Guitarist Forrest McDonald leads a blueswailing band featuring the rich and hearty vocals on Andrew Black supported by a core of Lee Gammon/b, John McKinght/dr, Matthew Wauchope/p-org and a STAXY horn section on 11 juke jointing originals. The Crescent City…
Author: George W. Harris
****ALBUM OF THE YEAR?****A RETURN TO VINTAGE DAYS OF CTI…Pat Metheny: From This Place
Back in the 1970s, when jazz was actually popular among the masses, each record label had a certain sound and feel. CTI, started by Creed Taylor, came up with the concept of mixing “classic” jazz with rich and luscious strings,…
Delfeayo Marsalis’ Uptown Jazz Orchestra: Jazz Party
Trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis leads an 18+ Big Band and a surfeit of welcome guests to this album that is long on party atmospheres. The team gets into a funky blues with earth toned vocalist Tonya Boyd-Cannon teamed with the leader…
Chickenbone Slim: Sleeper
Sounds fresh out of a highway juke joint are delivered by Chickenbone Slim, who sings with gravelly grit and plays guitar along with a blues-rocking team of Scot Smart/g, Troy Sandow/harp, Andrew/b and Marty Dodson/dr. The guitars have a tensile…
HOT JAZZ FROM THE UK…Digby Fairweather: Notes From A Jazz Life
It makes perfect sense that cornetist Digby Fairwether would have Wild Bill Davison guest on one of the songs of this two disc anthology (although it is only on vocals), as the famed British horn man has the sound and…
Stanley Grill: And I Paint Stars With Wings
The pen of Stanley Grill is put to music by the Camerata Philadelphia conducted by Stephen Framil (who also plays cello), joined by appearances by Brett Douglas Deubner on viola and guest soprano Peggy Pei-Ju Yu. There are three main…
Schapiro 17: New Shoes-Kind of Blue at 60
Composer and arranger Jon Schapiro celebrates the 3 score anniversary of Miles Davis’ legendary Kind of Blue album by taking each tune, tweaking it and giving it new dimensions and colors. With his 17 piece ensemble that includes Roberta Piket/p…
BLUES AND BEBOP FROM AVID…Lightnin’ Hopkins: Four Classic Albums, Jimmie Rodgers: Four Classic Albums Plus, Charlie Parker: Five Classic Albums
Roots run deep on these three latest releases from UK-based AVID… This third set of material from Avid featuring Lightnin’ Hopkins finds the blues legend in a spartan and acoustic mood. Two of the sessions have in in solo format.…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****DEFT DIGITS…Aaron Diehl: The Vagabond
Pianist Aaron Diehl takes some time away from touring with Cecile McLoren Salvant to show what he can do with his own team. This trio outing with bassist Paul Sikivie and drummer Gregory Hutchinson is a gorgeously melodic and impressionistic…
SUI GENERIS…Michel Petrucianni: Colors
Hopefully, this 2 disc set of the too soon departed pianist Michel Petrucianni (1962-99) will reignite interest in his relatively short career, as it was an interesting one. The French pianist had an elegant touch inspired by Bill Evans, but…