Arguably the best living clarinetist, Eddie Daniels displays a new color of his multi-prismed career on this latest album. For the past few years, he has released a number of “live” albums, usually with Tom Ranier or Roger Kellaway, and…
Author: George W. Harris
THE WES MONTGOMERY OF PIANO…Erroll Garner: The Classic Trio Recordings 1949
I use the comparison of pianist Erroll Garner to guitarist Wes Montgomery because they had parallel careers and styles. Both did not know how to read music, neither was a major composer, more of the “interpreter” realm, both had a…
Paulette McWilliams: A Woman’s Story
Vocalist Paulette McWilliams interprets mature themes with a mature deliver on this soulful collection of interpretations. She’s got a rich range that can dig deep as on the poppish take of Donny Hathaway’s “Chasing The Sun” and can go honey-toned…
I’LL TAKE YOU THERE…The Staples (Singers): Let’s Do It Again, Pass It On, Family Tree, Unlock Your Mind
One of the most successful groups that crossed over from gospel to secular/soul, The Staples Singers, has four of their last releases finally reissued. While the albums don’t have mega-hits like “I’ll Take You There” or “Respect Yourself”, there is…
Sasha Mashin: Happy Synapse
Drummer and leader Sasha Mashin mixes and matches his trio of bassist Makar Novikov and pianist Benito Gonzalez with a rotating horn section of Josh Evans/tp, Rosario Giuliani/as and Dmitry Mospan/ts on a collection of advanced post bop originals. The…
A Tribute To Alvin Fiedler: Live At Vision Festival XXIV
The recently departed free jazz drummer and educator Alvin Fielder (1935-2019) was given a fitting tribute by compatriots Edward “Kidd” Jordan/ts, Joel Futterman/p, William Parker/b and Hamid Drake/dr-perc on this June 12, 2019 concert. The single marathon piece has Jordan…
John Finley: Soul Singer
Vocalist John Finley sings like a veteran that has made a living working the clubs on this stylish collection of standards and originals. Produced by keyboardist Lou Pomanti, Finley weaves stories backed by Larnell Lewis-Davide Direnzo/dr, Marc Rogers/b, Danny Weis-John…
NDV: Invisible
Nick D’Virgilio plays drums, some piano and loops as he sings and rocks the blues with guests Carl Verheyen/g, Jonas Reingold/b, Dave Martin/b, Phil Naish/key, Tony Levin/b and others. He mixes metallic fist pumpers like “Snake Oil salesman” with funky…
Tim Stine Trio: Fresh Demons
Guitarist Tim Stine leads a flexible team of bassist Anton Hatwich and drummer Frank Rosaly through 8 fluid originals. Most of the tunes have a folksy feel to them, even as they ricochet on the Monkish “Watched Trains”. More often…
R.I.P…Jimmy Heath: Love Letter
Before leaving us January 19 at age 93, one of the last of the living beboppers, Jimmy Heath, left us one last will and testament, a warm album focused on relaxed and timeless ballads. For this last session, Heath teamed…