Vocalist Ed Motta feels like a throwback to the Old School style of soul singing on this recent album. His tone and delivery are reminiscent of Michael McDonald, warm and rhythmic, and able to mix with strings and bluesy keyboards…
Author: George W. Harris
Angela DeNiro: Swingin’ With Legends 2
Backed by Ron Aprea’s swinging big band, Angela DeNiro drives like a V8 engine on this collection of tunes. She has a tone and relentlessly bopping delivery reminiscent of Ella Fitzgerald, which works like a hand in glove on pumpers…
Antoine Drye with Strings: Retreat To Beauty
Since Clifford Brown recorded his album with strings back in the 1950s, the allure of trumpet and orchestra has been the goal of every trumpet player. Antoine Drye meets that challenge with this gorgeous release that has orchestrator Isaac Raz…
BLUES ROCKERS…Richard Rozze: Lion, Cassius King: Last Call For The Blues
Through all of the years, rocking the blues has never ebbed or flowed. Here are a couple new releases. Leading a rocking trio, guitarist and vocalist Richard Rozze brings together Jonathan Noyce/b and Simon Lea/dr for a mix of tunes…
Jonathan Powell: Mambo Jazz Party
Playing trumpet and flugelhorn, Jonathan Powell mixes and matches with a core of Luques Curtis/b, Axel Tosca/key, Luisito Quintero/perc and Camilo Molina/dr-perc with a rotating cast of orns, vocals and percussion, percussion, percussion. Vocalists belt it out as well, as…
Vincent Hsu & The Jazz Supreme Orchestra: Music For The River Dance Suite
Here’s an ambitious and energetic big band album, recorded in concert at the National Kauhsiung Center for the Arts back in 2021. Bassist and ldader Vincent Hsu puts together a nine movement suite entitled “The Spirit of Live River and…
Kavita Shah: Cape Verdean Blues
Yes, she only does one song Horace Silver songbook, but vocalist Kavita Shah also teams with guitarist Bau, percussionist Mirocca Paris and a collection of guests for some fragrant folk ideas. Her voice and delivery is warm and lilting, dancing…
Joe Policastro Trio: Ceremony
Bassist Joe Policastro trios up with Dave Miller/g and Mikel Avery/dr for a collection of originals and clever covers. Of the latter, the team takes on and uptempo read of Roy Orbison’s “Blue Bayou” that breezes through the honeysuckle, while…
Aruan Ortiz: Pastor’s Paradox
Pianist and composer Aruan Ortiz puts together an album dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the “Freedom March” led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., famed for the “I have a dream” speech. Here, Mtume Gant recites some of Kings…
Ashley Henry: Who We Are
Ambitious energy oozes out of the speakers on this album by singer and keyboardist Ashley Henry. With a core team of Alec Hewes/b and Myele Manzana/dr, he mixes horns and tones on an album the feels part heart of Donny…