It’s rare when you find a young male singer, particularly a white one, who’s not coming across as a poser when he enters the jazz field. I wouldn’t dare mention any names like Buble’ or anything, but is it really…
Author: George W. Harris
Chango Spasiuk, Maurece El Medioni & More: Latin Noir
If you’ve got the blood that gets hot when Latin music is played, you’re in for a real fiesta here. Subtitled “Everything Happens On The Beach,” this disc puts together various passionate and romantically agonizing love songs from Cuba, Argentia,…
Alexander Berne: Self Referentials 1 & 2
Well, this two disc set by Alexander is nothing if it isn’t ambitious. As the notes say, while the performance is credited to “Alexander Berne & The Abandoned Orchestra,” the truth is that this means that the music is composed,…
Ilia Skibinsky: The Passage
Here’s a nice post-bop session by a guy you’ll want to hear more from. Ilia Skibinsky adheres mostly to the alto, but also forays into the soprano and even the piano on this impressive disc with a working team of…
Terri Lyne Carrington: Money Jungle-Provocative In Blue
Drummer Terri Lyne Carrington thanks her fans for getting a Grammy last year by putting together a new album that is a fascinating tribute to an important album when Giants Ruled The World. Celebrating a half century since Duke Ellington,…
Elan Trotman: Tropicality
He’s made his reputation as a sideman for the likes of Earl Klugh, Jonathan Butler, Roberta Flack, Patti Austin, Gerald Albright and Dave Koz, so you know sax man and flutist Elan Trotman knows how to play to an R&B…
Goombah Jazz
“Agita, My Cumpa, in the Panzon” If you know Broadway Danny Rose and Nick Apollo Forte’, those words are as delicious as calzone.What we’ve got here is a celebration of one of the key cultures to make jazz the great…
Hiromi: Move
For some strange reason, it’s easy to take a talent like Hiromi for granted. She’s got chops that rival Art Tatums, she is a gifted composer, and she puts together bands that have a link between jazz’s tradition and future.…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Asuka Kakitani Jazz Orchestra: Bloom
I’ll try not to be sexist about this, but of all the other jazz orchestra leaders, I can’t help but compare Asuka Kakitani to Maria Schneider. OK, they’re both female, but the similarities don’t simply end there. Both approach big band jazz…
THE MOST IMPORTANT LIVING COMPOSER? Arvo Part: Adam’s Lament
If you haven’t heard any music by Arvo Part, you are missing out on some of the most important (as well as some of the best) music being written and performed. He’s from Estonia, and focuses on mostly modern liturgical…