There’s a thing called the “WHOA Factor” Most times you go to a club and take in a jazz artist, you applaud and even sometimes give vocal encouragement to the music that you’re hearing. But drummer Simon Phillips elicits “Whoas”…
Category: Reviews
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Jim Self: My America 3
I don’t know how he does it, but tuba man Jim Self continues to release albums that are fun, swinging and original. He outdoes himself here, mixing and matching with a band that includes jazzers like Bill Cunliffe/p, Joe La…
Fred Hersch: The Surrounding Green
The Chopin of jazz piano, Fred Hersch, returns to his comfort zone of jazz trio on this recent release. Teamed with Joey Baron/dr and Drew Gress/b, Hersch seems to have imbibed a bit of the ECM waters, as his approach…
THIS IS MELLOW 101…Christopher Cross: Christopher Cross
Someone once asked Don Henley of The Eagles the difference between “mellow” and “boring”, to which he replied “About a million bucks”. This unexpected 1979 hit debut album by the previously obscure singer/songwriter Chris Cross is the incarnation of what…
Keith Jarrett: New Vienna
Although not playing anymore, Keith Jarrett continues to inspire. This recorded concert at the Musik verein back in 2016 has the master pianist in solo improv format, and it makes one wonder what else could be hidden in the vaults.…
Joe Farnsworth: The Big Room
One of the hardest swinging drummers, Joe Farnsworth, leads his own group of first rate artists on this latest Smoke Session release. He brings together a mix of young and old artists, with elder statesman Jeremy Pelt/tp teamed alongside Sarah…
Something Blue: In The Beginning
Blue plate hard bop is served up at the café of Something Blue, consisting of Diego Rivera/ts, Langston Hughes II/as, Altin Senecalar/tb, Willie Morris/ts, Art Hirahara/p, Boris Kozlov/b and Rudy Royston/dr. The rhythm team of Hirahara-Kozlov-Royston are becoming a force…
Carnegie Hall NYO Jazz: Live In Johannesburg
Trumpeter Sean Jones brings vocalist Alicia Olatuja for the ride to Johannesburg for a big band bash of exciting mixes of modern and classic. The 22 member band (and a couple guests) sound sleek and hip on easy swingers like…
Tyreek McDole: Open Up Your Senses
Nothing gives me more musical joy than to hear a fresh and refreshing male jazz singer. Haitian-American, NYC based Tyreek McDole impresses me on this album, with his warm baritone of a voice supported by a core of Dyland Band/ts-ss,…
Keith Lamar & Albert Marques: Live From Death Row
This two disc set is a musical protest against the arrest of prisoner Keith Lamar, who is currently on death row. LaMar is present in spirit and voice, as his recorded voice is used on most of the pieces here,…