Like the keyboards that he has mastered, Joey DeFrancesco is able to create a wide variety of moods, sounds and grooves that touch various parts of your heart, soul and mind, as he demonstrated Thursday night at Catalina’s. During his…
Month: March 2018
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Musique Noire: Reflections-We Breathe
Want something fresh and invigorating? Check out this album by the quartet made up of three violinists/violaists Michelle May, Leah Celebi, and Leslie Deshazorand along with percussionist Jovia Armstrong. The mix and match support, usually with Elden Kelly/b, Marion Hayden/b…
Martin Wind: Light Blue
Bassist/composer Martin Wind creates a two sided suite of moods with the sympathetic teram of Ingrid Jensen/tp, Scott Robinson/reeds, Anat Cohen/cl, Bill Cunliffe/p, Gary Versace/key-p and Matt Wilson-Duduka Da Fonseca/dr. The two moods, “Light” and “Blue” are contrasted by the…
MODERN PIANO TRIOS…Danny Fox Trio: The Great Nostalgist, Mark Wade Trio: Moving Day
Today’s piano trios have a feel quite different from the hard bop sounds originated by Bud Powell and perfected by Oscar Peterson. Influenced by Brad Mehldau, the threesomes focus more on interplay and nuance, as exemplified by this latest collection.…
The Ed Palmero Big Band: The Adventures of Zodd Rundgren
In the past, Ed Palmero has done excursions into boomer songbooks. This time, he delves into the wild experimental sounds of Frank Zappa and Todd Rundgren, weaving the sounds and songs together like an off Broadway production. You get big…
MODERN POST BOP SMALL GROUPS…Arnan Raz: Chains of Stories, Harley Card: The Greatest Invention
Sounds that are up to the moment with a nod to tradition… Tenor saxist Arnan Raz brings together a lithe team of Eyal Hai/as, Daniel Meron/p, Tamir Shmerling/b and Dani Danor/dr for a collection of lyrical originals. Both Raz and…
A BANJO ON HIS KNEE…John Fahey, Leo Kottke, Harry Taussig, etc: The Thousand Incarnations of the Rose-American Primitive Banjo & Guitar 1963-1974
If you thought banjo and guitar was limited to the likes of Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs, this 17 song compilation is a fascinating revelation. During the 60s-70s guitar and banjo got a renaissance, with some unique and fresh sounds…
LEO IN SPRING… Pilgrims: Oriental Orbit, Luca Sisera Roofer featuring Alexey Kruglov: Moscow Files, Elements: Elements, Jet Lemon Band: Led Zeppelin II In the Key of Jazz
Never stagnant and always ambitious, UK-based Leo Records brings some of the most creative and wild sounds to modern ears. Here is their latest cache… The trio Pilgrims consists of John Wolf Brennan/p-etc, Tony Majdalani/perc-voc and Marco Jencarell/g mix South…
Schnellertollermeier: RIGHTS
Say THAT name 5 times real quickly and see how you feel! Schenellertollermeier (never to be used again in this review) consists of a power trio Andi Schnellmann/b, Manuel Troller/g and David Meier/dr, hence the name of the band. You’ve…
Raoul Bjorkenheim/eCsTaSy: Doors of Perception
Six and twelve string guitars from Raoul Bjorkenheim team with Pauli Lyytinen/wwinds, Jori Huhtala/b and Markku Ounaskari/dr for a molten thick sound of dep grooves and sonic excursions. Fuzzy guitars team with an ominously loose bass on “Ides of March”…