Zac Harmon sings, plays guitar and bass with a core team of Corey Lacy/key, Nate Robinson/b, Gino Iglehart/dr and Kingston Livingston/g along with a busload of swampy guests. With the Texas Horns, Harmon gets down and earthy on “Sugarman” while…
Category: Reviews
Morten Duun: Code Breaker
Guitarist Moren Duun creates impressionistic moods with his team of Brandon Choi/tp, Wouter Kuhne/dr with guests Matthew Sheens/p and Mim Crellin-Theo Bleckmann/voc on this album of originals. Duun’s strums and pickings have a folkish feel, graceful on “Everything You Say…
LADY VOICES AND ORCHESTRATION…Bevan Manson featuring Tierney Sutton: Talking To Trees, Alexis Cole and the Taipei Jazz Orchestra: Jazz Republic, Asha Parkinson: Possession
Women in various musical attire… Arranger, pianist and composer Bevan Manson brings together a collection of his hometown LA’s finest for this richly orchestrated album featuring mostly the vocals of the cool breeze from Tierney Sutton. There’s an ethereal take…
Jimbo Ross: Jazz Passion & Satin Latin
Playing electric five string viola and violin, Jimbo Ross swings with a tone hinting at Stephane Grappelli with his team of Joe Gaeta/g, Stuart Elster/p, Peter Marshall/b and Ron Wagner/dr through a collection of swinging standards and an original. Ross’…
Ben Wolfe: The Understated
Bassist Ben Wolfe focuses on mellow tones on this album with Nicole Glover/ts, Orrin Evans/p, Aaron Kimmel/dr, Russel Malone/g and Sullivan Fortner/p on a collection of originals. Wolfe gives everyone a chance to be in the spotlight and no arias…
Vince Guaraldi: You’re Not Elected, Charlie Brown
Needless to say, this TV special of Charles Schultz’s Peanuts cartoon characters is not one of his most famous or popular, nor is it the soundtrack to Kamala Harris’ Presidential campaign. However, the music, recorded in 1972 with pianist/composer Vince…
ROBIN SIMONE HOLLYWOOD ORCHESTRA: BRINGING BACK SWING FROM THE CELLULOID
THERE SEEMS TO BE A PALPABLE RENAISSANCE OF JAZZ SINGERS THESE DAYS. MAYBE IT’S BECAUSE SO MANY WOMEN WERE COOPED UP FOR SO LONG, THEY JUST NEEDED TO BURST OUT. BUT WHATEVER THE CAUSE, SOME EXCELLENT NEW ARTISTS AND ALBUMS…
****A MISSING LINK****…Classic V-Disc Small Group Jazz Sessions
The mid 1940s were a pivotal time, not only for the world due to WWII, but also for jazz, as during these years America’s classical music was in a major transition period. The heyday of the Swing Era was (unbeknownst…
Naomi Moon Siegel: Shatter The Glass Sanctuary
Trombonist and composer Naomi Moon Siegel creates modern pastoral and impressionistic moods in a mix of songs and a suite with a symbiotic team of Ray Larsen/tp, Marina Albero/p, Andy Coe/g, Kelsey Mines/b and Christopher Icasiano/dr. The five part title…
Danish Radio Big Band: XL-LX
Subtitled, “Plays the Music of Marilyn Mazure-Clarla Bley-Palle Mikkelborg-Carl Nielsen-Miho Hazama”, this album celebrates the 60th anniversary of the venerable Danish Radio Big Band by playing five commissioned pieces from as many composers. The five vinyl record box set is…