You’ve got five songs here. The disc goes for over 70 minutes, so if you do the math, you realize that this material is either a) well crafted compositions or b) blowing sessions. Well, the good news is that each…
Author: George W. Harris
Steve Slagle: Evensong
Best known for his alto work and being half of the Stryker/Slagle Band, Steve Slagle has for some peculiar reason gone solo here, but still uses his old buddy and guitar playing co-leader on this disc with Ed Howard/b and…
Gabrielo Alegria Afro-Peruvian Sextet: Ciudad Do Los Reyes
Peruvian trumpeter/composer Gabrielo Alegria got his tutelage from the likes of bobby Shew and Bill Watrous, and has used his learning well. This disc has him with an impressive sextet that has as its mission to produce “Afro-Peruvian Music For…
North America Jazz Alliance: The Montreal Sessions
Here’s a versatile little band that mixes small group swing with a hip attitude. You gotta have guts these days to feature the accordion in a band, but these guys pull it off. Consisting of Kenny Kotwitz/add, Steve Hobbs/vib, Greg…
Vandana Vishwas: Monologues
Subtitled “A Bouquet of Indian Melodies,” this recording features composer and vocalist Vandana Vishwas delivering nine originals that mix Southern Asian sounds and flavors with a hint of Western rhythms to make the palate a bit more accessible. Her voice…
Yelena Eckemoff Trio: Glass Song
This is the third release I’ve heard by pianist Yelena Eckemoff, so I know that this most recent release is not a freak. She’s got a rich, spacious and luminously light touch, not unlike vintage Bill Evans. Her milieu is…
Bongos Ikwue and Double X: Wulu Wulu
The liner notes do a great service in coining Nigerian vocalist Bongos Ikwue as an “African Bill Withers,” as this guy does have that same type of earthy and intimate feel to his delivery on his US release. The music…
Mostly Other People Do The Killing: Slippery Rock
Made up of Peter Evans/tp, Jon Irabagon/sax-fl, Moppa Elliot/b and Kevin Shea/dr, MOPDTK is a band that has a heart of hard bop, but brew it with a mix of spiked expresso. They can deliver a gospel feel on “Can’t…
12 STRINGS OF JOY! Larry Carlton & Robben Ford: Unplugged
If you know ANYTHING about the guitar, you must have at least half a dozen Larry Carlton recordings in your collection. Oh, they may not feature him as a leader, but he’s there on your Steely Dan, Joni Mitchell or Crusaders discs…
AN ELVIS SIGHTING!!! Elvis Presley: Aloha From Hawaii via Satellite-Legacy Edition
When you walk along Hollywood Blvd in LA, or take in a show in Vegas, odds are good that the Elvis you’re going to see is the one from the era that this fantastically compiled “Elvis” 2cd set covers. A…