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…
Author: George W. Harris
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…
Lucian Ban & Mat Maneri: Transylvanian Concert
A modern collection of sonatas that erase the lines between jazz and classical is presented in concert form here by Romanian-born composer and pianist Lucian Ban and Ameican violist Mat Maneri. A mixture of Eastern Europe, American blues and even…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Bernt Rosengren Big Band with Horace Parlan and Doug Raney
If you’re a big band fan, you’re going to want to have this baby in your collection. What you’ve got here is a 1980 session from Stockholm of Bernt Rosengren, who was a big fish in the small pond of…
DELICIOUS DUETS! Tommy Flanagan & Jaki Byard: The Magic of 2-Live at Keystone Korner
I’m not sure where producer George Klabin is finding these vintage live sessions, but I hope the well is connected to an aquifer. His releases of material by Hubbard, Evans and Montgomery have been nothing short of revelatory, and this…
SOUNDS FROM THE SOUTH: Mark Weinstein: Todo Corazon, Jovino Santos Neto: Piano Masters Series Vol. 4, Maria Marquez: Tonada
Here is a trio of releases that deliver music from three different countries. Select your own special spices and sprinkle generously! Flutist Mark Weinstein has produced some impressive music from Central America and Brazil. This time around he travels to…
WOW! MOM! Robert Hurst: Bob, a Palindrome
If you just look at the list of guys on this session that was actually recorded back in 2001 (and who knows where it’s been), you’re going to raise a couple eyebrows. How do the names Branford Marsalis/ss-ts, Jeff “Tain”…
Jeff Healey Band: House on Fire
Blues rock guitarist Jeff Healey may no longer be with us on earth, but there are still undiscovered recordings that are as good as anything you’ve already heard. This latest release features demos and other studio obscurities that will delight…