Can we talk? If you want to understand, and I mean REALLY understand, what modern jazz piano sounded like, and SHOULD sound like, when it changed the direction of jazz, you need to listen to, imbibe and meditate on the…
Month: October 2022
Dave Mason@BAPAC 10.29.22
Musical trends have come and gone through the years, but certain colors of American music still run through our sonic bloodstream, as was demonstrated Saturday Night in Thousand Oaks’ Performing Arts Center. Introduced by father Malcom McDowell, guitarist and vocalist…
HOW DOES HE FIND THIS STUFF?!?…Ahmad Jamal: Live at the Penthouse 1963-1964, Live at the Penthouse 1965-1966
The aptly named label Jazz Detective is the child of producer Zev Feldman, who has uncovered countless musical treasures over the years. Under his watchful eye, hidden gems from Bill Evans, Sonny Rollins, Charles Mingus and Wes Montgomery have been…
THE STANDARD BEARER…Clifford Brown: 13 Classic Albums 1954-60
If you want to understand what a jazz trumpet is supposed to sound like, go no further than this essential 6 cd set of the halcyon days of Clifford Brown (1930-1956). Like way too many trumpeters, he died too young…
Carlos Jimenez: Woods
New York based Carlos Jimenez puts rich muscle in his flute work on this album of ten wide ranging originals. His team of drummer Vince Cherico, bassist Ruben Rodriguez and pianist Martignon are flexible and adept in every mood, ranging…
Ernesto Cervini: Joy
Drummer Ernesto Cervini creates a cornucopia of moods with a rotating team of singers and musicians on this cheerful album of concise compositions. Included in the session is a horn section of Virginia MacDonald/cl, Tara Davidson/as, Luis Deniz/as, Kelly Jefferson/ts-ss,…
Will Swindler’s Elevenet: Space Bugs-Live In Denver
Playing alto sax, soprano sax and flute, Will Swindler leads a swinging team of Peter Sommer/ts, April Johannesen/bck. Tom Myer/fl, Dawn Kramer-Bagriel Mervine/tp-fh, Darren Kramer/tb, Susan McCullough/hrn, Ben Markley/p, Matt Smiley/b and Dru Heller through a romping “live” in studio…
Scenes: Variable Clouds-Live At the Earshot Jazz Festival
Timeless post bop is delivered by the quartet of Rick Mandyk/ts, John Stowell/g, Jeff Johnson/b and John Bishop/dr on this swinging live set at the Town Hall in Seattle Washington. The entire band sounds like they’re both inspired and rejuvenated…
THE ARTIST AS MUSICIAN AND COMPOSER…Louis Rosen: It Is Still Dark-Three Suites, Music For Guitar
Reacting from the draconian COVID lockdown, some artists went into a major recluse. New York based Louis Rosen used the time of solitude for an opportunity of creativity, putting together a handful of releases that he either composed for or…
VINTAGE R&B…Dee Clark: Raindrops-The Singles & Albums Collection 1952-62
One of the more overlooked artists that had a long run on the R&B and pop charts gets a second listen on this two disc, 55 song collection set of Delecta “Dee” Clark (1938-90), with a collection of hit singles…