Here are three recent releases by the tiny P osi-Tone label, a company that must have an incredible piano and B3 in their studio, as almost all of their records feature someone behind the keys. Hammond B3er Jared Gold is…
Author: George W. Harris
Florian Hoefner Group: Songs Without Words
Pianist Florian Hoefner leads a quartet with Mike Ruby/ts-ss, Sam Anning/b and Peter Kronreif/dr through a collection of well thought original compositions on this release. Hoefner’s touch and heart seem to lean towards classical romantic, with a serenading flow to…
Mobtown Modern Big Band: The Re-(W)Rite of Spring
Back in the 40s, when Swing was King, big band leader Woody Herman collaborated with famous modern classical composer Igor Stravinsky and attempted to meld the best of both genres, producing Ebony Concerto. The problem with that piece back then,…
Connie Evingson: Sweet Happy Life
OK, so there are a gazillion songbooks by vocalists for the likes of Porter, Gershwin, Mercer, Porter and Berlin, but I’ve got to tell you, I’ve never seen a singer spotlight Norman Gimbel. WHO? That was my first thought as…
David Bixler: The Nearest Exit May Be Inside Your Head
Alto saxist/composer David Bixler keeps his heart in the post-bop jazz side of things here, leading a pianoless quintet with John Hart/g, Scott Wendholdt/tp, Ugonna Okegwo/b and Andy Watson/dr. There is a healthy mix of arranged melodies and interplay and…
Anne Sajdera: Azul
A pianist from the Bay area, Anne Sajdera delivers an impressive release here, mixing some Brazilian flavored originals with modern standards. Her team of Gary Brown/b and Paul van Wageningen/dr is supplemented with appearances by percussionists Airto Moreira and…
Tony Monaco: Celebration: Life-Love-Music
You think you like the Hammond B3? ARE YOU SURE?!?!? You’d better be, as this double portion of a 2 disc release by Tony Monaco serves up a blue plate special of blues, boogie, brazil and gospel that is going…
THE ALMA OF MIGUEL ZENON
When you see an artist perform, it’s easy to forget that not only are you getting the performer’s music, but his or her entire background as a human being. Alto saxophonist Miguel Zenon, who has a resume that includes Charlie…
TERENCE BLANCHARD’S CHOICES
Few jazz artists are able to cross the barrier between playing bona fide and creative jazz while also able to communicate musically with the mainstream world. Terence Blanchard has been able to live in these two world due to his…
LISA HILTON: AN IMPRESSIONED AMERICAN
Malibu based pianist Lisa Hilton’s latest release, American Impressions (with Nasheed Watts/dr, JC Allen/tenor, and Larry Grenadier/b) is a sonic tribute to the unique sounds of this wonderful country. In her liner notes, which also includes photos of archetypal US…