Vocalist Mdidi O teams up with Steve Dawson/g, Chris Gestrin/key, Sam Howard/b, Gary Craig/dr and a handful of backup vocalists for some rootsy folk tunes. There’s a rural feel to pieces like “Get Gone” and some homespun moods on the…
Author: George W. Harris
Greg Chako: Standard Roots
It’s known that the best chefs trust the basic flavors of their recipes, eschewing adding gobs of spices and herbs to cover up one’s insecurities. Similarly, a guitarist like Greg Chako sticks to the timeless tradition of warm tone, classic…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****WHEN IT WAS HEP TO BE HIP…Chet Baker & Jack Sheldon: In Perfect Harmony-The Lost Album
Trumpet-wise, there is a nary a thumb width of difference between the two in terms of rich tone and style. Both are in love with melody and clarity, and while the two have similary vocal deliveries, there is no chance…
Adam Forkelid: Turning Point
Pianist Adam Forkelid creates original ideas with his band of Carl M orner Ringstrom/g, Niklas Fernqvist/b and Daniel Fredrikssson/dr on this wide range of his compositions. There’s a rich duet with Ringstrom on the graceful “Fragments” and Forkelid goes dark…
HERSCH HITS ECM…Fred Hersch: Silent, Listening
The Chopin of Jazz, aka Fred Hersch makes his debut on ECM records on a stunning solo performance. He mixes up the collection with some of his own tunes as well as well chosen standards, with a delicate and patient…
Mikael Mani: Guitar Poetry
For his ACT debut, Mikael Mani Asmundsson plays solo guitar on this collection of personal originals. His tone is confident and bright, clear during “She’ll Arrive Between 10 & 11” while tender on the slightly funky “Katie, Not Klara”. The…
Melissa Aldana: Echoes Of The Inner Prophet
Tenor saxist Melissa Aldana continues to create moody portraits on her albums, this time with Lage Lund/g-ef, Fabian Almazan/p, Pablo Menares/b and K ush Abadey/dr. Yes, there are moments of light swing, as on the spry “The Solitary Seeker” with…
CANARIES Lauren White: Making It Up As We Go Along
Vocalist Lauren White brings together various aspects of relationships on this album with Quinn Johnson/p-arr, Larry Koonse/g, Kevin Axt-Trey Henry/b, Brian Swartz/tp, Katisse Buckingham/sax-f, and Chris Wabich-Dan Schnelle-Ray Brinker/dr. The moods range from a saucy and salsa’d “Tin Tin Tea”…
Stephanie Lamprea/Tom W. Green: Don’t Add To The Heartache
Is it a message, or is it music? Using her voice on all tracks in various ways, Stephanie Lamprea mixes spoken texts, ethereal vocals, electronics and various instruments from guests to create a paean to keeping our planet alive, as…
Leo Lyons Hundred Seventy Split: Movin’ On
Bassist Leo Lyons form a power trio with Joe Gooch/g-voc and Damon Sawyer/dr on a collection of blues-rocking originals. The band has a feel the is akin to Cream and Aerosmith, with tones of catchy licks as on “Walkin in…