Best known for his work with the late Freddie Cole, guitarist Randy Napoleon has created a sound and style for himself by eschewing jazz standards and, for the second time, has delved into the songbook of composer Gregg Hill. The…
Month: January 2024
John Korbel: Falling Feels Like Flying
Singer/songwriter John Korbel displays a wide swath of ideas on this album mixed and matched with Mark Falchook/key, Steve Luciano/g, Ezra Henry/dr, Marco Bojorquez/b, Alain Bradette/ts-ss, Sam Zambito/tp, Chris West-Kyle Schroeder/wwinds and Carmen Harrell-Sam Reckart/voc. His style comes a cross…
BENNIE MAUPIN: A 50 YEAR JEWEL
ONE OF THE JOYS OF JAZZ IS THAT, UNLIKE CLASSICAL MUSIC, FANS ARE STILL ABLE TO SEE THE CREATORS OF THEIR FAVORITE MUSIC PERFORM IN CONCERT. 83 YEAR OLD BENNIE MAUPIN, WHO HAS GRACED ICONIC ALBUMS SUCH AS MILES DAVIS’ BITCHES…
Stephane Wrembel@The Grape Ventura 01.24.24
Taking in a concert with guitarist Stephane Wrembel is always a double treat. Not only did the packed house at The Grape Ventura get treated to some of the most swinging and lyrical music on the planet, but Wrembel always…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Christoph Grab :Oneness
The beauty and genius of saxist Christoph Grab on this recent album of Thelonious Monk material is that there is not a hint of piano, thereby avoiding any haunting comparisons to the composer. Instead, Grab mixes up his sax selection…
POP AND URBAN MUSICAL INSPIRATIONS…MC Maguire: Dystophilia
When you think of experimentations with electronics, names like Wendy Carlos, Brian Eno or Morton Subotnick first come to mind. However, composer/producer MC Maguire has taken inspiration from the disparate sources of pop star Justin Bieber and rapper Juice Wrld…
Chien Chien Lu: Built In System
I was impressed by Chien Chien Lu’s debut a few years ago, and her promise is revealed here as she is caught in concert at the Hunter College’s Ida K. Lang Hall. She’s teamed up with trumpet giant Jeremy Pelt…
TRIOS…John Chin-Sean Conly-Jaimeo Brown: Sun Of Music, Ray Gallon: Grand Company, Meinild/Anderskov/Tom: Spectral Entanglements, Mads Vinding Trio: Quiet Yesterday
Good things come in threes… Pianist John Chin trios up with Sean Conly/b and J aimeo Brown/dr for a mix of post bop material. He gives space to Conly for a reading of Wayne Shorter’s “Fall” and a rich solo…
VINYL REVIVAL…Yusef Lateef: Eastern Sounds
There are a handful of jazz albums that are out there that you have to admit you love, even if you hate jazz with a holy hatred. Yusef Lateef’s 1961 release in which he plays flute, oboe and tenor sax…
LADIES AT THE MIC…Emma Wilson: Memphis Calling , Paul Reed Smith: Lions Roaring In Quicksand, Dianne Fraser: You And I
It’s ladies night… Vocalist Emma Wilson sounds as Memphis’d as dry rub ribs on this sweaty session of STAXY horns and a strutting rhythm section. She gets gritty with guitarist Joe Restivo on a stomping take of Steve Cropper’s “Water”…