Randy Weinstein comes up with a brilliant idea that almost works perfectly the whole way through the album-take the tunes of Thelonious Monk and interpret them through both the diatonic and chromatic harmonicas, backed only by the most Spartan of…
Month: May 2024
Dan Pugach Big Band: Bianca
Drummer, leader and arranger Dan Pugach puts together a modern sounding big band with four trumpets, four trombones, five woodwinds, and four team rhythm section and vocalist Nicole Zuraitis. You can feel Pugach’s presence throughout , with his cymbals gouiding…
Michael Arbenz: Classicism-A Point Of View
Pianist Michael Arbenz uses well known classical pieces as starting points for his own original material on this solo album. There is a graceful extension to his read of “Claire de Lune” during his “Brilliant Moon”, with a graceful stroll…
Ron Rieder: Latin Jazz Sessions
Pianist Ron Rieder brings together a sizzling team of Fernando Brandao/fo, Alain Mallet/p, Mark Walker/dr, Claudio Ragazzi/g, Ricardo MOnzon/perc, Mike Tucker/ts, Oscar Stagnaro-Gerson Lazo-Quiroga/b and Ron Reid/Steeldr for a mix of peppy originals. The percussion sizzles with congas and high…
The Wicked Lo-Down: Out Of Line
Rocking blues are delivered by Nick David/voc-harm, Paul Size/g Jeffrey Berg/b, Brad Hallen/b and Nick Toscano/dr with some cameos on this live feelin’ release. The theam shuffles like a deck of cards on “Kill Me Or Keep Me” while David…
NOTHING SAYS THE 1970s LIKE DISCO…Silver Connection: Save Me
Germany-based Silver Convention rode the disco wave in the 1970s with their big hit Save Me” and followup “Fly , Robin, Fly”. The three ladies, Linda Thompson, Ramona Wulf and Penny McLean joined together for this album produced by Silvester…
Ronny Smith: Struttin’
Guitarist Ronny Smith delves into his inner George Benson on this easy listening mix of originals along with a couple lovely covers with a soulful horn section and rhythm team. He also plays keyboards and drum programming, with pianist Arcangelo…
FREEBOP…Travis Reuter: Quintet Music, Ivo Perelman: Embracing The Unknown
Loose fitting themes tied together with reeds. Guitarist Travis Reuter brings together Mark Shim/ts, Peter Schlamb/vib, Harish Raghavan/b and Tyshawn Sorey/dr for ten originals in mix and match fashion. Sorey and Raghaven dig in deep on “#13 F34” and are…
Simon Lasky Group: For The Dreamers
Playing piano and keyboards, Simon Lasky mixes originals and clever covers with his team of Peter Mongaya/g, Elias Tona/eb, Jonathan Thomas/dr and guests Ona K/voc, Tim Garland/ss, Paul Booth/ts and James Suggs/tp. Ona K shines on a soulful read of…
MAINSTREAM SOUNDS FROM CELLAR…Brandon Goldberg Trio: Live At Dizzy’s, HEndrick Meurkens: The Jazz Meurkengers
Canada’s Cellar Music Group continues to stay on the tried and true of mainstream bop to post bop, and the latest two releases keep the candle glowing. Pianist Brandon Goldberg along with bassist Ben Wolfe and drummer Aaron Kimmel are…