Danish jazz hasn’t really made an impact on the US, but in Denmark pianist Carsten Dahl is one of the Machers of the scene. Here are a pair of recent releases that show some originality from Scandinavia He fronts a…
Author: George W. Harris
Roger McGuinn & Marty Stuart@Smothers Theatre 10.10.13
Before “McGuinn & McGuire kept getting higher” in the 60s, there was no such thing as the now ubiquitous genre of what was then termed “country rock.” The interesting thing is that a good number of those progenitors (which included…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK***Scott Neumann’s Neu3 Trio: Blessed
Many aspire, but few attain. That holds not only for salvation, but for putting together a tenor trio recording. Drummer Scott Neuman attempts the climb from the North Side of the Mountain, leading a band from behind with Michael Blake,…
STEADY TOM TOMS…Tom Kennedy: Just Play!, Tom Dempsey: Saucy
Both guys named Tom; one’s on bass, the other on guitar. Both serve up blue plate specials of music that is the War Dance of jazz fans. Rib stickin’ music here. Step right up! Bassist Tom Kennedy is one of…
Lage Lund-Will Vinson-Orlando le Fleming: Owl Trio
The unorthodox trio of guitar (Lage Lund) alto sax (Will Vinson) and bass (Orlando le Fleming) makes perfect sense here with a subtle, subdued and spacious treatment of standards and originals. Vinson’s warm and airy alto floats with grace between…
Tom Bekeny: Jazzolin
Tom Bekeny has used his skills at mandolin and violin mostly in the bluegrass vein, but here he shows that he’s really got a jazzer’s heart, going through a swinging set of standards with a few surprises with a hopping…
Pete McGuinness: Voice Like a Horn
I like this guy! Pete McGuinness started his career as a trombonist (and he still shows his brass muscles here as well) but he’s veered over to the vocal side of life in this stage of this career, with this…
NEW AGE? OLD NEW AGE? NEW OLD AGE? Ian Dogole: Outside the Box
Remember New Age Music? Paul Winter’s Consort? Alex DeGrassi? Windham Hill Records? Where did they all go? Well, percusionist/composer Ian Dogole brings back the best parts of that genre with a vengeance: a two cd set brings that style and…
Mark Winkler & Cheryl Bentyne: West Coast Cool
If you think the Least Coast has all of the music worth hearing, you need to check out the LA vocal scene, as we’ve got some singers that blow everyone else off the street. Cheryl Bentyne (of the Manhattan Transfer)…
John Escreet: Sabotage and Celebration
Keyboardist/composer John Escreet is nothing if not ambitious. He’s put out some highly original and creative material, with this latest one being the possible high point. The seven pieces range from panoramic pieces with strings (“Axis of Hope”) and thoughtful…