Every year for the past 5 years, Resonance Records gets my vote in my Downbeat Critic’s Poll as “The Best Jazz Label”. How could it be otherwise? They find previously unreleased or hidden recordings from the greatest of jazz artists,…
Month: March 2022
Pete Malinverni: On The Town
Pianist Pete Malinverni gives a rich tribute to Leonard Bernstein on this classy trio album with Ugonna Okegwo/b and legendary Jeff Hamilton/dr. Malinverni has a style that has bebop pioneer Bud Powell in the marrow, as evoked on the sleek…
Lisa Hilton: Life Is Beautiful
Like all true artists,pianist and composer Lisa Hilton shows great steps of growth on her latest trio album with bassist Luques Curtis and drummer Rudy Royston. Her interpretive skills are revealed in a lurking noir read of Ernie Wilkins’ “Ernie’s…
Adam Nolan: Listen To Me Now
Bright toned alto saxist hails from Ireland to deliver some free wheeling trio work with his team of electric bassist Derek Whyte and drummer Jason McNamara. The originals have a spontaneous feel to them, with a mix core of bebop…
THREE TENORS…Scott Burns/John Wojciechowski/Geof Bradfield: Tenor Time
If you’re a fan of the tenor sax, here’s an album to digest. Scott Burns, John Wojciechowski (last time I’m writing that name!) and Geof Bradfield bring out their beefy saxes and create a mix of velvety harmonies and fiery…
Urge Overkill: Oui
The 1990s return with a reunion album of sorts by the band Urge Overkill, led by Nash Kato and King Roeser. The band can tecide if it wants to be an 80s punker as on “A Necessary Evil”, or an…
IS THE PROBLEM SKIN OR SIN?…Black Lives: From Generation to Generation
This two disc set brings together a wide collection of singers and musicians from all over the world, with sounds ranging from America to Mali. The theme is protesting over racism and presenting moral truth. Before getting into the music,…
VINTAGE POP AND ROCK …Rain Perry: A White Album, The Rave-Ups: Tomorrow
Sounds from the 70s and 80sreturn… Rain Perry sings while accompanied on multiple instruments by Mark Hallman on this album of mostly originals. The album is a mix of 70s folksy moods and harmonies, with “The Money” sounding like a…
Julieta Eugenio: Jump
New kid on the tenor sax block, Argentine Julieta Eugenio impresses the ears with this strong trio album with bassist Matt Dwonszyk and drummer Jonathan Barber, mixing originals with clever covers. Of the latter, Eugenio blows grew smoke rings on…
ERIC DOLPHY FRETS…Samo Salamon: Dolphyology-Complete Eric Dolphy for Solo Guitar
Possibly the last way you’d think flutist/bass clarinetist/alto saxist legend Eric Dolphy would be interpreted would be via the solo acoustic guitar. Well, how avant garde can you get? Guitarist Samo Salamon takes the Coltrane/Mingus sideman and free jazz leader…