Pianist and arranger John Beasley is best known for his clever big band Monkestra, which gives large ensemble performances by the bop meister Thelonious Monk. Here, with the Franfurt Radio Big Band, he uses the same idea for the Chick…
Month: September 2024
Josh Nelson’s ‘The Sky Remains” and “LA Stories” @Sam First Bar 09.28.24
One of LA’s fixtures is pianist Josh Nelson, and it’s easy to catch him as either a sideman for a vocalist or a team member in a small group. Most rewarding are the nights like Saturday at the packed Sam…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Gonzalo Rubalcaba & Dongfeng Liu: China Afro Cuba
I’ve been a sucker for piano duet albums going back to the boogie stride summits of Albert Ammons and Pete Johnson. This one between Gonzalo Rubalcaba and Dongeng Liu is special in that it combines sounds of their respective homelands,…
Sarah Hanahan: Among Giants
On this album Sarah Hanahan shows the influence of her alma mater, as the alto saxist has a strong Jackie McLean feel she must have received at the JM Institute of Jazz in Hartford. The bright, bold and impassioned tone…
Sharon Isbin & Amjad Ali Khan: Live In Aspen
Classical guitarist Sharon Isbin performs at the 2022 Aspen Music with Amjad Ali Khan on sarod as well as mixing and matching with Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash on the same instrument with table support from Amit Kavthkar.…
Jerome Sabbagh: Heart
Usually, tenor sax trios lean towards overindulgence, but Jerome Sabbagh displays wisdom in restraint with his band of veteran Al Foster/dr and Joe Marti/dr. The best card in Sabbagh’s hand is his tone, soft, warm and fluffy like a Don…
Youn Sun Nah & Jon Cowherd: Elles
Creative duets from vocalist Youn Sun Nah and pianist Jon Cowherd make up pastel impressions on this recent release. Cowherd’s keyboards create an almost lullaby-like feel on the flexible “Feeling Good” and vulnerable “Killing Me Softly With His Soung”. Things…
Mai-liis: Kaleidoscope
Vocalist Mai-Liis teams up with a core of David Lee Joyner-Darin Clendenin/p, Brian Monroney/g, Clipper Anderson/b, Mark Ivester/dr and a handful of cameo guests on this collection of originals. She’s got a sandied tone to her style, working well on…
Robby Ameen: Live At The Poster Museum
Drummer Robby Ameen leads a muscular team of Bob Franceschini/ts-ss, Conrad Herwig/tb, Troy Roberts/ts, Edsel Gomez/Rhodes and Lincoln Goines/b through a hard hitting gig at NYC’s Posters. The gents, all vets of post bop and fusion flex their collective muscles…
Steven Nichols: From Dust
Playing trumpet and flugelhorn, Steven Nichols has his originals interpreted with his team of Charlie Rees/ts, Reuben Goldmark/p, John Jones/b and Amund Kleppan/dr. The team shows cohesiveness on the tight stop start work of the bopping “Green Juice” and the…