Pianist/composer Lisa Hilton continues her trek as one of the more original sounding performer these days. Influenced by many, but sounding only like herself, her signature sound of using all 88 ivories is impressively on display here in solo, trio…

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Flautist/composer Jamie Baum leads a forward looking septet along with Amir Elsaffar/tp, Douglas Yates/reeds, Chris Komer/frh, Brad Shepik/g, John Escreet/key, Zachary Lober/b and Jeff Hirshfield/dr. If that number doesn’t quite equal seven, the inclusion of guests Sameil Torres/perb, Dan Weiss/tabla…

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Brazilian vocalist Badi Assad releases an attractive collection of originals that mix pop, jazz and local sounds in an intriguing manner.  She mixes and matches her songs in both Portuguese and English, sometimes in the same tune. The material can…

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If you’re a fan of duets, you’re going to be in hog heaven on this release. Each of the fourteen pieces here  has the trumpet or flugelhorn of Diego Urcola matched with either Avishai Cohen/b, Dave Samuels/vib-mar, Edmar Castaneda/harp or…

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“I AM big; it’s the pictures that got small” Norma Desmond-Sunset Boulevard Vocalist Patrisha Thomson shows a style of singing and delivery that is akin to watching a movie with old time stars Paul Muni or Luise Ranier. Unlike the…

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Here’s a disc to prove that beautiful music doesn’t have to be associated with wimpy and limp. T.K. Blue plays alto and soprano saxes as well as flute and mixes and matches his lovely and warm tone in a variety…

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Brothers Francoi/b and Luis/dr Moutin have made a name for themselves not only as the foundation of Martial Solal’s trio, but as leaders of a group in their own right. Here, they lead a band with Thomas Enhco/p, Christophe Monniot/as-ss…

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Here’s some wonderful Brazilian/Latin music from an unlikely source. Alto/soprano saxist Lenny Sendersky and guitarist Tony Roman lead a quartet with Stee LaSpina/b and Matt Kane/dr along with guests Randy Brecker/tp, Joe Locke/vib and Cleve Douglass/voc for a mix of…

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