Trombonist, composer and arranger Doug Beaver mixes medium and big sized bands on this sophisticatedly arranged album. There’s a six part “Luna Suite” that includes bold colors that are funky on “Las Piedras” and some salsa that features the voices…
Author: George W. Harris
Alex Hamburger: What If?
Playing Flute and adding voice, Alex Hamburger creates contemporary concepts with Jose Luiz Martins/keys, Tyrone Allen KK/b, Chase Elodia/dr, Patrick Graney/perc and Andrew Bailie/g- on a collection of originals. Her voice is clear and calm on pieces like “The Journey”…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Joe Farnsworth Quintet: In What Direction Are You Headed?
Best known for his work with the likes of tenor saxists Pharoah Sanders, Benny Golson and Eric Alexander, drummer Joe Farnsworth shows how he can stretch out and still swing with a fresh sound of musicians from today’s generation. He…
David Blake Trio: With Drew Gress & Ari Hoenig
Rich toned guitarist David Blake mixes originals with jazz covers on this personal and subdued teaming with drummer Ari Hoenig and bassist Drew Gress. He gives a soft swing to the thick “Cedar Realm” with a rich intro to the…
CELLO TIME…Erik Friedlander: She Sees, Aki Takase: Carmen Rhapsody, Rez Abbasi & Josh Feinberg: Naya Baaz Charm, Rudy Royston: Day, Naissam Jalal: Healing Rituals
One of the more overlooked instruments in jazz, the cello, is given the light of day on a handful of recent releases. Cellist Erik Friedlander brings together Ava Mendoza/g, Stomu Takeishi/b and Diego Espinosa/dr-perc for a mix of post bopping…
Duncan Hopkins: Who Are You? The Music of Kenny Wheeler
Bassist Duncan Hopkins brings in the two guitars of Reg Schwager & Ted Quinlan along with drummer Michel Lambert to give tribute to the creative pen of Ken Wheeler. Except for the static rubato of Hopkins’ own “Montebello”, all of…
BLUESERS…Hudspeth & Taylor: Ridin’ The Blinds, William Lee Ellis: Ghost Hymns, JW J ones: Everything Now
Blues suede tunes… Backporch blues are played by guitarist Brandon Hudspeth as he is joined by the avuncular vocalist/percussionist Jaisson Taylor for a collection of folksy picking and grinning. Hudspeth has a cozy slide sound on “Poor Boy, Long Ways…
ELLA’S LONG SHADOW…Mira Choquette: In Reel Time, Tatina Eva-Marie & Jeremy Corren: Two at the Most
The bright, clear and dna-embedded swing of Ella Fitzgerald has been passed on to the latest generation of female vocalists, albeit in various formats. The world is a better place because of it… Tatiana Eva-Marie teams up with pianist Jeremy…
Buselli/Wallarab Jazz Orchestra: The Gennett Suite
Between 1922 and 1928, Richmond, Indiana was the home of Gennett Records, which was the studio that recorded early jazz artists including Louis Armstrong, Bix Beiderbecke, Hoagy Carmichael and Duke Ellington, along with the self proclaimed “Creator of Jazz” Jelly…
IF BILL EVANS WERE ITALIAN…Luciano Troja: To New Life: The Music of Earl ZIndars
It’s easy to hear why Bill Evans interpreted many of the songs of composer Earl Zindars, most notably, “How My Heart Sings”. Italian pianist Luciano Troja digs deep into the Zindars songbook and displaying even deeper patience and romanticism than…