Vintage sounding hard bop is delivered by the septet of Rob Alley/tp, Jon Noffsinger/as, Gary Wheat/ts, Daniel Western/bs, Tom Wolfe/g, Chris Kozak/b and Michael Glaser/dr on this collection of muscular originals. Western’s baritone sax is a mellifluous force of nature,…
Month: November 2022
360 Jazz Initiative: Please Only Tell Me Good News
Here’s an ambitious two disc set delivered by the team of Rachel Therrien/tp, Alex Upton/as, Rahsaan Barber/as-ts-bs, Roland Barber/tb, Juan Alamo/mar-perc, Baron Tymas/g, Stephen Anderson/p, Jason Foureman-Christopher Law/b, Dan Davis-Michael Shekwoaga Ode/dr and vocalist Ramune Marcinkeyviciute-Emma Gonzalez for a mix…
Thoughtcast: Nimbus In Motion
Thick and palpable sounds are created by the team of bassist Graydon Peterson, keyboardist Joe Strachan, drummer Ben Ehrlich and trumpeter Jake Baldwin, who adds some dynamic electronic effects into the mix. The music feels programmed, with a bold horn…
SENSUOUS SAMBA…Eliane Elias: Quietude
With her latest series of releases, Eliane Elias has quietly and sadly unobservantly becoming not only one of the most adroit pianists in jazz, but with albums like this new one, has now entered the top tier of Brazilian vocalists.…
Rufus Reid Trio: Celebration
Bassist and educator Rufus Reid shows that class is in session with a mix of his trio of Steve Allee/p, Duduka Da Fonseca-Kenneth Salters/dr with the Sirius String Quartetof Fung Chern Hwei-Gregor Huebner/fi, Ron Lawrence/va and Jeremy Harmon/cel on half…
TRIOS…Eri Yamamoto Trio: A Woman With A Purple Wig, Spike Wilner Trio: Plays Monk & Ellington, Domi Edson Trio: Stories From Solitude
Three is not a crowd… Eri Yamamoto plays piano as well as singing a bit alongside bassist David Ammbrosio and drummer Ikuo Takeuchi on this album of post modern originals. With voice, she gets ominous on the title tune, and…
Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal: Green Light
Leader Josh Hoyer plays keyboards, bari sax and sings like a soul brother on the Tower of Power-infested groover with his team of Benjamin Kushner/g, Mike Keeling/b, Harrison El Dorado/dr, Blake DeForest/tp, James Cuato/ts and guests Myles Jasnowski/voc and Skye…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****The Al Foster Quintet: Reflections
Rare is the record label that has its own definable sound. Back in the day, you knew what you were expecting with a release by Blue Note, Concord, Riverside or even Chesky. Now, you might find C&W on one of…
Ethan Philion: Meditations on Mingus
It’s always a dangerous task for a bassist to take on the Charles Mingus songbook-should he capture the “spirit” of the tempestuous leader, or simply use the themes as starting points for one’s own concepts? Philion leans toward the former,…
Jim McNeely Frankfurt Radio Big Band featuring Chris Potter: Rituals
Arranger Jim McNeely brings together a 17-20 member big band as a support for tenor/soprano saxist Chris Potter, who also composed most of the pieces. The band and sound is highly reminiscent of vintage Stan Kenton, big, bold, bombastic and…