Category: Ringer of the Week

Kenny Werner has to be one of the unheralded giants of jazz. His compositions are always very interesting, he’s got the heart of a lion, and he plays the piano/keyboards like an open minded bopper. Here, he brings up some…

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Call it “Salsa,” “Latin” or “Afro Cuban,” just keep playing it! Here are two releases from Patois Records that will liven up any party, or at least make you cruise the boulevard with a little extra pride. Percussionist Michael Spiro…

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Here’s an exciting and panoramic collection of fresh and invigorating material by a guy I’ve never even knew existed. Tenor saxist and composer Mario Castro puts together an ambitious project that mixes a jazz team of Josh Shpak/tp, Tamir Shmerling/b,…

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If you want to encounter the real joy and swing of modern Brazilian jazz, search no farther than this wonderful session by Harvey Wainapel, who plays sax and clarinet with a mix and match of lyrically lovely artists. Most of…

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Yes, even though Detroit is a disaster in so many ways, there is at least one reason to head to the Motor City-bassist Rodney Whitaker.  He’s the musical director of both of these sessions, one’s  his own studio recording and…

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I get tons of releases from female vocalists every week; it takes A LOT for one of these to stand out. This one does. What makes Dee Alexander so special, as she’s doing a bunch of standards with a team…

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Earlier this year, we did a review of the 11 cd boxed set of the Complete Keynote Jazz Collection and declared it to be the Reissue of the Year for 2014. Well, this 4 disc set on the complete 1957sessions…

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Need a little latin joy in your otherwise musically miserable life? This disc is your answer. Mandolinist Mike Marshall teams up with Andy Connell/cl-as, Colin Walker/7-strg and Brian rice/perc for 17, count ‘em, 17 bon bons of Brazilian love.  A…

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Only a few harpists have been able to fit the classically-associated harp into the jazz round hole. Dorothy Ashby started the ball rolling back in the 50s with some hip albums with Frank Wess on flute, and Carol Robbins does…

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Because I live in LA, I’ve probably seen bassist Pat Senatore more times in concert during my lifetime than any other bassist. He was the house bassist for his own club in Malibu during the 70s and 80s, and currently…

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