Composer Evan Ware uses his music to create sounds of hope from a childhood of trauma; not focus on victimhood per se, but to show that there can be recovery from the dark. These two symphonies are performed by the…
Month: August 2023
World Citizen Band: Antares
Here’s a band that SOUNDS like a band! Back in the day, bands had specific feel and groove, and not just an excuse for mindlessly extensive solos. The World Citizen Band understands that difference, made up of Uri Gurvich/as, Ramiro…
Paul Dietrich 5 + 4
Trumpeter and composer Paul Dietrich juxtaposes his post bop team of Dustin Laurenzi/ts-cl, Jason Kutz/p, Brian Courage/b and Jon Deitemyer/dr with a string quartet of Paran Amirinazari/vi, Wes Luke/vi, Kayla Patrick/va and Lindsey Crabb/cel in a most creative and unforced…
THEY DON’T LOOK IT…Composing Israel: The First Three Generations
In one sense the nation of Israel has only been in existence since 1948; in another sense, Israel as been around since, well, Genesis chapter 12 when God calls Abraham. This music has the heart of the latter, but the…
Anthony Branker & Ascent: Spirit Songs
Composer and musical director Anthony Branker mixes some rich harmonies with a rhythm team led by Ralph Peterson/jr/dr, John Benitez/b and Jonny King/p along with a front line of Clifford Adams, Jr/tb and the saxes of Ralph Bowen/ts-ss and Antonio…
Chuck Owen and the WDR Big Band: Renderings
Earning a deserved reputation as one of the hardest swinging and creative active big bands, the WDR Big Band is in excellent form here, conducted by Chuck Owen with rich arrangements that craftily mix charts and solos. The peppy “Knife…
Matt Otto: Umbra
Tenor saxist Matt Otto blows smoke like a Cohibo cigar on this album of smoky mellow madness. He’s teamed with Jeff Harshbarger/b, John Kizilarmut/dr, while mixing and matching Herman Mehari/tp, Matt Villinger/key and Alex Frank/g, In full band setting, he…
HERDMAN AS LEADER…Dick Collins: Horn Of Plenty-Complete 1964 RCA Victor Sessions
Mainstream trumpeter Dick Collilns served faithfully in the bands of Dave Brubeck and Charlie Barnet before staking his claim in the 1950s with Woody Herman’s Herd. On his own, he put together a hard swinging pair of units,one, a nine…
Toshiko Akiyoshi: Toshiko’s Blues Quartet & Trios 1953-1958
Before she formed her highly influential and innovative big band with husband Lew Tabackin, Toshiko Akiyoshi was a hard bop pianist highly inspired by Bud Powell. This two dis set shows her in both trio and quartet format, and she…
WHEN COUNTRY AND WESTERN WAS ONLY WESTERN…Gene Autry: The Singing Cowboy 1933-52
Before there was “Country and Western”, before there was Garth Brookes, before Bob Wills, before Roy Rogers, before George Jones, before Buck Owens, before Hank Williams, before Johnny Cash, before EVERYBODY…there was Gene Autry. In the beginning… Gene Autry was…