Touring around in support of his latest release One Is The Other, veteran drummer Billy Hart filled the hip Blue Whale with his team of Ethan Iverson/p, Ben Street/b and Mark Turner/ts delivered material that mixed intriguing rhythms, melodies and…
Author: George W. Harris
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Curtis Stigers: Hooray For Love
If you have any discs my Michael Bubbles, but not of Curtis Stigers, please do me a favor and get rid of the former, and fill up with the latter. Like, start with this one. BUBLE’ IS A POSER!! HE…
Barb Jungr: Hard Rain
Subtitled “The Songs of Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen,” this album by evocative chanteuse Barb Jungr brings folk tunes from the 60s and on up to modern times, sounds and interpretations. Her chestnut tone works well, and she uses her…
Manhattan School of Music Jazz Philharmonic Orchestra: The Symphonic Ellington, Que Viva Harlem!
Here are a couple of releases by the Manhattan School of Music. One is from the Jazz Philharmonic, and the other from the Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra. Talking about getting an education Conducted by Justin DiCioccio, the MSMJPO delves into…
ARBORS IS BACK! Kat Gang: Dream Your Troubles Away, Sportiello, Metz, Parrott: It’s a Good Day
It seemed for awhile that after the producer of Arbors Records, Mat Domber, died in 2012, the swinging little label might just cash in its chips. However, it seems to have bounced back with a hip release last year by…
SWING IT, GATE! Louis Prima Jr. and the Witnesses: Blow, Swing Fever with Mary Stallings: One Full Hour of Music
Remember when jazz used to be fun? That’s how I originally got into it; guys like Louis Jordan and Dizzy Gillespie were able to make you want to dance and smile at the same time. Nowadays it’s more like a…
HARD HITTERS…Dewabudjana w/ Jimmy Johnson & Vinnie Coliauta: Surya Namaskar, Xavi Reija: Resolution
Dedicated to “progressive music exploring the boundaries of jazz, rock, avant-garde & the unknown, MoonJune Records has release two new albums that make fusion a good word again. You probably haven’t ever heard of Indonesian guitarist Dewa Budjana, so it’s…
Flavorful Big Bands…The Pete McGuinness Jazz Orchestra: Strength in Numbers, David White Orchestra: The Chase
Who says the Big Band Era is over? Here are a couple of recordings that are both intelligent and swinging. Grammy nominated arranger, trombonist and vocalist Pete McGuinness puts together some exciting charts on both originals, standards and traditionals. He…
Steven Kroon: On the #1
Steven Kroon plays congas and percussion while leading a sleek and savvy latin band which includes Igor Atalita/key, Bryan Carrott/vib, Craig Rivers/fl, Tim Ries/sax, Ruben Rodriguez/b and Vince Cherico/dr. Compositions by Donald Vega, George Cables and others feature feathery woodwinds…
PIANO TRIOS! Ted Rosenthal Trio: Rhapsody in Gershwin, Krom: Krom
Ah! The stripped down essence of jazz-the piano trio! Pianist Ted Rosenthal brings together Martin Wind/b and Tim Horner/dr for some highly clever arrangements of Gershwin tunes. The centerpiece, however, is a tour de force rendition of the whole meghilla…