Best known for his friendship and style inspiration with the recently departed Les McCann, pianist Joe Alterman finds companionship with another kindred spirit in tenor saxist Houston Person. Along wit Kevin Smith/b and Justin Chesarek/dr, the two soul brothers make…
Month: February 2025
John Nau: Four Corners
Playing piano, organ and synths, John Nau teams up with Trey Henry/b, John Ferraro/dr and Brian Chapman/g-v for some classy compositions. He uses the strings well on “Day Hike” and the whimsical “The Butterfly Verses The Wind”, with the latter…
Lucia Sarmiento: Escape
Something is happening in Latin America with female tenor saxists, as Peruvian Lucia Sarmiento is the latest in the line to get my attention. This album is quite ambitious, mixing and mating with a top line of artists, including Mark…
Adam Baldych: Portraits
Polish violinist/composer Adam Baldych mixes and matches with his team of Sebastian Zawadzki/p, Marek Konarski/ts, Andrzej Swies/b and Dawid Fortuna/dr on a rich mosaic of colors on this album of originals. He’s able to create a wide range of moods,…
Kinan Azmeh Cityband: Live In Berlin
Clarinetist and composer Kinan Azmeh bridges the gap of Middle East and jazz with this richly swinging collection of concert material during his band’s stay in Berlin. Azmeh’s clarinet unites the team of Kyle Sanna/g, Josh Myers/b and John Hadfield/dr…
Elam Briedlander: Sound-Elements
Bassist Elam Briedlander brings together a post bop team of Abraham Burton/ts, Luis Perdomo/p and Eric McPherson/dr for a handful of his compositions. The mood has a feel of late period John Coltrane, with almost every song giving each artist…
Terry Waldo & The Gotham City Band: Treasury Volume 1
Pianist Terry Waldo delivers early swing hot’cha jazz on this album with vocalists Tatian Eva –Marie, Veronica Swift and Jerron Paxton/banj backed by the two stepping team of Nick Russo-Arnt Arntzen/banj, Jim Fryer-Sam Chess/tb, Colin Hancock/ts-tp, Dennis Lichtman-Ricky Alexander-Evan Arntzen/cl,…
Vincenzo Virgillito: Precondition
Bassist Vincenzo Virgillito goes solo with a wide variety of basses on this clever collection of mostly originals. The atmosphere is remarkably lyrical and wide ranging in dynamics. His acoustic bass is rich on a read of Charles Mingus’ “Goodbye…
Tim Morse: Soundtracks
Playing a series of keyboards, Tim Morese does it all on this collection of original. The synth tones create atmospheres on “Remembrance” and “Solar Flare” while “Cityscape” has a mechanical machine like groove”. He gives John Lennon’s “Mind Games” a…
HARD BOPPING SOUNDS FROM CELLAR…Ben Paterson: Cookin’ In The Couve, Heavy Hitters: That’s What’s Up
Like Blue Note Records from 3 score years ago, Cellar Records is now the label most associated with classic hard bop sounds. Here are there two latest fingerpoppers. Pianist Ben Paterson trios up with Neal Miner/b and Aaron Seber for…