Pianist Darren Litzie mixes and matches his trio of bassist Chris Deangelis and drummer Jon Riley in various formats of 3 and 4s on this album of covers and originals. Nick Biello’s flute floats over Deangelis’ pulse on the gliding…
Month: September 2022
Michael Hackett/Tim Coffman Sextet: Western Skies
Trombonist Tim Coffman and trumpet/flugelhorn man Michael Hackett lead a bopping team of Sharel Cassity/as, Jeremy Kahn/p, Christian Dillingham/dr, Arno Gonzalez/tim-perc and Tony Castaneda/cong through an easy swinging set of originals and a cover or two. Coffman’s slide is sweet…
Kansas “Point Of Know Return” Anniversary Tour@BAPAC 09.15.22
It took the band Kansas three years to finally fulfill their promise to celebrate the anniversary of their classic Point of Know Return album, but after delays due to the draconian COVID lockdown, and members of the band getting the…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****NOCTURNES…Enrico Rava & Fred Hersch: The Song Is You
The Chopinesque piano of Fred Hersch is the perfect dance partner for the mellifluously fluffy horn of Enrico Rava on this collection of mostly standards. Relaxed, reflective and made for a noir alley, the songs mix lyricism with bluesy improvisation…
STILL FUSION’D AFTER ALL THESE YEARS…The Yellowjackets: Parallel Motion
Lasting longer than most marriages, the venerable Yellowjackets celebrate 2 score year together with a classy album that straddles the line of mainstream and fusion. Founding member Russell Ferrante along with longtime member Bob Mintzer, semi-long timer Will Kennedy/dr and…
VOICES FEMME…Kat Riggins: Progeny, Vicki Burns: Lotus Blossom Days
Kat Riggins sings with the emotional clarity of Gladys Knight, while the bands sounds like they took their Hendrix pills on this mix of metal and soul. The core team of Mike Zito/g, Matt Johnson/dr, Doug Byrkit/b and Lewis Stephens/key…
E3 by Alex Lakusta: Transmit Slow
First- a pet peeve. The title should be “transmit slowLY”. Can’t stand improver adverbs! Thanks-I feel better Now to the music… Bassist Alex Lakusta creates a modernized and stripped down version of fusion groups like Herbie Hancock’s Headhunters on these…
NEW HORNS…Evan Drybread: Tiger Tail, Jacob Chung: E-pis-tle
Here are a couple releases by saxist that may be under the radar, but deserve an ear or two. Check them out. Evan Drybread plays tenor and soprano saxes with a post bop team of Mark Buselli/tp-fh, Christopher Pitts/p-key, Scott…
TRIO..Dave Bass: The Trio Volume 2
Dave Bass plays…PIANO (go figure!), as he leads his trio of Kerry Kashiwagi/b and Scott Gordon/dr through a mix of boppers, ballads and originals. Of the former, his allegiance is made clear as he sizzles around Gordon’s kinetic drums on…
GUITAR MEN…Ron Addison: Ride On, Steve Dawson & The Telescope 3: Phantom Threshold
Guitar man! Guitar-zan! Ron Addison sings with an earthy grit and plays guitar like vintage Clapton in a folksy way on this album of bluesers with Mary Munsey/key-sax, Duane Frye/harp and a collection of backup vocalists. The band has a…