M. Lockwood Porter Communion in the Ashes Black Mesa Communion in the Ashes is flat-out rock n’ roll, a rallying cry, a series of anthemic songs by M. Lockwood Porter and his five-piece band designed to build hope amongst the surrounding doom. Yes, this about community and moving forward rather than wallowing in despair. It’s […]
The Mekons Deserted Bloodshot Believe it or not, the British collective, The Mekons, have been putting out their unique, genre-agnostic undefinable folk-punk (for lack of a better term) for over forty years now, having begun in 1977. Consider them a bizarre folk-rock aggregation equivalent to those in jazz like Sun Ra’s various units or those […]
Luther Dickinson and Sisters of the Strawberry Moon Solstice New West Luther Dickinson has a penchant for making albums with all-star female casts, but none larger than on this outing with the collective name of “Sisters of the Strawberry Moon.” Inevitably, The Wandering (Amy LaVere, Sharde Thomas, Shannon McNally and Valerie June comes to mind. […]
Andy Statman Monroe Bus Shefa This kind of review opportunity does not often happen. Mandolinist Andy Statman played at this writer’s wedding (Yes, that was ages ago) and at the time Statman was already a well-established musician who accompanied David Bromberg, Doug Sahm, Vassar Clements, David Amram, Tony Trischka, Bob Dylan and The Grateful Dead, […]
Tom Culver Duke’s Place Café Pacific Leveraging his acclaim from Tom Culver Sings Johnny Mercer, I Remember You, Culver now digs into the Duke Ellington’s songbook on Duke’s Place. These are songs that are certainly familiar, sung by an artist who clearly loves singing. Culver’s enthusiasm is comparable to that of Tony Bennett’s and while […]
Dennis Brennan & the White Owls Live at Electric Andyland VizzTone Dennis Brennan has been a fixture of the Boston Blues scene for the better part of three decades now. His reputation precedes him. Many of us have long expected a blues album that’s finally here. Oh, let’s be a bit more accurate. Brennan is […]
Ted Russell Kamp Walkin’ Shoes PoMo Roots veteran Ted Russell Kamp (TRK) is back with his eleventh solo album, Walkin’ Shoes, a fun and exhilarating ride through love, traveling, and a witty look at the idiosyncrasies of life changes as only a true troubadour can sing them. It’s an aptly named title for these 13-songs, […]
Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe Gnomes and Badgers Seven Spheres Karl Denson’s star is rising. He will be replacing Bobby Keys on the upcoming Rolling Stones tour. He continues to back Lenny Kravitz and play with the Greyboy All-stars, but he’s long been a beacon in the jam scene with his Tiny Universe band, finding time […]
Mary Lane Travelin’ Woman Women of the Blues Although 83-year-old Chicago blues veteran Mary Lane has not released an album in twenty years, we did cover her on these pages for last year’s Chicago/ Blues Legends/ Today. That project was helmed by the late Mike Mettalia, who passed away much too soon just last week […]
Caleb Elliott – Forever to Fade Single Lock Forever to Fade is the impressive debut album from Louisiana singer/songwriter Caleb Elliott. Elliott tells his story, from preacher’s son in a cult-like religion to finding musical freedom in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. This is a swamp-art-rock record. There may not be many of those but think of John […]
Senor Groove Little Havana Zoho Senor Groove is a the latest band from the Smith brothers, bassist Tim and guitarist Roddy, who are flanked by Mercelo Perez (drums), Martin Bejerano (piano), and Murph Aucamp (percussion). For this session that focuses on the Cuban neighborhood in Miami named Little Havana, the quintet is augmented with a […]
AACM Great Black Music Ensemble Live at The Currency Exchange Volume 1 AACM Productions Yes, they are still performing, 53 years on. The Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians based in Chicago has spawned the vanguard of avant-garde improvised music with such names as Muhal Richard Abrams, Anthony Braxton, Jack DeJohnette, George Lewis, Lester […]
Adam Klein Low Flyin’ Planes Cowboy Angel Athens, Georgia has long been a spawning ground for great music. Beyond the more widely known names like REM and Widespread Panic, are some exceptionally talented roots musicians like Adam Klein. This is Adam’s seventh album, the. sonic follow-up to 2013’s Sky Blue DeVille. Like that one and […]
