complaining about being victims of “White Privilege”. Would someone please…
MEN AT THE MIC…Allen Austin-Bishop: Why Go?, Vincent Ding: Incredible Views From Above
Let’s here it for our gentlemen at the microphone… Born in Newark and currently in London, vocalist Allen Austin-Bishop gives a creative, conversational style to singing in this eclectic reading of tunes with a team of Doran Ford/p-key, Mao Yamada/b,…
FEMALE VOICES…Bennett Matteo Band: Shake The Roots, Chastity Brown: Sing To The Walls
The most personal of the instruments, the human voice, is represented on these three releases. Jade Bennett has an earthy, raspy snarl as she belts out her blues supported by Gino Matteo-Kit Anderson/g, Michael Burnham/b, Carson Ford/dr, Jim Pugh-Kid Anderson/key,…
Barry Coates-Jimmy Haslip-Jerry Kalaf: New Dreams
Playing guitar and synthesizer, Barry Coates teams up with the wondrous fusion bassist Jimmy Haslip and nimble drummer Jerry Kalaf on this sublime collection of modern fusion originals. Coates’ guitar work is fluid and lyrical, spacious over Kalaf’s pulsating cymbals…
Kabir Dalwari: Awareness
Drummer Kabir Dalwari leads a quartet of Kyle Brooks/as, Eric Arroyo/p and Matt Ulery/b through seven post bop originals. Brooks’ alto has a Jackie McLeanish brightness on the lyrical “A Moment In Time” and follows the quick slight of hand…
John Yao’s Tricerators: Off Kilter
Trombonist John Yao leads a front line of BillY Drewes/ss-as and Jon Irabagon/ts-sos gliding over a pianoless rhythm team of Robert Sabin/b and Mark Ferber/dr through a collection of originals. The mood is reminiscent of mid period Charles Mingus, loose,…
ORCHESTRATIONS: Simeon Davis Group: Of Narratives and Nocturnes
This ambitious collection of two discs on eight songs mixes music and film from a session led by composer and sax/flutist Simeon Davis. The band includes Tyler Thomas/voc, Jonathan Shier/tp-fh, Mario Wellmann/eg, Holly Holt/p-key, Jake Chaffee/eb, Josh Parker/dr, and a…
TASTY GUITARIST…John Stein: Lifeline
Kansas City bred guitarist John Stein is one of the undiscovered mainstream gems around. At 72, he’s amassed an impressive catalogue, from which this two disc anthology is comprised. He’s got clean and swinging lines in the Ellis, Hall, Montgomery…
A FORGOTTEN VAGABOND…Linda Hoover: I Mean to Shine
Somewhere in the 1970s vocalist Linda Hoover’s career got sidelined. This album, previously unreleased, gives hint to what a career she could have had (explained in the liner notes). Recorded in 1970 and backed essentially by Steely Dan (Walter Becker/g-b,…