New York Voices prove why they have become a vocal jazz institution with Reminiscing in Tempo. The production is a wonderful, eclectic mix of songs by Dave Brubeck, Chick Corea, Ignacio Cervantes, Cole Porter, Duke Ellington, and John Lennon and Paul McCartney. The harmonies of the group's Peter Eldridge, Lauren Kinhan, Darmon Meader and Kim Nazarian are soaring and on-point on every tune. The quality musical performances backing them are... read more
There is nothing quite like Vancouver vocalist Dee Daniels' dark contralto with it's huge four-octave range. Even with such vocal chops, however, she makes every nuance noticeable, offering exhilarating, well-shaped notes and phrases. Her signature dramatic sense and emotional thrust are ever-present in this album ? traits apparent to the lucky patrons who heard her co-emcee the National Jazz Awards in 2006.
On a dozen tunes she dances... read more
Lorin Cohen, an accomplished jazz bassist and composer, recently released his debut album as a leader. Home (Origin Records) features eight songs written by Cohen, which celebrate his hometown musical roots in Chicago and his current home in New York City. The third influence in Cohen's music is the Caribbean, which inspires several tunes, including the lilting "Saudade," with contributions from steel pan virtuoso Victor Provost and... read more
Vintage hard bop in the realm of Horace Silver and Art Blakey is served up by trumpeter Eric Jacobson and his quintet of Geof Bradfield/ts, Bruce Barth/p, Dennis Carroll/b and George Fludas/dr on this album of Blue Note-based originals. Barth taps into his inner Herbie Hancock on the rapid run of "Survival" and is jivey on the hip blues "Pause Time". Jacobson is mellow and sleek on "My Love for Amy" and forms a boogaloo line with the big and... read more
Tenor sax man Geof Bradfield explains the premise of this disc as revisiting Clifford Jordan's tribute to Leadbelly when asked to put together a concert for the Fulton Street Jazz Record Collective. He and the band revisited these classic sounds while honoring the spirit that Jordan had first brought: play the old songs to honor them while adding your own voice which in itself has been influenced by the root without simply copying that root.... read more
On his latest release, veteran vibraphonist Joe Locke opts mostly for his own compositions, with the exception of Bob Dylan's "Who Killed Davey Moore?" and Blind Willie Johnson's "Motherless Children," both of which feature ace singer-songwriter and guitarist Raul Midón in fine form.
Subtle Disguise is, for the most part, a satisfying collection of tightly arranged post-bop numbers, with elements of rock, funk and swing. Stylistically, it's... read more
About eighty percent of the jazz piano players out there can fit into one of two schools: that of the introspective, harmonically rich Bill Evans mode; or the more percussive and gregarious Bud Powell bebop approach. There's also a small slice of the that pie that draws it primary inspiration from bright and splashy Art Tatum/Oscar Peterson pre-bop playing style, along with various subsets. Then there are those who take a foundation of one of... read more
Rich toned guitarist Mimi Fox is a pleasure to hear with every release and every setting. She has an inherent sense of swing to her note selection and plays for feeling instead of mindless chops. Here, she tackles the world of the Hammond B3 trio with organmeister Brian Ho and drummer Lorca Hart, saluting the early days of Wes Montgomery's similar trio in the process. She composes a healthy amount of the material, still leaving room for a tasty... read more
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Abate Berihun & The Addis Ken Project - Addis Ken
by Hanna Kay, Cult News (Paris)
Abate Berihun & The Addis Ken Project - Addis Ken
by Budapest, Rudolf Radnai
Abate Berihun & The Addis Ken Project - Addis Ken
by Editor, Bman's Blues Report
Jared Hall - Hometown
by Editor, Bman's Blues Report
Dawn Clement - Dear Ms. Dearie
by Editor, Bman's Blues Report
Jared Hall - Hometown
by Dee Dee McNeil, Making A Scene
Affinity Trio - New Outlook
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect
Michael Dease Big Band - Return Trajectory
by Thierry De Clemensat, Paris Move
Brad Goode Quintet Feat. Ernie Watts - Live Your Dream: Live at North Street Cabaret
by Thierry De Clemensat, Paris Move
Maja Jaku - Blessed & Bewitched
by Tom Haugen, Take Effect