Vocalist/percussionist Angel D’Cuba leads an energetic band that mixes celebratory grooves with some funky horn accents on this release. He sings in both English and Spanish, the former on an excitingly soulful “Can’t Hide Love” that reveals a hip horn…
Author: George W. Harris
Matt Herskowitz: Upstairs
Recorded in concert at the Upstairs Jazz Bar & Grill in Montreal on a single night in 2011, this disc is an impressive solo performance by pianist Matt Herskowitz. He’s got a classical touch, style and penchant on this evening’s…
Myriad3: Tell
This album by the trio Myriad3 tells you volumes about the influence of Brad Mehldau and the wake of his music. Since the days of bebop, trios have either been things like the Bud Powell influenced “Mow, Blow and Go”…
Jason Marsalis Vibes Quartet: In A World of Mallets
Whenever I listen to a disc with a Marsalis performing on it, I picture a scene in the 60s where father Ellis points to his sons and says, “OK, Wynton, you get the trumpet, Branford take the sax, Delfeayo gets…
KRISTOS ANESTI!
Yes, it’s one of the great times of the year. Spring begins, with all of its implications. As we make the home stretch to Easter, I wanted to make a list of the best things about this Lenten Season. …
Ambrose Akinmusire Quintet@The Blue Whale 03.16.13
It’s quite intriguing how the music scene goes in cycles. As the Bible says, “He brings down one, and he brings up another.” Earlier this week LA hosted Wynton Marsalis, who 30+ years ago was the new kid on the…
Julian Lage Trio@The Blue Whale 03.14.13
What is it about guitarists? It’s like the Wild Wild West-as soon as a new gunslinger rolls into town, all of the established six shooters come to check him out. The Blue Whale was PACKED with not only fans, but…
****RINGERS OF THE WEEK****ECHOS OF AN ERA-Duke Ellington Orchestra: Big Bands Live, Zoot Sims: Lost Tapes
Last year, Jazz Haus Records came across a cache of live recordings from various concerts in Germany, ranging from the late 40s to early 70s. These are the two of the latest gems from the mines, and you’ll definitely want…
Eberhard Weber: Resume’
Best known for his work with Jan Garbarek, bassist Eberhard Weber leads the way here with a collection of concert recordings with Garbaerek in the sideman role of sax and flute and Michael diPasque keeping things together with percussion and…
IN THE BEGINNING…Andras Schiff: Bach-Das Wohltemperierte Clavier
Is this a great country or what? Here in America, we get “New Music” that is only about 300 years old and simply changed western civilization. Pianist Andras Schiff takes on the man who is essentially the root of jazz…