Back in the 40s, when Swing was King, big band leader Woody Herman collaborated with famous modern classical composer Igor Stravinsky and attempted to meld the best of both genres, producing Ebony Concerto. The problem with that piece back then,…
Category: Reviews
Connie Evingson: Sweet Happy Life
OK, so there are a gazillion songbooks by vocalists for the likes of Porter, Gershwin, Mercer, Porter and Berlin, but I’ve got to tell you, I’ve never seen a singer spotlight Norman Gimbel. WHO? That was my first thought as…
David Bixler: The Nearest Exit May Be Inside Your Head
Alto saxist/composer David Bixler keeps his heart in the post-bop jazz side of things here, leading a pianoless quintet with John Hart/g, Scott Wendholdt/tp, Ugonna Okegwo/b and Andy Watson/dr. There is a healthy mix of arranged melodies and interplay and…
Anne Sajdera: Azul
A pianist from the Bay area, Anne Sajdera delivers an impressive release here, mixing some Brazilian flavored originals with modern standards. Her team of Gary Brown/b and Paul van Wageningen/dr is supplemented with appearances by percussionists Airto Moreira and…
Tony Monaco: Celebration: Life-Love-Music
You think you like the Hammond B3? ARE YOU SURE?!?!? You’d better be, as this double portion of a 2 disc release by Tony Monaco serves up a blue plate special of blues, boogie, brazil and gospel that is going…
Denise Donatelli: Soul Shadows
Here’s a singer that is unjustly under the radar. Denise Donatelli simply does everything right. Even better, her taste in material is immaculate. Her first record was of standards, but since then, while still including a well known tune here…
Angel City Jazz Festival@Ford Amphitheatre 10.07.12
It’s quite amazing: I’m not the biggest fan of left of center jazz that stays outside more than in. I’m more of a Getz than Coltrane kind of guy. But I’ve got to tell you, I always have a great…
Marcus Miller@Catalina’s 10.04.12
If soulful jazz with a loose necked backbeat is your thing, then all that was missing from Marcus Miller’s show with his air tight band this October evening was Eddie Murphy “getting’ in the hot tub,” as every other aspect…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Lionel Loueke: Heritage
Guitarist Lionel Loueke has had an impressive career as a sideman with the likes of Terence Blanchard and Herbie Hancock, as well as a fledging go as a solo act. Each of his own releases gets incrementally better, solid and…
Neil CowleyTrio: The Face of Mount Molehill
High on melody and composition, low on improv. If that’s what you want, pianist Neil Cowley is going to satisfy. He fronts a trio with Rex Horan/b and Evan Jenkins/dr, with some infused with a guitarist, over half of the…