The band Sketches is a quintet collective consisting of Matt Holman/tp, Jeremy Udden/as, Jarrett Cherner/p, Martin Nevin/b and Ziv Ravitz/dr, all of whom contribute compositions to this release. The tunes themselves are impressive post bop material, with rich and intelligent…
Author: George W. Harris
The Joshua Shneider Orchestra: Love Speaks
Here’s a big band with a big and fresh sound. Joshua Shneider wrote and arranged all of the material, and conducts the band that not only is chock full of winds and brass, but includes Dave Stryker’s lithe guitar. The…
GUITARS AND KEYBOARDS…Dewa Budjana: Joged Kahyangan, SimakDIALOG: The 6th Story
Some of the most wonderful blendings of sounds comes when guitars meet with keyboards. Here are a couple different approaches to this timeless sound. Guitaris Dewa Budjana mixes and matches with LA studs Larry Goldings/key, Bob Mingtzer/reeds, Jimmy Johnson/b and…
Maria Pia De Vito: La Pergolese
Classical vocalist Maria Pia De Vito sings in a variety of settings and moods in this wide ranging album with Francois Couturier/p, Anja Lechner/cel and Michele Rabbia/perc-elec. Most of the pieces, such as “Amen/Fac ut Portem” and “Ogni Pena Cchiu…
Bob Devos: Shadow Box
Does life really get any better than the B3 trio? Yes, if you throw in the tenor sax! You get both varieties of heaven here with guitarist Bob DeVos’ team of Dan Kostelnick/B3, Steve Johns/dr and Ralph Bowen/ts through a…
QUIETLY ASSEMBLING AN INCREDIBLE CATALOGUE…Brian Lynch: Unsung Heroes Vol.2
I first saw trumpeter Brian Lynch back in the 80s, when he had a full head of hair, and was part of the front line for Horace Silver’s quintet. Multiple years and head shavings later, this guy has put together…
FRESH VOCALISTS…Nina Hennessey: With A Song, Les Grant: Way Forward Way Back
Here are a couple singers, one female, one male, who keep tabs with the standards as well as more modern material and attitudes. Nina Nennessey displays her Broadway background in her approach with an adroit team of Don Rebic/key, Jeff…
THE NEW FUSION…I Know You Well Miss Clara: Chapter One, The Wrong Object: After the Exhibition
It seems like heavy metal guitar is bringing a major influence into modern jazz. Here are three approaches to this new infusion of fusion, or as we used to call it, “jazz rock.” Serbian born and Barcelona based, guitarist Dusan…
A UNDESERVEDLY FORGOTTEN FOOTNOTE…Alec Wilder: The Octets 1938-47-Music for Lost Souls and Wounded Birds
You probably don’t recognize his name, but you’ve heard his songs. Alec Wilder was a composer during the swing to bop era, and is best known for his two chestnuts, “I’ll Be Around” and “While We’re Young.” He lived during…
Ivo Perelman: One
The prolific tenor saxist Ivo Perelman teams up together with Joe Morris/eb and Balasz Pandi/dr for a collection of fiery tunes/improvisations. You’ve got frenetic and unrelenting energy emitted by the trio on material like “Freedom” and “Remember What Never Existed”…