Peter Rogan Still Tryin’ to Believe Melt Shop Proving that’s it’s never too late to begin, this is the debut album from 57-year-old Peter Rogan, already a songwriting winner in the Great American Song contest. Rogan wrote or co-wrote all dozen songs on the album with 17 musicians and back-up singers, thereby fulfilling a lifelong […]
Doug MacDonald Quartet Organisms Self-released Only last month we wrote about guitarist Doug MacDonald’s trio album View of the City but the prolific and rather restless MacDonald returns with a self-released quartet disc featuring some fine players. Like the title implies Organisms is an organ project, MacDonald’s third, as a leader, composer, and arranger. Interestingly, […]
Carol Sudhalter Quartet Live at Saint Peter’s Church Alfa Projects It’s not often that you find a baritone saxophonist/flutist as a band leader. Sure, Gerry Mulligan comes to mind but who else? Carol Sudhalter has proven herself to be one of jazz’s top baritone saxophonist, a fine flutist and originally a tenor soloist, having been […]
John Mayall Nobody Told Me Forty Below The Godfather of British Blues, John Mayall is now 85 years old, but you’d never guess it from his prolific output in recent years since he signed with co-producer Eric Corne’s label, Forty Below Records, in 2013. Mayall’s long overdue induction into the Blues Hall of Fame was […]
Emily Scott Robinson Traveling Mercies Self-released If you’ve heard Emily Scott Robinson’s song “The Dress” or the accompanying stories in other publications, you may just want to scroll down. However, for those who have not, there’s not a more important place to start. Without her harrowing trauma endured after being raped in her early twenties, […]
Big Joe and the Dynaflows Rockhouse Party Severn The rowdy proceedings here match the album title, Rockhouse Party, even though the title is drawn from the name of co-producer and stellar keyboardist Kevin McKendree’s studio in Franklin, TN. Big Joe is D.C.-based drummer/vocalist Big Joe Maher, making his fourth album for Severn Records. This is […]
Clifford Lamb Blues and Hues Weber Works Clifford Lamb is a San Francisco-based pianist/composer who is releasing his fourth solo album as a leader and his third with renowned bassist Buster Williams and charismatic drummer Cindy Blackman Santana, among the cast of supporting musicians. The concept for Blues & Hues is a mashup of different […]
Jason Ringenberg Stand Tall Courageous Chicken Music Punk-country icon Jason Ringenberg is back with his first solo album in 15 years. He is still touring with Jason & the Scorchers, but this is a special project inspired by nature and trees, in the biggest way possible. That’s because Ringenberg was commissioned as the artist-in-residence at […]
John Fusco and the X-Road Riders Self-titled Self-released Anytime the Dickinson brothers get involved, you need to pay attention. This time it’s younger brother Cody, drummer in North Mississippi All-Stars but multi-instrumentalist here in support of another multi-instrumentalist John Fusco, the award-winning screenwriter for the film Crossroads. Guests include Luther Dickinson and cohort, Memphis rap […]
Charlie Dennard Deep Blue Self-released Pianist/composer Charlie Dennard weaves together music from his native New Orleans with strains from the iconic jazz label ECM on Deep Blue, featuring seven original compositions. Dennard credits his subtle, relaxed style to his teacher, the legendary pianist Ellis Marsalis, with whom Dennard studied for a Master’s Degree in Music […]
Tony Monaco The Definition of Insanity Chicken Coup Tony Monaco is a world class Hammond B3 player, mentioned in the same conversation with greats like Jimmy Smith, Jack McDuff, and Shirley Scott. This is his eleventh album as a leader and it’s his most, as the title may suggest, wildly eclectic. Buoyed by a recent […]
Ernie Watts Home Light Flying Dolphin Ernie Watts is one of our greatest living saxophonists. Certainly two-time Grammy winner. Watts has a uniquely versatile resume, having played with artists ranging from Cannonball Adderley to Frank Zappa with the Buddy Rich’s Big Band, Charlie Haden’s Quartet West, Oliver Nelson’s Orchestra, Gerald Wilson’s Orchestra, Doc Severinsen’s Tonight […]
