For his first album as a leader in almost ten years, saxist/composer Peter Epstein fronts a team of Julien Knowles/tp, Adam Benjamin/p-key, Dave Strawn/g, Zack Teran/b and Miguel Jimenez-Cruz for some mixes of post bop with fusiony ideas. Epstein’s soprano…
Month: June 2023
Stephen Jones & Ben Haugland: Road To No-Where
No, this album is not dedicated to California governor Gavin Newsome’s tax busting railway system. Rather, pianist Ben Haugland joins forces with Stephen Jones on soprano and tenor saxes for some wonderfully lyrical and conversant duets. Kevin Whalen adds his…
Charlie Apicella & Iron City Meet The Griots Speak: Destiny Calling
Two bands for the price of one are served here, as the Iron City team of Brad Whiteley/org and Austin Walker/dr join forces with The Gritos Speak band of Daniel Carter/sax-fl-cl-p-tp, Charlie Apicella/perc-g, William Parker/b-misc and Juma Sultan/perc. The result…
Paul Tynan & Aaron Lington: Bicoastal Collective-Chapter Six
The longtime team of Paul Tynan on trumpet or flugelhorn with baritone saxist Aaron Lington continues to create clever and original sounds, as shown on their sixth adventure. With Trifon Dimitrov on electric bass and Joe Abba playing drums and…
Johnny Britt: After We Play
Johnny Britt plays with a smooth and sweet style on this joyful album with him leading a mix and match team of Dean Mark/b, Sean Lawson/perc, Marcus Williams/dr, Ricky Peterson/key and Nils/g among other guests. Britt also sings and plays…
ONE HIT WONDERS OF DOO WOP…The Herald Records Doo Wop Collection 1953-63
Founded in Elizabeth, New Jersey in 1952, Herald Records was one of the homes of doo wop groups (as well as Lightnin’ Hopkins, but that’s another story), which was the big trend of R&B in the 1950s and 60s. This…
Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band@The Greek Theatre 06.15.23
Is it possible to objectively review a Ringo Starr concert? Let’s remember that before The Beatles ever existed, there WERE no things such as “critics” for rock and roll bands. No one ever reviewed an album before in any type…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****FUSION FROM THE ROCK SIDE…Blood, Sweat & Tears: What The Hell Happened to Blood, Sweat and Tears?
Back in the late 60s and early 70s, the music scene was fecund with a plethora of ideas. Jazz, rock, folk and classical were all influencing each other with fascinating combinations of sounds. The term “fusion” was not used at…
Alexander McCabe: Cuba Bella
Alto and soprano saxist Alexander McCabe brings warm melodies with Enrique Haneine/p, Chris Haney/b, Ernesto Abreu/perc and a vocal team of Robi Hager, Daniele Hager and Johnny Hager for a mix of Caribbean instrumentals and vocals. Of the former, “22”…
Allison Adams Tucker: Retro Trilogy
Allison Adams Tucker sings while Kevin Hays plays piano, keyboards and melodica with Tony Scherr/b Kenny Wollesen/dr-vib, Yotam Silberstein/g, Peter Sprague/g and Bashiri Johnson/perc for a collection of interpretations. Her voice and delivery is reminiscent of a very young Joni…