Here’s an intriguingly original jazz vocal album by Uk born singer/songwriter Leila Adu. She also plays piano and keyboards, and forms a trio on this album with bassist Jon Toscano and drummer David Frazier, with some of the songs here…
Category: Reviews
Alex Bird and the Jazz Mavericks: Another Christmas Day
If you’re not yet into Alex Bird and the Jazz Mavericks, you’re missing the freshest singer around. Not only does he have a hip delivery that the likes of Jamie Cullum and Michal Buble’ would die for, but he writes…
THE FUTURE IS NOW! Sun Ra: Lights On A Satellite-Live At The Left Bank
Few artist straddled the world of traditional jazz and space travel as Sun ra.This album of previously unreleased material stems from a gig back in July 1978 with his band that included stalwarts such as John Gilmore/ts-cl, Marshall Allen/as-fl, along…
George Kahn: Holiday Soiree
Since Christmas is the celebration of the world’s most famous Jew, I always love when someone from The Tribe releases an album with songs about the holiday. Pianist George Kahn brings in the rich voices of Courtney Lemmon, Gina Saputo…
A FORGOTTEN GUITAR…Emily Remler: Cookin’ At The Queens
Jazz fans lost a good one back in 1990 when Wes Montgomery-inspired guitarist Emily Remler died prematurely from a heart attack. This pair of disc from two different concerts (1984 and 1988) show a lady that is filled with talent…
CELLAR SWINGS…Jacob Chung: The Sage, The Dam Jawn featuring Dick Oatts: Forward!
Canada-based Cellar Music keeps the swinging bop candle glowing. Here are a couple recent issues. Tenor saxist Jacob Chung taps brings a beefy tone to his team of Tyler Henderson/p, Vincent Herring/as, Joe Farnsworth/dr and Caleb Tobocman/b on this mix…
Nesrine: Kan Ya Makan
Cellist Nesrine creates bohemian mixes of France and North Africa on this richly earth toned released. She mixes and matches with a wide variety of talents, including Vincent Huma/g, Gregoire Musso/b-key, Anissa Nehari/perc, Rhani Krija/perc and Paco Soler/tb for some…
WHEN ROCK WAS ROLLIN’…Ike Turner: Rocks, The Rockin’ Spot Volume Six: Belinda, Hi Strung R&B Volume 5: Honey Bunch, Hi Strung R&B Volume 6: Daddy Cool
If you think modern popular and rock music is insipid, lifeless, sterile and unimaginative, you’re right! These four recent reissues of the early days of rock, from both the black and white side of the tracks, display an energy, pulse…
Christopher Cross: A Christopher Cross Christmas
This reissue of Christopher Cross’ Christmas album is a wonderfully understated affair, teamed in the support of Danny O ‘Lannerghty/b and Michael Omartian/p for some roasted chestnuts. There’s a gorgeous a cappella wordless “Silent Night” for the ages, whiel “Christmastime…
WOMEN AT THE MIC… Sarah Tolar: Something Sarah, DeeAnn: It’s My Time
Subtle swingers… Sarah Tolar is backed by a core of Angelo Versace/p, Thogar Tetens Lund/b , Bill Campbell/ddr and a mix and match of guests on this collection of originals and covers. She’s soft and icy on “Something Cool” and…