Before the electric guitar became the most popular instrument for rocking teens, the tenor sax was the instrument of choice, able to swing with the jazzers and wail with the R&Bers. One of the gents with the biggest, boomiest and…
Month: January 2025
Colin Vallon: Samares
Soft pastels of sound are created by pianist Colin Vallon’s trio with bassist Patrice Mouret and drummer Julian Sartorius on this album of nine originals. The mood is delicate and gentle t hroughout, with Sartorious’ burshes hovering on the delicate…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK/YEAR?****THIS IS KANSAS CITY JAZZ 101****Classic Vanguard Small Group Swing Sessions
Founded in 1950 by brothers Maynard and Seymour Solomon, Vanguard Records built up a catalogue of some of the most authentic collections of folk, blues, and jazz during its existence. By 1953, the label was under the direction of John…
The Bad Plus: Complex Emotions
Once the vanguard for today’s jazz piano trios, The Bad Plus has evolved in personnel and style over the years. Yes, the drum heavy sound is still there, here provided by Dave King. But along with founder Red Anderson on…
****STILL GOING STRONG AT 100****Terry Gibbs Dream Band: Volume 7-The Lost Tapes, 1959
While not playing the vibes anymore, at 100 Terry Gibbs is one of the last of the musicians from the big band and bebop eras. This 1959 collection of sessions from various Hollywood Clubs has Gibbs with the crème of…
Red 123: New Town
Guitarist Steve Bryant, better known as “Red 123” is a six string voice that begs to be heard for those inspired by the sounds of Pat Metheny. He’s got that same sense of traditional melodicism teamed with a modern and…
The Choir Boys: Surveilled
As demonstrated on this recording/video, free form jazz is best experienced in concert setting. Even if your idea of stretching the musical boundaries consists of Wynton Marsalis, Jeff Kaiser and Andrew Pask have something to garnish your attention. For this…
Brandon Sanders: The Tables Will Turn
Drummer Brandon Sanders forms a hip pot bop team with Keith Brown/p, Chris Lewis/ts-ss, Warren Wolf/vib, David Wong/b and guest Christie Dashell/voc for a mix of standards and originals. Sanders pulls a ringer wit Dashiell on a sleek read of…
Soul Piece: A Plane To Catch
If you want to know what happened to Booker T and The MGs, check out this album by Rolf Thofte/tp, Andreas Toftemark/ts, Mads Norgaard/g, Simon Eskildsen/key, Anton Langebaek/b and David Besiakov/dr. The sextet sounds like they were weaned on STAX…
Dwayne Clemons: Center Of Gravity-Live At Smalls
A hot night of hard bopping was happening Sept 7, 2023, with trumpeter and leader Dwyane Clemons blowing heat with Amanda Sedgwick/as, Aaron Johnson/ts, JinJoo Yoo/p, Paul Gill/b and Taro Okamoto/dr mixing standards with originals. Clemons and company are bright…