The team of guitarist Christ Cortez and trumpeter/percussionist Larry Williams go back decades, and the intuitive/symbiotic relationship is palpable here, as they mix and match with their bandmates Dan Jordan/ts-fl, Bob Thronton/p, Walt Hubbard-Jeremy Katalenic-Jeff Sipe/dr and Marco Bojorquez-Doug Mathews/b…
Month: January 2022
Yaron Gershovsky: Transitions
Classical-sounding pianist Yaron Gershovsky mixes and matches his team of Boris Kozlov-Will Lee/b, Cliff Almond-Clint de Ganon-Ross Pederson/b, Alex Sipiagin/tp, David Mann/fl and Qubrey Johnson/voc for a mix of standards and originals. His own style veers between vintage Bill Evans…
AN OVERLOOKED SWINGING BARITONE HORN…Gus Mancuso: Rare and Obscure Jazz Albums-Introducing/Music From New Faces
If there’s one instrument that has not been explored in jazz, it has to be the baritone horn. That didn’t discourage Gus Manusco (1933-2021) who played the usually unwieldy instrument with the dexterity of a tenor sax. This single disc…
Bob Malone: Good People
Bob Malone sings and plays a wide variety of keyboards on this album that sounds like you’re turning the knob on a 1970s radio in your Pinto. He’s Dylanesque on the rocking “Sound of a Saxophone” and then does some…
ARE DEFINITIONS IN ORDER? Grensco Collective Special 5 with Ken Vandermark: Do Not Slam The Door!Trio Kontraszt: Cryptic Scattered Images of Time Forgotten, Aki takase Japanic: Thema Prima
The Oxford Dictionary definition of music states: “vocal or instrumental sounds (or both) combined in such a way as to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion”. Are these latest three albums from BMC actually music, or just…
Doug Webb All Stars@The Baked Potato 01.26.22
There are “big name” bands that come to the Baked Potato, and there are “regular” bands. You know, the ones that play once or twice a month like clockwork. Usually they are “studio studs” who need a night to keep…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Anat Cohen & Marcello Goncalves: Reconvexo
This is the second album that clarinetist Anat Cohen has recorded with Brazilian 7-string guitarist Marcello Goncalves. And, just like Outra Coise from 2017, this one also gets my RINGER OF THE WEEK award, as it’s a gorgeous melding of…
Cory Weeds with Strings: What Is There To Say?
Full toned tenor saxist Cory Weeds melds his working team of Phil Dwyer/p, John Lee/b and Jesse Cahil/dr with a richly texture orchestra on this collection of standards and originals. The strings are used for various settings and emphasis here,…
Jim Knapp Orchestra: It’s Not Business, It’s Personal
Modern big band orchestral charts inspired by Gil Evans are delivered on this album by composer/arranger and conductor Jim Knapp and his 13 member ensemble. The textures created the horns sections are quite impressive, floating around John Hansen’s piano on…
Sharp 5: Shine a Bright Light
The band Sharp 5 is made up of Teri Roiger/voc, Pete Levin/p-key, John Menegon/b, Jeff Siegel/dr, Nanny Assis/perc-g and Collins/fl-ts, creating gracious and flowing post bop sounds. Roiger’s voice has a hint of early Carmen McRae, simmering on the soul…