Few vocalists are able to create an impressionistic mood like Stacey Kent. Her soft tone, personal inflections and perfectly timed nuances work adroitly on this album of her strengths, meaning romantic ballads, bossas and bohemia. Hubby Jim Tomlinson plays tenor…
Month: November 2023
THE BASS AS MUSE…John von Seggern: Evocations
Earlier this year, John von Seggern got my attention when he literally struck a chord by using his bass to create various ambient sounds on an album that sounded as if Brian Eno took up the instrument. This time around,…
John Bishop: Antwerp
Drummer John Bishop forms a trio with Bram Weijters/p and Piet Verbist/b for a mix of originals and some jazz covers. The leader shows crisp sticks on boppers like “Ruchsichtslos” and the dramatic modal “Bull” which give Weijters plenty of…
Gabriel Guerrero & Quantum: Equilibrio
Pianist Gabriel Guerrero leads a team of Seth Trachy/sax, Will Slater/b, Felix LEcaros/dr ad guests Fun Chern Hwei/str and Guillermo Barron/perc through a collection of well constructed originals. There is a rich elegance to much of the work, with “Present…
MUSICAL MESSAGES…Linda Dusman: Flashpoint
There’s a classic saying by St. Francis of Assisi, which is “preach the gospel at all times; use words when necessary”. That attitude is held by composer Linda Dusman, who uses her pen to create a wide range of works…
Arthur Kell Speculation Quartet: Live At Lunatico
Bassist Arthur Kell puts together a two guitar front line of Nate Radley and Brad Shepik along with drummer Allan Mednard for a pair of gigs recorded at Bar LunAtico in Brooklyn in 2022. The set is bookended with contemplative…
Philip Blackburn: Ordo
Using music to create environments, composer Philip Blackburn “holds an acoustic mirror up to nature” in order to form various soundscapes in various instrumental milieu. The ambitious two disc set has pieces ranging from duets to fairy large ensembles with…
THIS IS BEBOP PIANO…Hank Jones: Solo & With His Own Bands 1947-59
Along with Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk, Hank Jones was one of the defining pianists to come out of the bebop era. Of the three, his style was the most elegant and lyrical, aging like a fine wine over the…
Peter Rosendal: Vejviser
Sounds of nature and man’s creation are melded together by Peter Rosendal , playing and improvising on a pair of pianos, teamed with Palle Mikkelborg/tp, Cecilie Strange/ts, Craig Earle/b and Nancy Harms/voc. The nine pieces are reminiscent of the “New…
Gregory Lewis: Organ Monk Going Home
Continuing his organic interpretations of Thelonious Monk, Gregory Lewis teams up with Kevin McNeal/g and Nasheet Waits/dr for some spherical pleasures. This is not an album of imitation, but inspiration, with Lewis swirling and swaying to the intense “who Knows”…