Part of the genius of Ray Charles was that he found no style of music to be a stranger. It was best exemplified when he took on the sounds and songs of country music and made it all his own.…
Month: November 2024
Mike Stern: Echoes and Other Songs
This latest album by guitar virtuoso Mike Stern feels like a reunion of sorts, bringing together artists he’s been associated with through the years in mix and match fashioned. Saxists Christ Potter and bob Franceschini, drummers Antonio Sanchez-Dennis Chambers, bassists…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Michael Mayo: Fly
Not since Gregory Porter have I been as excited about a new jazz singer. This guy Michael Mayo has a rich and supple voice, hinting at Stevie Wonder, but with a jazz flexibility akin to Al Jarreau that is a…
3 Paris of Boots: Boot Scootin’
With vocals by Laura Arias, stringed instruments by Andrew Stern, keys from Dave Cohen, Drums by RandYyCooke or Christian Paschall, the band 3 Pairs of Boots sounds like a rough and ready version of The Judds, with rich vocal harmonies…
Signal Quartet: Approaching
The quartet of Ben Wolkins/tp-fh, Ian Blunden/g, Eric Nachtrab/b and Sean Perlmutter/dr create modern post bop sounds on this release of originals. Wolkins has a bold Freddie Hubbardish sound as on the plodding and dark “Show Me Something Beautiful” and…
Joachim Kuhn French Trio: The Way
Teamed with Thibault Cellier/b and Sylvain Darrifourcq/dr, pianist Joachim Kuhn stretches out over four songs on this wild ride of free range material. A take of Ornette Coleman’s “Homogeneious Emotions” is a white knuckler, while the team ascends and descends…
Celestial Latitude featuring Frank Gambale: The Haas Company Volume 2
With the death of former boss Chick Corea, guitarist Frank Gambale has found a new home with drummer Steve Haas’ team of Pete Drungle/key, Al MacDowell-Percy Jones-Kirwan Brown/b, Pete Gallio-Jay Rodriguea/sax-wwinds and Samuel Hallkvist/g on this recent recording. One of…
Doug MacDonald: Live at the Rancho Mirage Library
One of the best of So Cal’s mainstream guitarists, Doug MacDonald is caught here with a swinging team of Larry Holloway/b, Tim Pleasant/dr and Big Black/djembe for a bopping gig back in April, 2024 at the Rancho Mirage Library and…
The Hot Club of Tenerife: Filippo Dall Asta
Guitairist Filippo Dall’Asta leads a Django Reinhardt inspired team of Kep Martinez/cl, Yeray Herrera/g, Agustin Buenavente/ and Fernando Angulo/dr through a mix of gypsy’d standards and originals. He gives a lot of room to the warm clarinet of Martinez, who…
Mitch Woods: Happy Hour
Playing piano like he’s been infected by the boogie man, singer Mitch Woods hits eight to the bar with Kid Andersen/g, Larry Vann/dr, Dave Somers/sax and Kedar Roy/b through an album of hot jiving originals. He hammers at the ivories…