I shudder to think what modern jazz would sound like today if it weren’t saved back in the1950s by Brazilian sounds in general and samba in particular. One of today’s best proponents of the sensuous sounds of Brazil is delivered…
Month: August 2023
FEMALE CHARMS…Chloe Jean: Fairy Tale Fail, Lady Adrena: Recipe For The Blues, Kornel Fekete-Kovacs: Different Aspects of Silence, The Harry Allen Orchestra: With Roses
Winning women ways… Relaxed and smooth, vocalist Chloe Jean gives soft and soulful readings with a mix and match team of David Mathews/key, Ray Obiedo/key-g, Jason Lewis/dr, Dan Feiszli/b, Peter Horvath/key and other cameos. She’s cozy on a tender duet with…
Antonio Adolfo: Bossa 65
With most tributes to bossa nova centering around Jobim and Gilberto, Pianist/arranger Antonio Adolfo celebrates the composing skills of the lesser known Carlos Lyra and Roberto Menescal on this upbeat release. The team of Lula Galvao/g, Jorge Helder/b, Rafael Barata/dr,…
TRIO TIME: Tim Ray Trio: Fire & Rain, Coda(s): No Fast Food III, Noah Haidu: Standards, Joe Alterman: Joe Alterman Plays Less McCann-Big Mo & Little Joe
Three’s not a crowd… Playing piano and keyboards, Tim Ray leads his team of John Lockwood/b and Mark Walker/dr through a collection o covers and some originals. Ray is clever in his interpretations, giving a Latin feel to Monk’ s’…
TWOS…Avishai Cohen & Abraham Rodriguez Jr: Iroko, Sienna Dahlen & Bill Coon: Balladextrous
A pair of twos… Bassist Avishai Cohen takes on the music of a different tribe than his own, delving into songs from traditional Cuban themes with Abraham Rodriguez on congas and earthy vocals and supporting singer Virginia Alves. The sound and…
Jeff Coffin: Look For Water
Leader Jeff Coffin plays tenor and soprano sax, leading a team with Tony Dagradi/ts, James Singleton/b and Johnny Vidacovich/dr through a collection of originals. Except for the “Toy Piano” tinkling at the beginning of the album, the sounds are a…
LARGER THAN SMALL…Brian McCarthy Nonet: After/Life, Clifford Jordan & His Friends: Drink Plenty Water
Bands that are not too big, not too small… Brian McCarthy plays alto and soprano saxes while leading a team of Bill Mobley/tp-fh, Daniel Ian Smith-Stantawn Kendrick/ts, Cameron Macmanus/tb, Andrew Gutauskas/bs, Matt Aronoff/b, Justin Kauflin/p and Jared Schonig/dr through a…
Charlie Faye & The Fanimals: Charlie Faye & The Fanimals
Retro vocalist Charlie Faye takes time away from her other group, the Fayettes, to form The Fanimals with Pete Thomas/dr, Scott Davis/b, Adrian Quesada/g, Trevor Nealon/key and a collection of backing vocalists including Bettysoo, Dana Starr Brunberg Sparling, Akina Adderley…
Vahagn Stepanyan: A New Chapter
Playing a wide variety of keyboards, programming and piano, composer Vahagn Stepanyan puts together a rhythmic and soulful collection of originals, ranging between smooth and R&B. The rotating cast includes Snarky Puppy member Mark Lettieri, as well as Eric Moore/r,…
Laila Faerman: Awake! Arise! Songs of Sri Chinmoy
Vocalist Laila Faerman brings together a collection of songs composed by Sri Chinmoy and has Misha Tsigaov arrange them to create an accessible jazz meets enlightenment melding of sounds and inspirations. Faerman’s voice is clear and warm, and she’s well…