Category: Ringer of the Week

Here’s another duet session that will catch your attention. This time, the unorthodox teaming of guitarist Diego Barber and pianist Craig Taborn (who’s put out some impressive stuff on his own lately) creates four tunes, ranging from almost a half…

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As a doctor and a father, I have had the joy of having my daughters work for me in my office as secretaries and assistants, so I can identify with the joy of seeing one’s own offspring efficiently helping out…

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This album is supposed to be a tribute by tenor/soprano saxist Tim Hegarty to the likes of John Coltrane and Dexter Gordon, but for my money, as soon as you hear this guy’s bluesy/gospel sound, you’re going to flash right…

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If you’re a fan of the Buena Vista Social Club, this guy’s gonna make them seem like a bunch of posers. Composer, vocalist and tres guitarist, Alejandro Almenares delivers the real thing from Cuba here on this two cd set.…

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It’s a pretty good bet that somewhere you’ve got an album with bassist Rufus Reid on it. Not only has he done tons of sessions and gigs for artists such as Freddie Hubbard and Dexter Gordon and  has been the…

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Here’s an exciting release out of The Windy City. Shawn Maxwell plays reeds and woodwinds while leading a creative non-ette that mixes intricate jazz with baroque fugue elements to end up with a unique-sounding force of nature. Besides the rhythm…

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Here’s a pianist that has a touch on the ivories I could listen to for weeks. Randy Ingram leads a quartet with Mike Moreno/g, Matt Clohesy/b and Jochen Rueckert/dr for eight originals that have a sound all their own. I’m…

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Last year’s Magic 101 by the late Frank Wess was on my Top Ten list of releases for 2013, and the second part of that set, issued here, shows beyond doubt that the testimony of the departed can still speak…

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This is the Romero Lubambo album you’ve been waiting for. The Brazilian guitarist is best known for his work as accompanist for Luciana Souza; she always gave him a few songs to perform on his own on stage and crack…

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Here is an successfully adventurous session lead by Taylor Haskins that mixes a post bop quartet of himself on trumpet, melodic and flute along with Ben Monder, Kermit Driscoll/b and Jeff Hirshfield. The genius is in his adding a string…

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