Here’s a guy that’s got the boogie blues in his blood. Guitarist Charles “CD” Davis brings his Strat right out front and gets the joint jumping with a collection of tunes that will get your blue suede shoes stepped on…
Author: George W. Harris
Jeffrey Gimble: Beyond Up High
Here’s a hip vocalist that delivers like a closing reliever-lots of variety and keeps you guessing with his changes of speed. Tenor-toned vocalist Jeffrey Gimble has a with-it attitude here on this release of ten tunes ranging from standards to sixties soul.…
Geof Bradfield: Melba!
Here’s a great concept for an album, and it’s done just right. Reedman Geof Bradfield puts together a musical suite that is a tribute to Melba Liston, who made her mark as a section trombonist, but more importantly as an…
Pamela Sklar: A Native American-Jazz Tribute
Subtitled “A Tune For America” flutist Pamela Sklar brings together various woodwinds along with guest percussionists and strings to weave together a meditative tapestry of sounds. At times alone with her meditative flute, and other times bringing together altos, basses…
Stan Killian: Evoke
Tenor Saxist and composer Stan Killian fronts a well rounded post bop quintet with Mike Moreno/g, Benito Gonzalez/p, Corcoran Holt and McClenty Hunter on this collection of well constructed and arranged originals. Arrangement is an important thing here, as the…
Ron Oswanski: December’s Moon
Ron Oswanski takes the Hammond B3 in some intriguing directions on this multi-faceted release. Also on piano and accordion, he brings together s team of ClarencePenn-Ian Froman/dr, Jay Azzolina-John Abercrombie/g, John Patitucci/b and Tim Ries/ts-ss for a dozen originals that…
Michael Blanco: No Time Like The Present
Bassist Michael Blanco leads a melodious quintet with John Ellis/ts-ss, Jonathan Kreisberg/g, David Cook/p and Mark Ferber through a collection of impressive and invigorating originals. Lyrical and cheerful melodies like “Dutch Kills” and the title track feature Ellis with a…
THE LAST TIME THE MOST POPULAR WAS ALSO THE BEST? Harry James & His Music Makers: Flash Harry-Broadcasts 1942-46
Long ago, on a land far far away…. The most popular music in the land of the Jedi Knights was also the best that was available. That was before the Dark Empire (aka “rock and roll”) took over and changed…
JAZZ’S GAP-TOOTHED COUSIN: The Steeldrivers: Hammer Down, Steve Martin & Edie Brickell: Love Has Come For You, Della Mae: This World Oft Can Be, David & Vincent: Brothers of the Highway
I’m always amazed at how many jazz fans turn their collective noses up to country and bluegrass. First of all, the bluegrass players can BLOW! They’ve got chops galore, and while the banjo may not be your first choice of…
A FRESH VOICE Leonard Patton: Expressions
If you think good male jazz singers are about as abundant as women at The Masters, give So Cal vocalist Leonard Patton a try. He released a nice session a few years ago with LA cats Josh Nelson and Darek…