DBUK Songs Nine Through Sixteen SCACUNINC DBUK is more formally known as Denver Broncos UK and is based out of Denver, CO. They are an offshoot of the experimental rock band Slim Cessna’s Auto Club (SCAC) in a slightly different configuration and a sound that some have described as Gothic Americana- a dark blend of […]
Paul Nelson Over Under Through Riverwide New Hampshire’s Paul Nelson emerges with an early entry for one of 2019’s best blues/roots releases. Yes, it’s only January but Nelson and his producer/multi-instrumentalist Tom Eaton (Vance Gilbert, Ellis Paul), have assembled top shelf New England players to generate a terrific sound – part roots, part blues – […]
Dave Rudolph Quintet Resonance Self-released Resonance is the recording debut for Tampa-based drummer Dave Rudolph as a bandleader. Rudolph leads a group of locally based musicians: tenor saxophonist Zach Bornheimer, guitarist LaRue Nickelson, pianist Pablo Arencibia, and bassist Alejandro Arenes, most of whom met at The University of South Florida where Rudolph earned two degrees […]
Beverley Church Hogan Can’t Get Out of This Mood Café Pacific The time-worn cliché of age is just a number seems more applicable recently as several artists in the jazz and blues genres are finding their way to recording studios as octogenarians. For vocalist Beverley Church Hogan, it’s for the first time. A sixty year […]
Benny Turner & Cash McCall Going Back Home NOLA Blue The central question around many blues releases goes like this –“Is there anything new here?” Be careful. One quick view of these tracks from Benny Turner and Cash McCall such as “Spoonful,” ‘Built for Comfort” and “It Hurts Me Too” might cause many to quickly […]
Magela Herrera Explicaciones Brontosaurus Magela Herrera is a Cuban-born, Miami-based vocalist, composer and flute virtuoso making her debut as a bandleader with Explicaciones. Not since the days of those classic CTI Hubert Laws albums and those Atlantic LPs from Herbie Mann, has this writer heard such an expressive flutist. Yes, we could add Charles Lloyd’a […]
Betty Bryant Project 88 Bry-Mar Music Few listens are more enjoyable than hearing an 88-year old pianist play and sing the music she loves, the music she was raised on, and the music that invigorates her. This writer can hardly comprehend how someone can play piano at that age; typing is hard enough now. This […]
The Boogie Kings Disturbing the Peace BluJazz/Spirit Bob Baldori and Arthur Migliazza bring four-handed boogie-woogie thunder on their collaborative and aptly named, Disturbing the Peace. Images of freight trains, highways, loud juke joints and boisterous road houses ring through this resounding set that often sounds like a full band. Yes, it’s generally loud and raucous […]
Doug MacDonald Trio with Harvie S and Steve Williams View of the City BluJazz This is guitarist/composer Doug MacDonald’s 13th solo release and fifth on the label. As one might glean from the cover art and album title, the transplanted West coaster is back in New York City for this straight-ahead date. MacDonald is a […]
Judy Night Quintet Sliding on Glass BluJazz/210 Live Sometimes second careers prove very rewarding and lead to some unexpected paths. Keyboardist and bandleader Judy Night spent most of her adult life as a practicing pediatrician but realized that she needed to fulfill her life-long passions for composition and playing, ultimately becoming a partner at and […]
Jorge Nila Tenor Time (tribute to the Tenor Masters) NinJazz This is an excellent introduction to some of the great jazz tenor saxophonists. Omaha, Oklahoma-based Jorge Nila has recovered from some health issues that sidelined him for the past three years and is back to pay tribute to some of his favorite inspirers. As Nila […]
Jack Mouse Group Intimate Adversary Tall Grass Drummer and composer Jack Mouse has returned to more classic jazz configuration and sound following his duo album Snakeheads and Ladybugs and the trio Three-Story Sandbox. Aboard are long-time cohorts Scott Robinson on tenor, Art Davis on trumpet and flugelhorn, along with John McLean on guitar and Bob […]
