It’s always a treat to catch pianist Billy Childs in concert, as you’ll probably never hear the same thing twice. The Angeleno has been seen in the various clubs playing styles ranging from chamber jazz to plugged in fusion. This…
Month: April 2023
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Phil Woods: Bird With Strings and More!
If there was anyone born to give a tribute to alto sax legend Charlie Parker, it had to have been Phil Woods, who dedicated his career to keeping the bebopping legend’s music alive. For a concert recorded back in 2005…
Rosa Passos Quartet: Samba Sem Voce’
Brazilian vocalist/guitarist Rosa Passos turns Copenhagen into a sambafest with her team of Fabio Torres/p, Paula Paulelli/b and Celso de Almeida/dr through a mix of original and second generation bossa standard. She bookends the show accompanying herself on guitar, bouncy…
Kendrick Scott: Corridors
Drummer Kendrick Scott leads a trio with tenor saxist Walter Smith III and bassist Reuben Rogers through a collection of concise segues and complete songs that never overstay their welcome. Of the former, there’s a collection of sax layers on…
Ralph Alessi: It’s Always Now
Taking the mantle from Art Farmer, trumpeter Ralph Alessi has become the standard bearer for polished brass in his playing. Here, teamed with Florian Weber/p, Banz Oester/b and Gerry Hemingway/dr, he focuses on melodic lyricism letting his tone do all…
PREACH IT! Brother Joe May: Singles, Album Tracks and Live Recordings 1949-1962
While many people may know that the likes of Sam Cooke and Lou Rawls started their careers in gospel before “moving on” into American pop and soul, the fact that Brother Joe May never gave into that temptation may have…
Bobo Stenson Trio: Sphere
Part of the Scandinavian “Neptune Sound”, pianist Bobo Stenson says more with less on a trio date bringing in bassist Anders Jormin and drummer Jon Fait. A myriad shades of white are displayed here, as Fait’s cymbals scratch out a…
Gianluigi Trovesi & Stefano Montanari: Stravaganze Consonanti
If you’ve ever heard those classical album son labels like Telefunken or Archive that had Baroque or pre-Baroque music on “period instruments”, you’ll understand this latest release by leaders Gianluigi Trovesi and concertmaster Stefano Montari. Trovesi plays three types of…
Brian Thomas: On The Bone
Brian Thomas displays a big and bold sound on his trombone for a funky session with a core team of Johnny Trama/g, Darby Wolf/org, Yahuba Garcia-Torres/cong and Tom Arey/dr with a couple guests sitting in. The mood is swampy and…
Leap Day Trio: Live at the Café Bohemia
All three known as leaders, bassist Mimi Jones, drummer Matt Wilson and tenor saxist Jeff L ederer record NYC’s Café Bohemia back in 2020 for an enthusiastic gig that gives tribute to late period John Coltrane. Lederer is in an…