So, what’s a King Crimson fan to do now that Robert Fripp has closed up shop? Well, one option is to follow Crimson alumnus Pat Mastelotto on drums, teamed with two “guitarists” that have a foot in the future. One,…
Author: George W. Harris
Magnetic Dreaming: Triio
Bassist and composer Alex Fournier brings together Bea Labikova/wwinds, Naoi McCarroll-Butler/bcl-cl, Tom Fleming/g, Michael Davidson/vib and Stefan Hegerat/dr for a mix of originals that contrast between meow ambience and intuitive free form explorations. Of the former, “Prelude” and “Fires of…
Ruffyunz: Ruffyunz III
Legendary rock drummer Carmine Appice teams up with Randy Pratt/b-ed, JZ Barrell/g and Ed Terry/voc for a hard hitting album that is reminiscent of vintage Deep Purple. The metal rings loud and proud on pieces like “Street Corner High” and…
SOMEWHERE THERE’S MUSIC…Francisco Mela & Jonathan Reisin: Earthquake, Jason Moran-Marcus Gilmore: Blank Forums
Call Sherlock Holmes, and see if he can find a melody… Saxist Jonathan Reisin teams up with drummer Francisco Mela for five meetings of instruments making sounds-is it music? There are some short pieces like “First Drops” that feature gravelly…
Popa Chubby and the Beast Band: Live at G. Bluey’s Juke Joint NYC
The Juke Joint was jumping October 25-25 with Popa Chubby holding down the court with his road kill band of Michael Merritt/b-voc, Mike Dimeo Key-voc and Stefano Giudici/dr-voc. The music is filled with sweat and grits, rough and ready on…
Wishbone Ash@The Canyon Club 11.11.23
“This music is so much better than what I grew up with”, exclaimed a 29 year old fan. “Our music has no emotional feel to it; this band is exciting, and has real energy!” Even the opening act of hair…
Stacey Kent: Summer Me, Winter Me
Few vocalists are able to create an impressionistic mood like Stacey Kent. Her soft tone, personal inflections and perfectly timed nuances work adroitly on this album of her strengths, meaning romantic ballads, bossas and bohemia. Hubby Jim Tomlinson plays tenor…
THE BASS AS MUSE…John von Seggern: Evocations
Earlier this year, John von Seggern got my attention when he literally struck a chord by using his bass to create various ambient sounds on an album that sounded as if Brian Eno took up the instrument. This time around,…
John Bishop: Antwerp
Drummer John Bishop forms a trio with Bram Weijters/p and Piet Verbist/b for a mix of originals and some jazz covers. The leader shows crisp sticks on boppers like “Ruchsichtslos” and the dramatic modal “Bull” which give Weijters plenty of…
Gabriel Guerrero & Quantum: Equilibrio
Pianist Gabriel Guerrero leads a team of Seth Trachy/sax, Will Slater/b, Felix LEcaros/dr ad guests Fun Chern Hwei/str and Guillermo Barron/perc through a collection of well constructed originals. There is a rich elegance to much of the work, with “Present…