Are you like me, and ready to shoot the next singer who does ANOTHER version of “My Funny Valentine”? Are there really no new songs to sing? Well, Monika Ryan thinks that there are, and she writes, arranges and produces…
Author: George W. Harris
CROONER AND COUNTRY FROM AVID…Mel Torme: Four Classic Albums, Ray Price: Four Classic Albums Plus
Vintage singing from two sides of the track are delivered by Avid Records Best known as “The Velvet Fog”, Mel Torme’s early work is filled with hidden gems. He spent these years on Bethlehem Records, with 1955’s Blue World filled…
Kurt Elling & Charlie Hunter Superblue: The Iridescent Spree
The second summit meeting between vocalist Kurt Elling and guitarist Charlie Hunter is a continuation of the singer’s delve into R&B and urban soul. Along with drummer Corey Fonville and Don Was’ production, Elling and Hunter get funkyh on “Freemman…
Tobin Mueller: The Best of Tobin Mueller Volume 3-Prog Fusion
Part of a remastering of 5 volumes to show the width, depth and breadth of his career, keyboardist/composer Tobin Mueller releases collection of music that is divided between progressive rock with vocals and fusioned jazz instrumentals. Hang on tight! The…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Lauren Henderson: Conjuring
Following up on her last album, the seductive La Bruja, vocalist Lauren Henderson continues using less to say more on this dishabille-dressed collection of late night moods. She mixes and matches with the cool tones of Joel Ross/vib, Gabe Schnider-Nick…
Brandon Seabrook’s Epic Proportions: brukalovechamp
Playing guitar, mandolin and banjo, Brando Seabrook brings together a loose fitting team of Nava Dunkelman/perc-voc, Marki Hughes/cel, Eivind Opsvik/b, Henry Fraser/b, Chuck Bekkis/el-voc, John McCowen/cl, aiko-recorder and Sam Ospovak/dr-perc for eight originals. There is a surfeit of scary and…
Iron Horse: Pickin’ On Pear Jam
There have been bluegrass versions of Van Halen, Me tallica, Black Sabbath and beyond by the Iron H orse band, and this time, the team of Ricky Rogers/b, Vance Henry/g, Brian Robertson/pec, Tony Robertson/mand and Andy Richardson/banj-dob take Pearl Jam…
Will Bernard & Beth Custer: Sky
Playing a variety of guitars, Will Bernard teams up with clarinetist/vocalist Beth Custer for a collection of cozy duets. Custer sings a bit on the minstrelly “Glistening Spirit” and “Sky” among a couple others, but for the most part sticks to…
BT ALC Big Band: Hearing The Truth
Led by Alex Lee-Clark/tp and Brian Thomas/tb, the BT ALC Big Band swings out the soul on the collection of originals. The team has a feel of the Famous Flames at times, as it jabs like a middleweight on “…
LATIN LOVERS….Israel Tanenbaum & The Latinbaum Jazz Ensemble: Impressions, Ben Sher: Samba For Tarsila
There is a reason Latin is known as the “romance” language. Can you imagine sensuous music being called “Teutonic”?!? Israel Tanenbaum plays piano, keyboards and synthesizer as he leads a large team of percussion, brass, reeds and rhythm on a…