Drummer Jack Kilby creates a wonderful mosaic of sounds as he leads a swinging core hard bop team of Kris Monson/b, Allyn Johnson/p, John D’earth/tp, Charls Owens/ts and Elad Cohen/tb with creative interludes from a wide variety of guests. The…
Category: Ringer of the Week
*****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Brittany Anjou: Enamigo Reciprokataj
Here’s a rewarding and exciting trio album by pianist/composer Brittany Anjoy. She works with a core team of Gregory Chudzik/b and Nicholas Anderson/dr on almost all of the tracks, and her composing skills are matched by her warm technique. The…
THINK YOU’VE HEARD EVERY FEMALE SINGER FROM THE 50s AND 60s? The Best Voices Time Forgot: Wanda Stafford & Patricia Scott, Marcy Lutes & Patty McGovern, Dori Howard & Janet Brace
If cool-toned voices in the vein of June Christy, Anita O’Day and Chris Connor are your thing, you are set for a series of discs made for your ears, as Fresh Sound Records has uncovered a cache of ladies that…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Jordan Pettay: First Fruit
Jordan Pettay uses her alto and soprano sax to put Sunday Morning soul back into the heart of jazz on this wonderful mix of spirituals and originals. Since the first days of jazz, the church has been an important foundation…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Etta Jones: A Soulful Sunday
General rule of thumb: if there’s a historical musical find by Zev Feldman, rush out and order it, as it’s an undiscovered gold nugget. This latest from Reel to Reel recordings (why not from Resonance?) features soulful jazz vocalist Etta…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****MASTER AND COMMANDER…Harold Mabern: The Iron Man Live at Smoke
A side man back in the day for the likes of Lee Morgan, Grant Green, Art Farmer and Wes Montgomery, pianist Harold Mabern is finally getting the accolades as a leader in his own right. Here, the 82 year old…
Mike Steinel Quintet: Song and Dance
Mike Steinel mixes his trumpet and flugelhorn in a velvety way as he blends it with Rosana Eckert’s vocals in both wordless and lyric form. The remaining team of Pat Coil/B3-p, Carl Hillman/b and Steve Barnes/dr show flexibility and rich…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****WHERE WAS THIS GUY HIDING? Paul Moer: Complete Trio Sessions 1957-1991
I truly thought I had heard of every jazz piano player from the 50s onward. What a total shock to discover this guy Paul Moer. And I can’t even make the excuse that he’s from Europe; he was born in…
PROPHECY FULFILLED…Eric Dolphy: Musical Prophet
The wake of the influence from this 3 disc/lp release by Resonance Records testifies to the influence of musical visionary Eric Dolphy. Back in the late 50s and early 60s, he and John Coltrane were the heat seeking missiles of…
****RINGERS OF THE WEEK****TWO TIMELESS PIANOS…Kenny Werner: The Space, Dave McKenna: In Madison
Classic music doesn’t fit into genres. Here are two pianists, that while stylistically and generations apart, have much in common in that they both play music that lasts. Kenny Werner gives a solo performance of a lifetime with richly lyrical…