One of the hardest hard bopping teams around has to be the Black Art Jazz Collective, lead by the front line of Wayne Escoffery/ts, Jeremy Pelt/tp, Josh Evans/tp and James Burton III/tb and a rotating rhythm section of Xavier Davis-Victor…
Month: March 2024
Jim Snidero: For All We Know
Since I first saw him back in the days when he was a member of the Akiyoshi-Tabackin Big Band, alto saxist Jim Snidero has always impressed me with his delivery and style. On his own, he’s built up an impressive…
LADY VOICES…Ona K: Full
Singing, playing keyboards and supported by a band that includes an accompanying string section, Ona K mixes pop, R&B and world on a dramatic collection of originals. Her voice has a Broadway touch, and is dreamy around the pizzicato’d string…
Norah Jones: Visions
For her latest release, Norah Jones sound particularly extroverted on a bold sounding album produced by Leon Michels, with an in your face dynamic teamed with Dave Guy/tp, Jesse Purphy/b and Brian Blade-Homer Steinwess/dr. Jones is quite strong and emotive…
Julian Lage: Speak to Me
As one of today’s guitar spokesmen, Julian Lage converses in a plethora of different languages. Every time I’ve seen him it’s been with a different feel and style, ranging from heated post bop with long solos to Grand Ol’ Opry…
Alex Cole & Carl Michel Sextet: Situation
Playing flute and sax, Alex Cole teams up with guitarist Carl Michel to form a dreamy and impressionistic album with the clever combination of harp (Elaine Barber), pedal steel (Bob Hoffnar), bass (James Suter) and vibes (Carolyn Trobridge). Without a…
Jeff Aug: Kiss of the Liquid Moon
Guitarist Jeff Aug goes solo on this collection of pretty and intimate originals. The sound and feel gives hints of Leo Kottke, with deep resonance of the strings as on “Liquid Moon” and “The Lat Minutes in This Town” and…
Texas Scratch: Texas Scratch
Consisting of guitarists Jim Suhler, Buddy Wittinton, Vince Converse and drummer Jeff Simon, Texas Scratch rocks the road boogie on this rollicking session. Rounding out the team is Kirk Yano-Nathaniel Peterson/b and Shawn Phares-Tom Mandel/key with vocals by all three…
Chris Potter: Eagle’s Point
Chris Potter forms a “supergroup” with Wayne Shorter alumni John Patitucci/b and Brian Blade/dr along with Brad Mehldau/p for a meeting of the genius minds. The summit has Potter on all three of his reeds, a lyrical and graceful bass…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Aimee-Jo Benoit: Horns Of Hope
I’ll be perfectly frank with you- I get so many albums by female vocalists, that at times I feel like I’m at on online dating service, just scrolling through faces and names…NEXT! Then here comes this album by a lady…