I love a record like this, when you can’t tell who the leader is. In this case, pianist/composer Amina Figarova puts together a wondrously cohesive sextet with Bart Platteau/flutes, Ernie Hammes/tp-fh, Marc Mommaas/ts-ss, Jerden Vierdag/b and Chris “Busckshot” Strik/dr through…
Author: George W. Harris
Carmen Intorre Jr: For The Soul
No wonder this disc by drummer/leader Carmen Intorre sounded so fresh, alive and cooking…most of the songs come from the last time jazz created some real original music. Intorre rides the reigns behind a hot little band that includes John…
Cory Wong: Quartet/Quintet
Guitarist Cory Wong releases an ambitious double cd set here, with the music being presented in two completely divergent formats and moods. The first disc has wood leading a band with Billy Peterson/b, Zach Schmidt/dr and either Dan Musselman or…
Romain Collin: The Calling
Here’s a 21st century pianist with a lot of ideas bouncing around. Romain Collin leads a trio with Luques Curtis/b and Kendrick Scott/dr for some wide ranging and far reaching material that keeps its hold onto the heart of jazz…
Cathy Segal-Garcia & Yoonseung Cho: Bohemian
Bohemian? Well, I guess so, but Rudolfo and Mimi it definitely ISN’T. Vocalist Cathy Segal-Garcia (CSG from here out) and pianist Yoonseung Cho collaborate for a mix of originals and jazz tunes to which CSG has added lyrics. There are…
Hot Jazz From Arbors-John Cocuzzi: Groove Merchant, Marty Grosz & The Hot Winds: The James P. Johnson Songbook
So rarely attempted these days, the two-beat rhythm was once the ubiquitous drive of what was called “hot jazz” back in the Golden Age of Jazz, circa Great Gatsby. These latest two sessions bring back that infectious groove that gets…
Kenny Garrett: Seeds From The Underground
Where has this guy been hiding?!?!? Altoist Kenny Garrett hasn’t put out a disc in 4 years, and a studio one in 6. He used to be ubiquitous, now he’s the jazz version of Where’s Waldo. This one will make…
Lynne Arriale: Solo
This pianist caught my ear a few years ago with some clever readings of Boomer tunes with her trio, and she continues to impress me with each release. This time around she’s going the solo route, and even more of…
Wynton Marsalis: The Music Of America
There is a photo in the folder of this 2 disc retrospective of Wynton Marsalis that shows the trumpeter back in the early 80s when he was the “Great Black Hope” of acoustic jazz. I had seen him with Blakey’s…
Diana Krall w/ Alan Broadbent@Hollywood Bowl 08.24.12
Ya know, she’s not the greatest vocalist in the world, but she’s got her own personal style, she makes it work, and she can SWING. She’s not the greatest pianist in jazz either, but again, she’s got her own style,…