Having released a pair of small group albums, pianist Michael Jefry Stevens delivers a series of solo arias on this latest album. The fifteen pieces range from between one and a half to just over four minutes, so the emphasis…
Month: September 2024
The Lillard/Stevens Sextet: Keepers of the Flame
The co-leaders Michael Jefry Stevens/p and Art Lillard/dr get in tandem with Don Aliquo/ts-ss, Jamey Simmons/tp, Rick Simerly/tb and Jonathan Wires/dr for an easy swinging mix of originals and standards with post bop arrangements. The mix of horns makes for…
Michael Jefry Stevens Quartet: Precipice
Pianist Michael Jefry Stevens brings together a spirited team of violinist Christian Howes, bassist Bryan McConnell and drummer Rick Dilling for a wide ranging album that is strong on melody, yet not at the cost of energy. Survivors of Abaco”…
The Paul Carlon Quintet: Blues For Vita
Rich toned tenor saxist Paul Carlon delivers a strong hard bopping session with Eddie Allen/tp, Harvie S/b, Helio Alves/p and Willie Martinez/tp on this collection of standards and originals. Alves and Martinez sizzle on the groovr “Isabel , The Liberator”…
LADY VOICE…Karen Mack: Catch & Keep
Backed by a core team of Peter Eldridge/p-org, Jesse Lewis/g, Matt Aronoff/b, Jared Schonig/dr, Ben Wittman/perc and a handful of cameo guests, vocalist Karen Mack gives ‘girl-next-door’ renditions of standards as well as some originals. She shows winsome flexibility on…
Elias Haslanger and Mike Sailors: Elias Haslanger Meets Mike Sailors
Classic sounding hard bop jazz a la Horace Silver and The Jazz Messengers is delivered by tenor saxist Elias Haslanger with trumpeter Mike Sailors mixing and matching with Andy Langham-Eddy Hobizal-Ross Margitza/p, Ryan Hagler/b and Daniel Dufour/dr. The catchy themes…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Michael O’Neill: Arrival
Best known for his work with George Benson and Ronnie Foster, guitarist Michael O’Neill shows why he’s one of LA’s first call session men on this tasty album of originals. The album bubbles over with comfort food jazz, nice and…
TONY LEVIN: THE “BEAT” GOES ON
AT AN AGE MOST MEN ARE SITTING AROUND COLLECTING THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY CHECKS, BASSIST TONY LEVIN, AT 78 HAS NEVER BEEN BUSIER. RECENTLY TOURING WITH HIS BROTHER PETE AND THE LA BARBARA BROTHERS OF JOE, PAT AND JOHN IN AN…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Joel Lyssarides & Georgios Prokopiou: Arcs & Rivers
Music of Sparta and Athens are delivered by the Hellenic combination of pianist Joel Lyssarides and bouzouki-meister Georgios Prokopiou on this exciting album of sounds from Mouunt Olympus. There are a couple of exciting runs of the fingers as on…
Anthony Bruno: Cefalu
Tenor saxist Anthony Bruno brings together Andrew Lawrence/keys, Cole Runge/g, Vinny Kabat/b and James Russelll Sims/dr for an upbeat mix of smooth originals. His horn is rich and warm as it blows smoke rings around the spacey keys on the…