Ulas Hazar uses his acoustic guitar to paint flamenco sketches in a mix and match setting ranging form solo to intimate small groups rotating guests like bass clarinetist Piotr Torunski, percussionist Mehmet Akatay, pianist Mike Roelofs and hall of fame…
Category: Ringer of the Week
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Lafayette Gilchrist: Now
Pianist Lafayette Gilchrist teams up a trio with bassist Herman Burnie and drummer Eric Kennedy for a two disc collection of originals that renews your faith in the “classic” jazz trio. There are no frills here; no gimmicks, not attitude,…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Don Menza and Frank Strazzeri: Ballads
They sure don’t make them like this anymore, and the reason is simple. Both tenor Don Menza (who’s still around and playing) and pianist Frank Strazzeri (who left us in 2014) honed their skills in big bands, therefore learning how…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Lionel Loueke: HH
Guitarist Lionel Loueke has carved a creative path with his mixing of West African sounds and beats with post bop jazz in a plethora of settings, ranging to sessions as a sideman with Terence Blanchard, Herbie Hancock and Luciana Souza…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Alvaro Rojas: Gran Kasa
Exciting mixes of tropical jazz and rock are stirred together by Canadian guitarist and composer Alvaro Rojas and his energetic team of Meredith Bates/vi, Peggy Lee/cel, Chris Gestrin/p-key, James Meger/b, Sam cartwright/dr, Liam MacDonald/perc, Elis Thorn/harp, Sam Davidson/cl-bcl and guest…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****SOLO FLIGHT…Chris Potter: There Is A Tide
There have been a wide variety of ways that jazz artists have adapted to the COVID lockdown. Some have done solo albums, others have streamed performances. Chris Potter, best known for his work on the tenor sax, soprano sax and…
JAZZ’S GREATEST BASSIST AT TWO CAREER ZENITHS…Charles Mingus: Charles Mingus @ Bremen 1964 & 1975
Charles Mingus was not only the most important bassist in jazz, but he led some of the greatest bands, due to his ability to be a master talent scout. This four disc set captures in concert Charles Mingus at two…
THIS IS A TENOR SAX 101…Sonny Rollins In Holland
After just the first few notes of hearing Sonny Rollins’ tenor on his intro to the opening song of this 2 disc set, “Blue Moon”, I felt like I was reunited with a friend that understood me after spending years…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Derrick Gardner and Big dig! Band: Still I Rise
This is about the third album I’ve heard by trumpeter Derrick Gardner, and like the others, it just makes me want to see him bring a tour to LA. I doubt he’ll be able to afford a trip out here…
THIS IS A JAZZ DRUMMER 101…Joe Farnsworth: Time To Swing
Drummer Joe Farnsworth has been the pulse for bands lead by Harold Mabern, Eric Alexander, Pharoah Sanders and Benny Golson, so he knows how to drive the big engines. Here, he leads a trio for half the time with classy…