My dad, who grew up during the Swing Era and Bebop years, had what he called “the three hour test”. Essentially, you should judge a musical artist as to whether you could listen to his music three hours in a…
Month: May 2025
BYRD ON A WIRE…Gene Clark & Carla Olson: So Rebellious A Lover
Once leaving the influential band The Byrds, founding member Gene Clark formed an impressive solo career. One of his most important outings was with pianist/vocalist/guitarist Carla Olson, with this 1989 session featuring some rich harmonies and ideas reminiscent of vintage…
Rodney Jordan: Memphis Blue
Bassist Rodney Jordan serves up vintage Blue Note-style jazz on this hip quintet album with a front line of Melvin Jones/tp-fh, Mark Sterbank/ts-ss and a rhythm team with Louis Heriveaux/p with Quentin E. Baxter/dr. They loyalties are on the collective…
University of Nevada, Las Vegas Jazz Ensemble 1: Let The Good Times Roll
Best known for basketball, UNLV shows it can also swing off court, as the their jazz ensemble directed by Dave Loeb and Nathan Tanouye hit nothing but net on this release. The team shuffles on the rollicking “Let The Good…
Jenna McLean: For Your Love
Based on the cover, Jenna McLean comes across as a throwback to the singer/songwriter in 1970s style, also bringing in some rich covers on this recent release. With Jack McManaman/g, Tom Amend/p-key, Matt Smiley/b and Chris Smith/dr, she gives a…
Jake Hertzog: Ozark Concerto
Guitarist Jake Hertzog melds together jazz and orchestrations with Susumu Watanabe conducting The Ozark Jazz Philharmonic through an eight part Concerto for guitar, jazz big band and string quartet. There’s plenty of space for Hertzog’s guitars, both acoustic and electric,…
Susan Hinkson: Just In Time
Vocalist Susan Hinkson sings with style and clarity on this album of standards. She’s backed by the hip team of Steve Wilson/as, Bruce Barth/p, Vicente Archer/b and Adam Cruz/dr and the team is as crisp as Romaine lettuce, bouncing with…
Jack O’ The Clock: Portraits
Consisting of Damon Waitkus/voc-g-dulc-b-fl-ley, Emily Packard/vi-va, Kate McLoughlin/bassoon-voc, Victor Reynolds/b-g-voc-key and guests Brad Mehlenbacker wit Roger Vaughan/b, the band Jack O’The Clock put together an album of sounds that try to mix folk, rock and other eclectic ideas. The 17,…
Chris Cheek: Keepers Of The Eastern Door
An album of moods is painted by saxist Chris Cheek, using colors supplied by the palate of Bill Frisell/g, Tony Scherr/b and Rudy Royston/dr. One of the atmospheres is that of the local Moose Lodge, with Frisell’s home spun guitar…
Jazz Bakery “Moveable Feast” Presents Diego Figueiredo & Claudia Bossle 05.24.25
“Tonight we celebrate the art of improvisation” So cheerfully declared guitarist Diego Figueiredo, who just 24 hours before learned that his scheduled partner Ken Peplowsk would not be joining him on clarinet and tenor due to an illness. So, in…