Month: October 2024

Mick Kolassa: All Kinds of Blues

Original blues hues are delivered by singer/guitarist Mick Kolassa and a rotating team of Joey Robinson-Tom Lonardo-James Cunningham/key-dr, Jeff Jensen-Doug Macleod-Leo Goff-Dexter Allen/g-b, Bill Ruffino-b, Ric Steff/key, eric Hughes/g-harp, Kirk Smothers/sax and Marc Franklin/tp. The  horns bring in an earthy…

Zachary Bartholomew: Balancing Act

Classic hard bop quintet ideas a la Horace Silver and Art Blakey are moderned up by pianist and composer Zachary Bartholomew and his hard hitting team of Marty Quinn/b, Rodolfo Zuniga/b, Benny Benack III?tp and David Fernandez/ts-ss. The threesome shows…

Jimmy Carpenter: Just Got Started

Singing and playing sax, Jimmy Carpenter sounds like he was weaned on STAX records on this stomping session with a core of Christopher Anderson/g, Jim  Pugh/key, Derrick D’mar Martin/dr and a dry rubbed rib collection of guests There’s plenty of…

Maria Puga Lareo: My Universe

Sensitive understatements are delivered by the crystal toned vocalist Maria Puga Lareo on this seductively framed mix of standards and Brasilia. She’s backed by a large and romantic ensemble that includes the likes of Bob Sheppard/wwinds, Josh Nelson/p-key, Alex Acuna/perc,…

Righteous Rooster: Fowl Play

Classic organ trio sounds from Henry Dickhoof’s Hammond, Kenny Re ichert’s guitar and Luke Sadadin’s drum make for a swinging album that harkens to the days of Grant Green and Larry  Young. Dickhoff’s able to create a hip boogaloo bass…