Yes, it can be commercialized, but SO WHAT?!? There’s something about the Christmas season that is special. Yes, you have Chanukah, Kwaanza and a bunch of other holidays that vie for attention, but the Big Cheese of holidays is on…
Author: George W. Harris
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Brussels Jazz Orchestra featuring Joe Lovano: Wild Beauty
Tenor saxist Joe Lovano has released a plethora of albums with a wide variety of themes, ranging from Sinatra to Caruso tributes with 52nd St. Bebop in between. This one, backed (in the broadest sense of the word) by the Brussels…
STRAYHORN DUETS…Christian Winther & Richard D. Johnson: Two People
I’m a sucker for jazz duets, as this reveals challenging interplay and improvisation like no other environment. Here, you’ve got an album by tenor saxist and clarinetist Christian Winther along with pianist Richard D. Johnson going through some intimate and…
Michael Pedicin: Why Stop Now/Ubuntu
Tenor saxist Michael Pedicin has got John Coltrane on his mind and in his dna on this exciting set with Johnnie Valentino/g, Andy LaLasis/b, Rick Germanson/p and Vic Stevens/dr. Pedicin’s energetic and yearning sound is confident with the assertive band…
JAZZY FOLK…The Dickens Campaign: Oh Lovely Appearance
I first saw the combination of drums, cornet and guitar by the respective artists Deric Dickens, Kirk Knuffke and Jesse Lewis and thought “Oh, no; wild free form self indulgence.” Boy, did these guys give a pleasant surprise! What leader…
Mintz Quartet: Billy Mintz/John Gross/Roberta Piket/Putter Smith
Drummer Billy Mintz leads from behind a team of John Gross/ts, Roberta P iket/p-B3 and Putter Smith through a dozen of his wide ranging originals. The moods range from Coltranesque spirituals (“Ugly Beautiful”) to free from (“Dit”), but with all…
Kara Mack: A Negroe’s Spiritual
Vocalist Kara Mack gives an anthological review of Black music, ranging from traditional African themes to contemporary R&B in this ambitious project. She has a warm and attractive, quite earnest voice, not unlike the guileless Lizz Wright. When she sings,…
Jimmy Masters: When Trees Speak
Bassist Jimmy Masters has put together a well rounded and wide ranging collection of material on this creative album. He teams up with JC Kuhl/ts-ss, Justin Kauflin/ and John Toomey/p, Joe Locke/vibes, Trey Pollard/eg, Mary Lou Osterhous/g-v and Brian Jones/dr…
Griffith Hiltz Trio: This is What You Get
Here’s an intriguing combo-a trio with reeds (Johnny Griffith), electric guitar and bass pedals (Nathan Hiltz) and a drummer (Sly Juhas) to keep it all together for the ten original songs. The thing that’s interesting about this band is that…
INTRIGUING ARRANGER…Jeff Lederer: Swing N’ Dix, Mary LaRose: Reincarnation
What difference does an arranger make? Well, reedist Jeff Lederer brings forth two highly varying releases that are unified by his presence on sax and clarinet, as well as showing an intriguing ear for sounds. Swing N’ Dix has Lederer…