Not a quartet, not an orchestra…somewhere in the middle.. Bassist and composer Clark Sommers brings together a 12 piece band for some rich arrangements that still give room for solos. The woodwinds float around Scott Hesse’s guitar on “The Rider”…
Month: October 2023
LADIES SING THE BLUES AND BEYOND…Olivia Van Goor: Don’t Be Mad At Me
No frills, no gimmicks, just a great voice and effortless range is delivered b Olivia Van Goor, swinging her heart out with a core team of Adam Mosley/p, Samuel Chase Harris/b and David Zwolinksi/dr and some cameo guests. She knows…
NICE STRINGS…Roni Ben-Hur: Love Letters, Todd Mosby: Land Of Enchantment
Not clutter on these frets… Clean toned guitarist Roni Ben-Hur is in his element with the warm waters of Ingrid Jensen/tp, Ugonna Okegwo/b and J ason Tiemann/dr on a mix of originals and standards. His fingers are nimble over the…
Matt Von Roderick: Celestial Heart
Once taking in this kaleidoscopic album by trumpeter and vocalist Matt von Roderick, one must ask, “Who are you trying to be?” as there seems no unifying collection of ideas or moods. With legendary drummer Jim Keltner as well as…
Dave Meder: New American Hymnal
Pianist Dave Meder creates ethereal meditations with Philip Dizack/tp, Marty Jaffe/b, Michael Piolet/dr and Isabel Crespo Pardo/voc on this collection of contemplations. The music itself ranges from abstract dots and dashes as on “Hope Is The Thing” to deep and…
Quinn Sternberg: Walking On Egg Shells
Playing electric and acoustic bass, Quinn Sternberg interprets his compositions with Sam Taylor/ts, Nahum Zdybel/g, Oscar Rossigoli/p-key and Peter Varnado/dr. He leads into a rich “Ripple” while guiding the gentle “Inferiority Complex” for the Guarlaldi-sounding Rossignoli”. Zdybel is lyrical on…
Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band: Kings Highway
Drummer and leader Brian Blade brings in guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel to his Fellowship Band of Melvin Butler/ts-ss, Jon Cowherd/p-org, Christopher Thomas/b and Myron Walden/as-bcl to create a less folky and more pastoral sense to his band. The songs are divided…
The Moore-McColl Jazz Society: Up and Gone
Footstomping R&B in the likes of a Memphis Stew is delivered by bold a nd brassy vocals of keyboardist Beth Moore teamed up with guitarist Chance McColl and a STAXY collection of Tim Aucoin/b, Joel Morris/dr, Randy Hunter/as, Caleb Lattimore/tp,…
Marcus Miller@Catalina’s 10.08.23
I try to never miss a Marcus Miller gig at Catalina’s, because the famed bassist/producer always brings some sort of surprise singer into the show, and he always mixes up the grooves and moods to cover his richly hued career.…
PETER BERNSTEIN: TIMELESS TONES
IN A DAY WHEN GUITARISTS ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR A “NEW” SOUND EFFECT IN WHICH TO PLUG IN, PETER BERNSTEIN LETS HIS GUITAR SPEAK FOR ITSELF ON HIS OWN. NO PEDALS, NO DIALS OR TAPES. BERNSTEIN LETS HIS STRINGS AND…