In his classic book Applied Imagination, author Alex Osborn describes true originality as simply taking previous ideas, mixing them together and creating your own signature of them. Such is the brilliance of bassist/composer Mark Wade, who brings his team of…
Month: February 2022
MODERN VINTAGE SOUNDS…Misha Tsiganov: Misha’s Wishes
It’s difficult these days to find jazz artists who are able to keep with the jazz tradition but still keep it fresh with new ideas, balancing the tightrope walk of conservatism and cacophony. One ray of hope has been pianist/composer…
WHEN COUNTRY SWUNG…The Greatest Country Hits of 1956
Unlike today, when “country music” is simply rock and roll with a twang, there was a time when country and western music had its own definable sound, swing and style. And, the artists told stories beyond blue jeans, trucks and…
ROCK AND SOUL…Sunny Bleau & The Moons: Breakfast Served Cold, Samuel Mosching: Ethereal Kinks
Bold voiced Sunny Bleau belts it out with her team of Nicholas A. Cocco/p-g-org, Paul Kastick/dr and Alex Karasinski/b on a live sounding album made for the local juke joint. Her delivery is dark and raspy, earnest as the team…
Roddy Ellias Free Spirit Ensemble: Not This Room
Canadian guitarist Roddy Ellias creates a mix of folk and jazz, not unlike the vintage band Oregon on this album featuring vocalist Kellylee Evans, pianist Marc Copland and a cast of Justin Orok/g, Chris Pond/b, Jose Garcia/perc, Petr Cancura/reeds-mand, Guy…
Marshall Crenshaw: #447
Time is the great leveller Back in the 1990s, Marshal Crenshaw was the “It” guy of popular rock. He had his ups and downs, and this 1999 album is a reissue of his high water mark. He sings, plays guitars,…
Steve Gadd Band@Catalina’s 02.24.22
Back at Catalina’s for the first time since the draconian COVID lockdown, Hall of Fame drummer Steve Gadd packed the house to deliver music from his Grammy Nominated album Live at the Blue Note in Tokyo. While the weather was…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Fred Hersch: Breath By Breath
As Pat Metheny is to the guitar, Fred Hersch is to the piano. Both are ambitiously and artistically restless, always looking for new sonic lands to conquer. He’s done solos, operas and trios, but this one with his team of…
Ethan Iverson: Every Note Is True
Pianist Iverson continues to mix his breaking loose of his band The Bad Plus, but still retaining some of its core values on this trio of all stars comprised of bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Jack DeJohnette. The songs are…
Immanuel Wilkins: The 7th Hand
Post bop alto saxist Immanuel Wilkins brings six fairly concise and one long original tune to be interpreted by his core unit of Micah Thomas/p, Daryl Johns/b and Kwedu Sumbry/dr, supplemented by Farfina Kan/perc and Elena Pinderhughes/fl on a few…