Vocalist/composer Chris McNulty mixes a collection of intriguing covers to a pair of her own impressive tunes on this Decalogue of material. Supported by the synchronized cast of Ugonna Okegwo/b, Marcus Gilmore/dr, Paul Bollenback/g, Andrei Kondokov/p, Graham Wood/key and Igor…
Author: George W. Harris
Grace Kelly: Live at Scullers
Rising alto sax star Grace Kelly lays out her musical attitude and direction at the get go during this Boston gig from February 2012. Her self-penned “Please Don’t Box Me In” summarizes the attitude of this young lady that some…
The O’Farrill Brother Band: Sensing Flight
Brothers Adam/tp and Zack/dr lead a sextet with Livio Almeida/ts, Gabe Schnider/g, Adam Kromelow/p and Raviv Markovitz/b that emphasizes post bop modernism. Most of the tunes are composed by the trumpeter, and material like “Drive,” “Mind Troubles” and “Full Measure”…
Manhattan Vibes: Blue November
Consisting of Christos Rafalides/vib-mar, Sergio Salvatore/p, Mike Pope/b and Vince Cherico/dr-perc, the Manhattan Vibes quartet is a sleek and highly rhythmic and percussive team that glides through originals and standards with aplomb. Rafalides composes the originals, and material like “718”…
Kevin Harris Project Museum Vol. 1
Keyboardist Kevin Harris brings together a post bop quintet with Kendal Eddy/b, Jason Palmer/tp, Rick DiMuzio/ts and Richie Barshay/dr-Steve Langone/dr on a mix of originals and intriguing covers. Of the latter, a whimsical and sprite take of the traditional folk…
Cliff Hines: Wanderlust
Here’s an ambitious project by guitarist/composer Cliff Hines. He’s put together a collection of tunes focusing on the problems and hopeful solutions of a fragmented world. The main band of Hines with Sasha Masakowski/voc, Andrew McGowan/key, Jasen Waver/b and Paul…
Wynton Marsalis & the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra@Disney Hall 03.12.13
It seems that for every generation, God ordains a trumpeter to be jazz’s Ambassador to the world. In the past, we’ve had Satchmo and Dizzy being sponsored by the State Departments to spread the sonic joy, but with the federal…
Ana Moura: Desfado
True confession/disclosure time-fado music such as delivered here by the honey toned voice of Ana Moura brings me back to my childhood as a Greek American. I grew up listening to exotic music from the land of my forefathers, with singers…
Madeleine Peyroux: The Blue Room
Inspired by the classic Ray Charles country records from about 40 years and a completely different world view ago, singer Madeleine Peyroux scores a coup by mixing her bohemian gypsy/folk style with old school country on this delicious mix of material that’s…
Claudio Scolari: Synthesis
Claudio Scolari does almost all of it here. He playes drums, percussion, flute, piano and synthesizers. If he can cook Pasta Carbonara, he can stay at our house for as long as he wants! He shares the stage with Simone Scolari/tp and Daniele…