The usual progression of jazz piano goes along the lines of beginning with Fats Waller stride to Earl Hines right hand “trumpet” soloing to Teddy Wilson’s swinging digital prowess, leading the way to the bebopping fast left hand of Bud…
Month: April 2018
THE GODFATHER PART 1…James Brown & The Fabulous Flames: The Federal & King Singles As & Bs 1956-61
Before being known as “Mr. Dynamite,” “Soul Brother Number One,” “The Hardest Working Man in Show Business” and “The Godfather of Soul,” James Brown was honing his craft and trying to create his own musical niche. This fascinating 2 disc…
Jim McNeely & the Frankfurt Radio Big Band: Barefoot Dances and Other Visions
Famed conductor and composer Jim McNeely leads the adroit Frankfurt Radio Big Band through a collection of his creative charts on this latest release. McNeely has the capabilities to mix both rich harmonies with accessible pulses, forming noir-ish brass over…
TODAY’S TENOR…Jon Irabagon Quartet: Dr. Quixotic’s Traveling Exotics, Bob Gingery: Kittyhawk
Jon Irabagon is one of today’s leading voices on the tenor sax. His work is best know with the group Mostly Other People Do The Killing, but he is a guest on many projects. Here is found leading his own…
Allan Vache’: It Might As Well Be Spring
Neo-trad Allan Vache’ mixes vintage sounds of the swing era with clever harmonies on this toe tapping session. As with all things clarinet, comparisons to Goodman and Shaw are in the cards, and Vache’ doesn’t hide from the long shadows.…
Kid Ramos: Old School
This album by guitarist and biker Kid Ramos remind us that one of the greatest American contributions to Western Civilization (besides The Constitution, baseball and Billy Graham) is the boogie shuffle. Few things are as infectious and irresistible, and Ramos…
Kristjan Randalu: Absence
This debut album by Estonian pianist Kristjan Randalu has him in a trio setting with Ben Monder/g and Markku Ounaskari/dr. The moods created by the three are deep and dark atmospheres, evocative abstractions like the edgy “Lumi I” with fragrant…
The Ken Peplowski Big Band: Sunrise
One of the stars of the mainstream clarinet scene, Ken Peplowski gets to front a swinging yet modern big band for this highly attractive album. He brings together a swinging rhythm section of Ehud Asherie/p, Chuck Redd/dr, Nicki Parrott/b and…
Rondi Marsh: The Pink Room
Vocalist Rondi Marsh covers the moods of “falling in and out of love” on this intimate and personal collection of covers and originals. She’s supported by a core team of Ryan Donnelly/b, Aaron Hennings-Don Kinney and Bart Roderick-Dave Gross/p as…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Van Morrison and Joey DeFrancesco: You’re Driving Me Crazy
Whoever came up with this idea deserves a special place in music heaven. Van Morrison, known for material ranging from pub rockers like “Jackie Wilson Said” to mystical musings, teams up with Hammond B3 legend Joey DeFrancesco and his team…