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…
Category: Ringer of the Week
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Peter & Will Anderson: The Best Of Berlin
Warm horns are in great display here, as Will Anderson brings his alto sax, clarinet and flute alongside Peter Anderson’s tenor sax and clarinet, with Wycliffe Gordon’s trombone throne in for good measure for the swinging rhythm team of Rossano…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Gillian Margot and Geoffrey Keezer: Gillian Margot and Geoffrey Keezer
OK, so I’ll admit it… I’m a sucker for duet albums, and I’m even a bigger sucker for marriage. So, it’s a no-brainer to be won over by this album by the hubby/wife team of pianist Geoffrey Keezer and vocalist…
***RINGERS OF THE WEEK***Mark Masters Ensemble featuring Billy Harper: Sam Rivers 100, Dance, Eternal Spirits, Dance!
Composer and arranger Mark Masters put together a big band for a pair of inspired projects, giving salute to a pair of under-appreciated jazz giants, namely Sam Rivers and Billy Harper. The first album celebrates Sam Rivers’ would be 100th…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK***Ali Bello: Ali & The Charanga Syndicate
Exciting Latin music is performe by Ali Bello, who alternates between acoustic and baritone violins on this album with a sizzling team of David Santiago Jr/fl, Alec Castro-Cesar Oroxco-Marcus Persiani-Gariel Chakarji-Silvano Monasterios/key, Abraham Saenz/g, Luis Mangual-Manuel Marquez/perc and vocals shared…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Jimmy Farace: Hours Fly, Flowers Die
Baritone saxist Jimmy Farace stretches out with some creative originals, melding post bop with the supplementation of The Kaia String Quartet. The core jazz team of Kenny Reichert/g, Julius Tucker/p, Clark Sommers/b and Dana Hall/dr. bring out the California Cool…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****The Count Basie Basie Orchestra with Deborah Silver: Basie Rocks!
Over 90 years old, and even without its founder, the Count Basie Orchestra still continues to swing, and swing hard. Here, vocalist Deborah Silver brings in the band (now directed by Scotty Barnhart) and a slew of guests to take…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Adrian Galante: Introducing
It’s always refreshing to hear a new clarinet player on the block, and Australian born Adrian Galante brings an enticing debut here. He’s joined by some of LA’s finest, including Tamir Hendelman/p, Larry Koonse/g, Alex Frank/b andJo LaBarbera/dr for a…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Denny Zeitlin: With A Song In My Heart
My dad, who grew up during the Swing Era and Bebop years, had what he called “the three hour test”. Essentially, you should judge a musical artist as to whether you could listen to his music three hours in a…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Tommaso Perazzo: Portrait of a Moment
Pianist Tommaso Perazzo brings in heavyweight bassist Buster Williams and drummer Marcello Cardillo for a formidable session of strong originals and covers. Perazzo has a soulful bop touch not too dissimilar from Wynton Kelly, rich and colorful on his read…