Alto saxist Owen Broder continues to create albums in tribute to famed Ellingtonian Johnny Hodges, but this time focusing on two landmark small group albums Hodges was featured on, Back to Back and Side By Side. He’s joined by like…
Author: George W. Harris
The Jamie Baum Septet+: What Times Are These
Jamie Baum plays flutes and brings together a collection of songs and musical poems on this ambitious album that she has also arranged. Teamed with a front line of Jonathan Finlayson/tp, Sam Sadigursky/as-cl-bcl, Chris Komer/Frh, Brad Shepik/g, Luis Perdono/p-key, Ricky…
Jordan Vanhemert: Deep In The Soul
Alto saxist Jordan VanHemert bops hard with a team of Terell Stafford/tp, Michel Dease/tb, Helen Sung/p, Rodney Whitaker/b and Lewis Nash/dr on his fun and festive release. Van Hemert’s alto is confident and assertive, not unlike Cannonball Adderley, as on…
Bobby Selvaggio 11: Stories Dreams, Inspirations For My Boy
Playing alto and soprano saxes, composer and arranger Bobby Selvaggio leads a rotating eleven member band through seven original tunes that have a modern feel to them. Tenor saxists Tony Spicer and Chris Coles get spotlights on the Coltranish “Falling…
The Early Planets; The Waits/inBetween Music
The trio The Early Planets consists of Mike Wolter/g, Cody McKinney/b and Cory Healey/dr, specializing in casual and cozy conversations. The tunes here are al original, although there is a hint of Monkish fun as on the lyrical “DONKEY” and…
Charles McPherson: Reverence
Alto sax icon Charles McPherson is caught at SMOKE Jazz club for a November run with all stars Terell Stafford/tp, Jeb Paton/p, David Wong/b and BillY Drummond for a mix of originals and covers. One of the Mingus alumni still…
Cryin’Out Loud: Play Loud & Smoke Often
Consisting of Brandon Stallard/voc-g, Ben Chute/g-slg, Jim Fratini/b, Erik Lawrence/sax, Mark Kanter/harm, Brooks Milgate/key, Jeff Glidden/dr and guests like producer Paul Nelsong-mand, the band Cryin’ Out Loud rocks the blues with energy. Stallard has a growl of a voice,gritty around…
Idit Sner & Mhondoro: Ngatibatanei-Let Us Unite!
Exotic and earthy ideas bounce around on this album by alto saxist Idit Shner and her team of Garrett Baxter/b, Ken Mastrogiovanni/dr, Torrey Newhart/p and John Mambira/perc, with guest Taffie Matiure/mbira. The overall mood is driving like a galloping stampede,…
Geoff Stradling & The Straband: Nimble Digits
Pianist and keyboardist Geoff Stradling puts together a big band for his crisp and warm arrangements of mostly originals, almost all with an alluring Latin feel. The rhythm section of drums, congas, bongos, shakers and you name it create a…
Jazz Ensemble Of Memphis: Playing In The Yard
Consisting of Kurtis Gray/dr, Martin Carodine/tp, Liam O’Dell/b, DeAnte Payne/key-vibes-perc, Charles Pender/ts-fl and guest Jim Spake/ss the youthful team of JEOM gives tribute to the jazz tradition and the various artists that grew up in Memphis. The team is upbeat…