Pianist Lang Lang may be listed under “classical,” but his music here is simply American. He delivers a rich homage to the Golden Apple in a variety of moods and settings. A complete version of “Rhapsody in Blue” features Lang…
Month: September 2016
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Senri Oe and Company: Answer July
All I know about Senri Oe is that he’s a Japanese American who lives in New York, plays piano, and is unbelievably adept at composing wonderful music. There are only eight songs on this release, and as soon as each…
REAL PROS…Kent Miller: Contributions
The team of Kent Miller/b, Benny Russell/ts, Darius Scott/p and Greg Holloway/dr make it sound easy; it’s not. Only by being a vet of jazz can jazz swing this smoothly without sounding “smooth.” The rhythm team lays down hip grooves…
Anthony E. Nelson Jr: Swift To Hear, Slow To Speak
It’s hard not to respect a guy that not only titles his latest album after a Bible verse, but has a Biblical reference to each of the 12 songs on this impressive post bop album. Anthony E. Nelson plays a…
Benji Kaplan: Uai So
Brazilian composer Benji Kaplan presents 12 of his pieces with full arrangements in bands of various sizes. He sings and plays guitar as well, and Ben Kono’s conduction of the band makes for some rich textures and atmospheres. Lots of…
Zach Larmer Electric Band: Inner Circle
Electric guitarist Zach Larmer gets the fusion juices flowing on this exciting album of (mostly) originals. The rocking team includes trumpeters Brian Lynch and John Daversa (who also blows through the EVI), saxist Aldo Salvent, bassists Juan Pablo Diaz and…
Livio Almeida: Action & Reaction
Tenor saxist Livio Almeida leads a post bop band of Vitor Goncalves/p, Eduardo Belo/b and Zack O’Farrill/dr through a collection of his well conceived originals. He’s got a thick tone, and uses it well on the Latin cooker “Sambasus” as…
Sundae + Mr. Goessl: Makes My Heart Sway
It must be assumed that vocalist Kate Voss is “Sundae,” as guitarist Jason Goessl obviously fits well with the second half of the duet’s moniker. The team specializes in vintage Tin Pan Alley pieces such as “Stompin’ At The Savoy”…
Manu Katche’: Unstatic
Drummer Manu Katche’ must have wanted to be a brick layer in his youth, as he knows how to create a solid foundation on this collection of soulful and funky jazz pieces. The core band of Ellen Andrea Wang/b, Jim…
Michael Shrieve: Michael Shrieve’s Spellbinder
Drummer Michael Shrieve brings together a group with Joe Doria/key, Danny Godinez/g, Farko Dosumov/b and John Fricke/tp for a mix of some jazz soul and junk. The B3 steams up on a sizzling percussive groove on “One”” while a taste…