Dan Bonsanti & The 14 Jazz Orchestra The Future Ain’t What It Used to Be Dabon Music Arranger Dan Bonsanti is back with The 14 Jazz Orchestra following up the previously issued successful Nothing Hard Is Ever Easy. The big band is contemporary and creative with four reeds, three trumpets, two trombones, piano, guitar, bass, […]
Willa Vincitore Choices Self-release Willa Vincitore is the pride of the Hudson Valley region of New York, an area as steeped in the traditions of American music as much as any region. After all, it boasts Woodstock, Levon Helm’s Barn, and countless great musicians in roots, blues, and jazz. Even though Willa is relatively new […]
Lizanne Knott, Jesse Terry, Michael Logen Sunset Avenue Sessions Transoceanic Several Americana and folk artists have huge followings in the UK and remain a little lesser known here in the states. Lizanne Knott, Jesse Terry and Michael Logen are straddling that line, although their collaboration, Sunset Avenue Sessions, has already garnered heavy radio airplay and […]
Katie Henry High Road Independent Katie Henry, until now, has been one of New Jersey’s many musical treasures. This is her debut recording which will let others hear her vocal and instrumental talents. Henry plays several instruments including the locally made Vintage Vibe piano, acoustic piano, guitar, and clavinet. If that sounds “keyboard heavy,” she’s […]
Ted Piltzecker Brindica Zoho Former trumpeter, now vibraphonist and bandleader Ted PIltzecker is making his debut for the Zoho label and delivering his fifth album. While his previous output featured standards, tangos, and African- flavored tunes his eclecticism has gone even further here on Brindica. Some may quickly notice how that term is an acronym […]
Simone Kopmajer Spotlight on Jazz Lucky Mojo Records It’s convenient to call this a throwback album but somehow Simone Kopmajer would seem to be just fine with that description. It’s uncanny how her originals, five of them, fit seamlessly with swing standards from the ‘40s and ‘50s, such fare as Louis Armstrong’s “Struttin’ With Some […]
Gabriel Espinosa Nostalgias De Mi Vida Zoho As you might guess from the title, even if Spanish isn’t your language, this is about nostalgia and happy personal associations with the past (memories of my life). At age 66, Mexican-born composer/singer/electric bassist is looking back fondly on his life in jazz, from his first days with […]
Jason Kao Hwang Burning Bridge Blood True Sound Recordings Forgive this start as Blood is an ultra-serious project but this writer cannot help but recall a night of listening to several forms of live jazz in Beijing, China a few years ago. After listening to a couple of straight-ahead bands and a Salsa combo, our […]
Chris Pasin Ornettiquette Planet Arts Ornette Coleman’s free jazz and avant-garde compositions were on that slippery border between the accessible and inaccessible for many listeners and this writer. Yet, alto saxophonist Coleman and his long-time collaborator, trumpeter (or pocket trumpeter) Don Cherry’s work has held up remarkably well, first with the band that included Cherry, […]
Rachel Caswell We’re All in the Dance Turtle Ridge Her Grammy-nominated violinist sister Sara may be better known but it’s clear that musical DNA runs through vocalist Rachel as well. We’re All in the Dance looks to be only Rachel’s second or third album but she’s already established quite a presence with her intelligent phrasing […]
Kate Reid The Heart Already Knows Self-released Vocalist Kate Reid takes a courageous path on The Heart Already Knows, her third release. Rather than sing with a conventional rhythm section, Reid recorded this project in various duo formats, just her vocals accompanied by either a guitarist or pianist. Not only were many of the songs outside her […]
Christopher Hollyday Telepathy Self-released Hard bop alto saxophonist Christopher Hollyday is back for the first time in 26 years as a leader. He plays with so much enthusiasm and unbridled fury, that it’s immediately clear he must have been bursting at the seams to get back into a studio. Jazz fans may recall Hollyday form […]
Roy Schneider& Kim Mayfield Reckless Saints Shiny Gnu Thanks to roots artist Gurf Morlix for describing Roy Schneider and Kim Mayfield’s sound better than this writer can. His term “blue twangled folk n’ roll” is perfect. This husband and wife team runs the gamut from engaging acoustic folk to driving bluesy tunes, with hints of […]
