I try to never miss a Marcus Miller gig at Catalina’s, because the famed bassist/producer always brings some sort of surprise singer into the show, and he always mixes up the grooves and moods to cover his richly hued career.…
Author: George W. Harris
PETER BERNSTEIN: TIMELESS TONES
IN A DAY WHEN GUITARISTS ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR A “NEW” SOUND EFFECT IN WHICH TO PLUG IN, PETER BERNSTEIN LETS HIS GUITAR SPEAK FOR ITSELF ON HIS OWN. NO PEDALS, NO DIALS OR TAPES. BERNSTEIN LETS HIS STRINGS AND…
Dan Crisci: Jazz Piano Meditations
Pianist Dan Crisci creates stained glass windows on this collection of original pieces. Each 3-5 minute piece is a “jazz meditation” in that they are all contemplative with room for intuitive improvisation. “Respite”, for instance , includes reflective twilight shadows,…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****MILES’ SOUND TRACK BAND IN CONCERT****Miles Davis Quintet: In Concert at the Olympia Paris 1957
Most jazz fans know that during his early peak years, Miles Davis went to Paris to record a soundtrack for the French film noir Acenseur Pour L’echafaud with the local team of Pierre Michelot/b, Rene Urtreger/p, Barney Wilen/ts and ex-pat…
Kris Davis’ Diatom Ribbons: Live At The Village Vanguard
At the venerable Village Vanguard, Kris Davis plays piano, prepared piano and “artura microfreak synthesizer” along with Terri Lyne Carrington/drd, Julian Lage/g, Trevor Dunn/b and Val Jeanty on turntables and electronics for an evening of mixing post bop jazz with…
THIS IS BEBOP PIANO 101…Bud Powell: The Best of Bud Powell 1944-62 Volume 2
While undeservedly forgotten these days, the influence of piano pioneer Bud Powell is still heard in every musician in his wake. Almost completely by himself, Powell transported the stride style of piano playing into a brand new creation, with the…
Marta Sierra & Yorgui Loeffler: C-Jam Blues
Peppy pulses in the style of Django Reinhardt’s Hot Club of France are delivered by violinist Marta Sierra along with solo guitarist Yorgui Loeffler, rhythm man Magnio Loeffler and bassist Gousset on this collection of Depression era beauties. Sierra’s strings…
ALL BY MYSELF…Matthew Shipp: The Intrinsic Nature Of Shipp, Tom Teasley: The Breath
Sounds of solos… Pianist Matthew Shipp goes solo on this latest release, displaying his inspirations, influences and world view through a collection of originals. You can detect dashes of Andrew Hil on the dark stretching fingers of “Crystal Structures” while…
BLUES FOR TODAY… Mick Kolassa: Wooden Music, Tom Heyman: 24th Street Blues
Todays take on American roots… Plaing guitar, percussion, kazoo and singing like a carney, Mick Kolass gives avuncular styled blues with core team of Jeff Jensen/g-slg, Carl Casperson/b, Tom Lonardo/dr, Rick Seteff/p-acc and a surfeit of guests. Eric Hughes wails…
SHADES OF BRAZIL…Gafieira Rio Miami: Bring Back Samba, Putumayo Presents Bossa Nova, Gabriel Espinosa: Bossas and Boleros, Ted Falcon: To Chegando-Almost There
The colors of Brazil are reflected on these recent releases… Glitzy sounds of Brazil are put together in this big band bash featuring bold vocals by Jair Oliveira, Isa Duarte, Liz Rosa, Alfredo Del Penho, Vanessa Moreno and Moyseis Marques…