Flautist/composer Jamie Baum leads a forward looking septet along with Amir Elsaffar/tp, Douglas Yates/reeds, Chris Komer/frh, Brad Shepik/g, John Escreet/key, Zachary Lober/b and Jeff Hirshfield/dr. If that number doesn’t quite equal seven, the inclusion of guests Sameil Torres/perb, Dan Weiss/tabla…
Author: George W. Harris
Badi Assad: Between Love and Luck
Brazilian vocalist Badi Assad releases an attractive collection of originals that mix pop, jazz and local sounds in an intriguing manner. She mixes and matches her songs in both Portuguese and English, sometimes in the same tune. The material can…
Diego Urcola: Mates
If you’re a fan of duets, you’re going to be in hog heaven on this release. Each of the fourteen pieces here has the trumpet or flugelhorn of Diego Urcola matched with either Avishai Cohen/b, Dave Samuels/vib-mar, Edmar Castaneda/harp or…
Patrisha Thomson: That Old Feeling
“I AM big; it’s the pictures that got small” Norma Desmond-Sunset Boulevard Vocalist Patrisha Thomson shows a style of singing and delivery that is akin to watching a movie with old time stars Paul Muni or Luise Ranier. Unlike the…
T.K. Blue: A Warm Embrace
Here’s a disc to prove that beautiful music doesn’t have to be associated with wimpy and limp. T.K. Blue plays alto and soprano saxes as well as flute and mixes and matches his lovely and warm tone in a variety…
Moutin Factory Quintet: Lucky People
Brothers Francoi/b and Luis/dr Moutin have made a name for themselves not only as the foundation of Martial Solal’s trio, but as leaders of a group in their own right. Here, they lead a band with Thomas Enhco/p, Christophe Monniot/as-ss…
Lenny Sendersky/Tony Romano: Desert Flower
Here’s some wonderful Brazilian/Latin music from an unlikely source. Alto/soprano saxist Lenny Sendersky and guitarist Tony Roman lead a quartet with Stee LaSpina/b and Matt Kane/dr along with guests Randy Brecker/tp, Joe Locke/vib and Cleve Douglass/voc for a mix of…
Emanuele Cisi: Where or When
Italian born saxist Emanuele Cisi drinks from the Coltrane fountain on this collection of originals and standards in a trio format with Joseph LePore/b and Luca Santaniello/dr. On soprano, he goes laconic and agonizing on “Chelsea Bridge” bluesy on “Spheres”…
The Blue Project: The Danny Petroni Blue Project
If you want it down and dirty, here’s your music. Danny Petroni plays the Strat like it was welded to his fingers at birth, and he teams up with Frank Lacy, who sounds like he swallowed nails for lunch in…
Clark Terry & Bob Brookmeyer Quintet: Complete Live Recordings 1962-1965
Here was a band that must have been a gas to see in concert. Maestro Clark Terry, warm toned on both trumpet and flugelhorn, made a name for himself with Basie and Ellington big bands. For a few years he…