Pianist/vocalist Nelda Swiggett leads a chamber jazz team of Chris Symer/b, Byron Vannoy/dr, Rachel Swerdlow/viola and Walter Gray/cello through some exciting, quirky and swinging originals. Tensile and dramatic pieces such as “Thanks To Solomon” or the boppish “Hewett’s Blues” have…
Author: George W. Harris
Dominic J Marshall Trio: Spirit Speech
Pianist Dominic J Marshall’s star keeps rising on this session of originals with Tobias Nijboer/b and Jamie Peet/dr. He’s got a thoughtful touch that is able to be both swinging and romantic. His compositions are clever, sophisticated and accessible, ranging…
Zan Stewart: The Street Is Making Music
If you’ve ever read any jazz articles, I can guarantee you’ve seen Zan Stewart’s name on reviews in publications such as the LA Times and Downbeat. Now I see why he’s been such an astute judge of talent, as he’s…
Antonio Adolfo: Rio, Choro, Jazz…
Pianist Antonio Adolfo delves deep into some exciting music from the pen of Brazilian composer Ernesto Nazareth, sans the title track. The team of Adolfo with Claudio Spiewak/g, Jorge Helder/b, Marcelo Martins/ss-fl, Rafael Barata/dr-perc and Marcos Suzano/perc. Adolfo’s own title…
Bryce Dessner & Jonny Greenwood: St Carolyn by the Sea/Suite from “There Will Be Blood”
Here’s an interesting mix of classical, jazz and rock. From the rock band The National, Bryce Dessner brings out three of his own pieces ranging from 13-17 minutes. “St. Carolyn by the Sea” includes tasteful use of electric guitar by…
Ron Davis: Symphronica
Here’s a tasty little treat: pianist Ron Davis fronts a trio with Mike Downes/b and Ted Warren/dr along with the Windsor Symphony Orchestra fronted by Lillian Scheirich. The mix of small group dynamics and swing with the extra textures of…
Little Tokyo? Jozef Dumoulin: A Fender Rhodes Solo
You might ask what does Little Tokyo in LA have to do with this album by Jozef Dumoulin, which consists of sixteen songs interpreted by a Fender Rhodes piano. Well, the answer is simple: it’s filled with noodles! Ranging from…
Euforquestra: Fire
Wanna know where finger snapping soul went after Curtis Mayfield and Tower of Power? I think they transported into the band Euforquestra, as the mix of horns, funky back beat and earthy vocals will get you on the dance floor…
PLUGGING IN! Chat Noir: Elec/3/Cities, Plymouth: Plymouth
Back in the 70s, Power Trios were the heart and soul of Progressive Rock. Cream, Jimi Hendrix’s Experience, Emerson, Lake and Palmer were just a few of the smaller bands that worked on a big sound. Here we’ve got a…
THIS IS BEBOP 101-WEST COAST VERSION…Howard McGhee: West Coast 1945-1947
Here is a quintessential musical time capsule of the era when bebop was just coming into fashion. Imagine if Beethoven just arrived in Vienna in 1792; that’s the same effect that bebop had on the swing era in the post…