One of the most influential, yet currently overlooked guitarists has to be Johnny Smith (1922-2013). His cool sand calm tone can be detected in artists ranging from Pat Metheny to Jim Hall and Kenny Burrell. This four disc boxed set…
Month: January 2023
Bttrfly Quintet: Coast
Soulful horns and pulses are supplied by the team of Dominic Lalli/sax, Hunter Roberts/b, Eric Bloom/tp, Adam Deitch/dr and Borahm Lee/keys on this collection of original tunes. The team digs into deep grooves with earthy horns in refrain on pieces…
Joan Beckow: Joan Beckow Legacy Project
If you’re looking for a new voice in Broadway-styled compositions, give an ear to the overlooked Joan Beckow. This two disc set, recorded between December 2021 and February 2022 is a rich collection of tunes from her rich pen. The…
TRIO TIME…Mario Gaiotto: Cosmopaulista, Axel Kuhn Trio: Lonely Poet
Drummer Mario Gaiotto brings together Daniel Grajew/p and Sidiel Vieria/b for a collection of interplaying originals. He gives everyone a chance in the sun, with Vieria introducing the modern sounding “Going To Maghreb” and relentless “Jerusalem” as well as starting…
BLUESERS…Billy Truitt: Abstract Truth, Ivor S K: Mississippi Bound
Blues in jeans and means… Playing piano, Hammond, accordion and guitars, Billy Truitt sings with grit on Cajun-spiced album with Al Ek/g-harmpvoc, Chris Tofield/g, Jimmy Carpenter/bs-ts, Justin Truitt/dr, Mike Selfirt/b and a handful of guests. A mean harp is blow…
Rich Willey: Puttin’ On The Ritz
A team of four horns and three rhythms are in the clever hands of trumpeter Rich Willey, as he takes on a w ide range of material to interpret. The rhythm section of (mostly) Andrew Synowiec/g, Matt Bissonette/b, Wally Minko-Paul…
VOICES FEMININE…Vashti Summervill: Put My Love In A Picture, Rebecca Jade: A Shade of Jade, Yola Nash: Manhattan Whispers, Kirsten Lambert: From A Window To A Screen, Vanessa Racci: Jazzy Italian
XX Voices-follow the science… Vashti Summervill has an “old time” voice that is both lyrical and flexible on this album of originals that sound like they came out of Tin Pan Alley. With Marina Albero/p, Dean Schmidt-Paul Gabrielson-/b, Jerome Smith/tp-tb,…
Moutin-Omicil-Moutin: M.O.M.
Brothers Francois Moutin and Louis Moutin form the rhythm team of bass and drums respectively for the reedist Jowee Omicil on this collection of playful compositions. On alto sax, Omicil is warm and hip as he bops around the brushes…
ASIAN ATMOSPHERES…Amjad Ali Khan: Music For Hope, Greg Hatza & Enayet Hossain: Talking Hands
Music from the REAL East Coast The Asian stringed instruments sarod and pipa are featured on this album that brings worlds together by Amjad Ali Khan, who plays the sarod along with Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangas, teamed…
CANADIAN BLUESERS…Spencer Mackenzie: Preach To My Soul, Harrison Kennedy: Thanks For Tomorrow
Blues beyond the 49th Parallel Bluesrocking guitarist and vocalist Spencer Mackenzie plays it hard and strong with his team of Miles Evans/p-key, Steve Pelletier-Stacey Shopsowitz, Adam Cannon/dr, Julian Nalli/sax, Stephen Dyte/tp, Chantal Williams/voc and guest guitarists Ross Hayes Citrullo and…