The threesome of Benjamin Koppel/as, Brian Blade/dr and Anders Koppel/org team up for a wide ranging collection of ideas even including some rap on this recent release. Of the latter idea, Al Agami gets down and urban on the earthy…
Author: George W. Harris
STILL PURPLE AFTER ALL THESE YEARS…Deep Purple=1
Sure, only drummer Ian Paice is still around from the charter band, yet still from the classic days we have singer Ian Gillan and bassist Roger Glover. Together with keyboardist Don Airey and guitarist Simon McBride, Deep Purple still sounds…
Brad Shepik Human Activity: Dream of the Possible
Brad Shepik mixes Mediterranean folk idea with Pat Methenyeque melodies on this exciting and fresh sounding album. He plays a lyrical guitar most of the time, but throws in the saz, banjo and Bulgarian tambura (a kind of bouzouki) into…
Ross McHenry: Waves
It sounds like bassist Ross McHenry has taken on the baton from the legendary Jaco Pastorius, as this album with Eric Harland/dr, Donny McCaslin/ts, Adam O’Farrill/tp, Ben Monder/g and Matthew Sheens/p is filled with a mix of experimentation, passion and…
Lina Bahn: Axolotl
Creative tones and effects are put into place by violinist Lina Bahn on this collection of modern pieces, and mixing ideas of classical, jazz and ambience. Pamela Z’s “Four Movements” is a delightful kaleidoscope that ranges from dreamy and dark…
Devin Daniels Quintet Album Release@Sam First Bar 08.09.24
For getting a pulse of what’s new and exciting in the LA jazz scene, no place captures it better than Sam First Bar. Not only do they provide a fertile soil for younger artists to get together and share ideas,…
****CO-RINGERS OF THE WEEK****THREE FORMS OF JAZZ IN CONCERT…Wayne Shorter: Celebration, Volume 1, Louis Armstrong: Louis In London, Bill Charlap Trio: And Then Again
Three masters performing they way jazz was meant to be played, in front of an audience. Three completely different styles, yet unified by the connection with the audience In what is sure to be the first in a series of…
Clarence Penn: Behind the Voice
Clarence Penn, best known for his drum work, adds keyboards, percussion and vocorder to his repertoire on this clever album where he features various vocalists to his rotating musical team that includes Adam Rogers-Gilad Hekselman/g, Shedrick Mitchell/key, and James Genus-Yasushi…
AMBITOUS ORCHESTRAS…Mike Holober & The Gotham Jazz Orchestra: This Rock We’re On-Imaginary Letters, Benjamin Koppel: Story of Mankind-A Requiem
Two recent releases of double albums by jazz orchestras that give messages in music. Pianist, composer and lyricist Mike Holober brings together a large ensemble of musicians and voices to delivera “meditation on the beauty of nature and the fate…
Roger Kellaway: Live At Mezzrow
Famed swing styled pianist Roger Kellaway is caught in the act at MEzzrow’s on May 5, 2023 with a trio format of Jay Leonhart/b and Dennis Mackrel/dr with guitarist Roni Ben-Hur sitting in for a spell. Kellaway displays his wide…