Candid records mixes the old with the new on this latest collection of releases. Still releasing important material to this day, Stacey Kent shows she was full of ideas back in 200 with this tribute to Fred Astaire. Joined by…
Month: February 2024
The Dave Stryker Trio With Bob Mintzer: Groove Street
Bluesy jazzer guitarist Dave Stryker returns to his soulful B3 roots of Jake McDuff on this humming session with Jared Gold/org, McClenty Hunter/dr and guest Bob MIntzer/ts on this mix of hip huggers. At times, the team veers into Larry…
Benjamin Koppel: White Buses-Passage To Freedom
I’m usually not a big fan of “message” albums, as they tend towards sounding whiney or self-important. Not so this one led by saxist Benjamin Koppel; he brings together a series of testimonials translated by Thana Alexa about various eyewitness…
Marlon Simon and the Nagual Spirits: On Different Paths
Drummer and composer Marlon Simon leads a richly textured team of Edward Simon/p, Michael Simon/tp, Alex Norris/tp, Peter Brainin/sax, Boris Kozlov/b, Roberto Quintero/perc, Monica Ellis/bassoon and Kevin Newton/Frh through some fragrant originals. What sets this album apart from other Latin…
Aaron Lehrian: A Joyous Opus
Pianist Aaron Lehrian teams up with Stefan Klein/dr and Stan Piper/b for some upscale trio originals. He’s got a rich melodic touch throughout, as on the lovely “Iroha” and the graceful “Why Do The Stars Fade?” while creates a haunting…
Pat Bianchi: Three
Hammondmeister Pat Bianchi forms a peanut butter and jelly trio team of tenor saxist Troy Roberts and drummer Colin Stranahan on this grooving release. Bianchi pulls out the plugs on a white knuckler read of “Cheek To Cheek” and boogaloos…
ALPHONSO JOHNSON: THE MYSTERIOUS TRAVELER
WHEN I FIRST GOT ATTRACTED TO JAZZ IN THE 1970S, ONE IT’S MAJOR ATTRACTIONS WAS THAT IT WAS STILL POSSIBLE TO SEE PERFORM ARTISTS THAT ACTUALLY CREATED MUSICAL STYLES, SUCH AS SWING, BEBOP OR HARD BOP. 45 YEARS LATER, MOST…
OUT OF THE CELLAR…Cory Weeds: Home Cookin’, Atley King: Unconditional
Mainstream jazz label CellarMusic has two new releases for the hard bopping huddled masses. Big toned tenor Cory Weeds surrounds himself with a “little” small band for a mix of originals and hard boppers. “The team sounds Rat Packing on…
Shawn Maxwell: J Town Suite
Playing alto and soprano sax as well as flute, Shawn Maxwell gets onto a soulful mood with Collin Clauson/key, Michael Barton/b and Greg Essig/dr on a mix of originals. Clauson’s rhodes makes the album feel like a Joe Sample vintage…
DAVID ROBAIRE: A HOME BASS
WHILE COVID AND THE ECONOMY TRIED TO KILL IT, THE JAZZ SCENE IN LOS ANGELES IS STILL ALIVE AND THRIVING. YES, A NUMBER OF CLUBS HAVE SADLY CLOSED. BUT NEAR LAX, AT SAM FIRST BAR, SOME OF THE FRESHEST AND…