The unlikely duo of Jim Self’s tuba and John Chiodini’s guitar gives an encore album of fun swinging music, bringing in guests to the festivities this time around. Half of the fun here is the song selection, only out-done by…
Month: November 2024
SWING AND SING…Les Brown and His Band of Renown: All The Hits and More 1939-1955
While not considered a trend setting band, Les Brown’s Band of Renown was a respectable swing outfit, best known as a vehicle for some of the day’s best vocalist, notably a lady named Doris Day. This 2 disc, 49 song…
NEW FROM NEUMA AND KLAUS KUGEL…Roby Glod/Christian Ramond/Klaus Kugel: No Toxic, Frank Pul Schubert/Kazuhisa Uchihashi/Klaus Kugel: Black Holes Are Hard To Find, Transatlantic Five: Transitions
The German-based label Nemu Records has released a trio of adventurous albums, all united in that they include drummer Klaus Kugel in different permutations. Hang on tight! No Toxic has Kugel in a trio with Ruby Glog/as-ss and Christian Ramond/b…
Isaiah Collier & The Chosen Few: The World Is On Fire
Saxist Isaiah Collier brings together a core team of Julian Davis Reid/p, Jeremiah Hunt/b and Michael Ode/dr along with the voices of Manasseh Croft, Kiela Adira, Jessica Wlaton and Meagan McNal and various woodwinds and strings for this urgent and…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****THE PROPHETS STILL SPEAK…Roy Hargrove’s Crisol: Grande-Terre
Who knows why this 1998 session of Roy Hargrove’s band was shelved for so long, especially after winning a Grammy for their album Habana. Better late than never, but only the living get to appreciate what the late great trumpeter…
Diego Rivera: Ofrenda
Tenor saxist Diego Rivera brings his big tone in line with his band of Terell Stafford/tp, Art Hirahara/p, Boris Kozlov/b and Rudy Royston/dr on this hard hitting set of originals. The team is able to go into overdrive as on…
BIG LATIN LOVERS…Spanish Harlem Orchestra: Swing Forever, Jonathan Powell: Mambo Jazz Party
It’s Cruise Night… Put on your dancing shoes for this latest release from the Spanish Harlem Orchestra, led by piaist Oscar Hernandez and featuring the bold bel canto voices of Marco Bemudea, Carlos Cascante and Jeremy Bosch (who also plays…
TODAY’S GUITAR…David Bailis: Tree Of Life, Matt Panayides Trio: With Eyes Closed
Modern axes to grind… Guitairst David Bailis leads a team of Jason Nazary/dr, Chris Speed/ts and Eric Lane/p-synth/b on pretty and modern sounding originals, with the addition of a lyrical read of “Open Your Eyes”. The teaming of tenor and…
Tom Harrell: Alternate Summer
One of this generations most important trumpeters and composers, Tom Harrell keeps trying new ideas (well, not THAT new) by having Luis Perdomo mix Rhodes and piano into the mix as he trades off tenor saxists Dayna Stephens and Mark…
Thom Rotella: Side Hustle
I’ve seen him a couple times in the local LA clubs, and Thom Rotella is becoming one of my favorite guitarists. He seems to be filling the spot of the recently retired Kenny Burrell, aptly shown on this album with…