Here’s a throwback record that makes you realize what’s wrong with today’s music. As CS Lewis once said, “Just because you’re moving forward, it doesn’t mean you’re progressing. If you’ve missed your turnoff, to actually turn around and go backwards…
Category: Reviews
Kenny G & Rahul Sharma: Namaste
What can be said of Kenny G that hasn’t already be said. It’s like Marx Brothers movies, Barry Manilow, Heavy Metal or Lady Gaga; you are either a devout follower, or you’ll never be one. Even on the cover photo,…
Dave Juarez: Round Red Light
Guitarist Dave Juarez leads a post-bop quintet through a series of originals with Seamus Blake/ts, John Escreet/p, Lauren Falls/b and Bastian Weinhold/dr. His round and palpable tone is well spotlighted on tunes like the title track and “The Echo Of…
Daniel Jamieson: Daniel Jamieson’s Danjam Orchestra
Canadian composer/saxophonist Daniel Jamieson leads a modern sounding band, with some intriguing charts and forward looking sounds, on this well crafted disc enhanced by the production of Jim McNeely (of Stan Getz fame). Jamieson’s charts on standards like “Alone Together”…
ROTW – Irene Jacob & Francis Jacob: Je Sais Nager
This one caught me by surprise. A brother and sister team? The vocalist a French actress? It didn’t look promising, but if you want something a little bit different in your mellow jazz catalogue, give this one a try. Irene…
Joe Jackson: The Duke
Singer Joe Jackson has always had a jazzer’s heart. Remember that 1984 album Body and Soul where he did a spot on imitation of a Sonny Rollins Blue Note session? This latest release has him going to the Duke Ellington…
Fly: Year of the Snake
Here you’ve three jazz guys who are on the top tier: saxophonist Mark Turner, bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Jeff Ballard. All three are known as sidemen, and their working together seems to sound like no one wants to take…
Bela Fleck & the Marcus Roberts Trio: Across The Imaginary Divide
Here’s a session that on paper makes absolutely NO sense. Banjo and jazz trio? But, let me tell ya, this is one of the most enjoyable outings you’re going to hear in awhile . Along with an erudite team of…
Brian Bromberg: Bromberg Plays Hendrix / In The Spirit of Jobim
Bassist Brian Bromberg (just try saying that 5 times real fast) is on a creative roll. He’s released three top notch discs the past couple months, each one as different and yet satisfying as the other. Bromberg Plays Hendrix is…
Jean-Michel Pilc: Essential
Pianist Jean-Michel Pilc continues to put out iconoclastic music that, while holding on with a few fingers to the jazz tradition, also grasps at adventurous and modern classical sounds, as he demonstrates on this solo disc. This collection is culled…