On this album, Larry Willis confirms that he belongs to the group of pianists (including Cedar Walton, John Hicks, Tommy Flanagan and the recently departed Harold Mabern) that are incapable of playing anything less than tasty bop. There’s always a…
Month: July 2020
Mick Rossi & Johnnie Valentino: Fallout
You can tell that Mick Rossi and Johnnie Valentine have worked on music including TV and movie soundtracks, as this collection of songs by the duet sounds like it needs some visuals to go along with it. Rossi plays keyboards…
GUITAR FORMS…Sharon Isbin: Affinity, Strings For Peace
Guitarist Sharon Isbin first caught my eye when I saw her in a trio setting where she held her own with Stanley Jordan and Romero Lubambo at a concert at CSUN. Here, she releases a pair of albums, one with…
Shelly Rudolph: The Way We Love
Vocalist and composer Shelly Rudolph creates a rich mix of parlor portraits on this personal album with a rotating team of pianists cellist David Darling, guitarist Chance Hayden, bassist Dave Captein and a variety of guests. At times, Rudolph displays…
Brian Andres Trio Latino: Mayan Suite
Drummer Brian Andres brings together pianist Christian Tumalan and bassist Aaron Germain for a collection of spry Latin-inspired themes. A healthy does of material by Chick Corea is presented, as the percussion sizzles under Tumalan’s fiery fingers on “Got A…
Carolina Calvache: Vida Profunda
Pianist and composer Carolina Calvache creates 10 diverse and rich moods as she brings in a wide range of vocalists including Ruben Blades, Claudia Acuna and Sara Sepra on this ebullient and wondrous release. A mix of strings and chorus…
David K. Mathews: The Fantasy Vocal Sessions Vol 2, Soul, Pop, R&B
David K. Mathews plays a wide range of keyboards and organs as he teams up with a core group of Ray Obiedo/g, Dewayne Pate/b, Kevin Hays-Billy Johnson/dr a mix and match horn section as well as a rotating team of…
Vance Provey-Bob Gorry-Paul Gunsberg: Collective Expression
Vance Provey plays trumpet and drums, Bob Gorry is on electric guitar, and Paul Gunsberg hits the drums as well as blows the sax on eight loose and free originals. Gorry’s guitar is tuned and played in a rock fashion,…
Florian Ross Quartet: Reason & Temptation
Pianist Florian Ross focuses on soft and impressionistic moods with his team of Sebastian Gille/as, David Helm/b and Fabian Arends/dr on thirteen originals. At their best, as on the flowing “Reckoning” and lovely “Rondo #4”, Ross is Chopinesque in his…
Bill Warfield and the Hell’s Kitchen Funk Orchestra: Smile
Trumpeter Bill Warfield fronts a big sounding ten piece band through a collection of his arrangements to pieces that will make you tap the toes, whether the song is the leader’s or a clever cover. There are two takes of…