Every week our staff of CD Reviewers bring you the best in Independent CD releases. Making a Scene is considered the number 1 resource for the independent musician and the fans that love them.
Ron Blake Mistaken Identity 7tēn33 Productions Saxophonist and composer Ron Blake releases his first album as a leader in fifteen years with Mistaken Identity, a tight quartet recording featuring his longtime friend, the guitarist Bobby Broom along with bassists Nat Reeves or Reuben Rogers and drummer Kobie Watkins. As you may recall we covered Broom’s […]
Jocelyn Gould Sonic Bouquet Self-released Rather than continue to advance her quickly growing career with a batch of originals, Canadian guitarist and composer, 2021 JUNO Award winner Jocelyn Gould opts for some comfort by including standards and deferring to her colleague and mentor, guitarist Randy Napoleon, who has three of the nine tunes here while […]
Tom Paxton and John McCutcheon Together Appalseed This collaboration between two giants of folk music, Tom Paxton and John McCutcheon, seems predestined but still may not have happened if it weren’t for the intervention of the pandemic. Though a series of conversation via ZOOM, the reminiscing and sports talk soon turned to songwriting, resulting in […]
Emmet Cohen Featuring Houston Person Master Legacy Series Vol. 5 Bandstand Presents To see pianist Emmet Cohen collaborating with a legendary elder jazz statesman is nothing new. If you are at all tuned to social media, you’ll see tons of YouTube clips (bet you can find this one too) of Cohen with his guests at […]
Quinsin Nachoff Stars and Constellations Adyharopa We’re taking a bit of a calculated risk with this one, realizing that writing about classical music on these pages will turn most readers away. Yet, we did cover composer and saxophonist Quinsin Nachoff’s 2020 Pivotal Arc on these same pages, so why not inform you about Stars and […]
Michelle Lordi Two Moons Imani Two Moons is vocalist and songwriter Michelle Lordi’s fifth album as a leader, and the second with bassist Matthew Parish serving as a co-producer as he did on her 2019 Break Up the Sound. Just as that album featured a A-list cast (guitarist Tim Motzer, saxophonist Donny McCaslin, and drummer […]
Darrell Grant’s MJ New Our Mr. Jackson Lair Hill For whatever reasons, today we seldom hear about one of the longest running groups in jazz, the Modern Jazz Quartet, dubbed MJQ. Led by pianist John Lewis with vibraphonist Milt Jackson, bassist Percy Heath, and drummer Connie Kay, (who replaced Kenny Clarke), they were formed in […]
Steve Gellman All You Need Self-released Multiple award-winning Maryland singer-songwriter Steve Gellman has released his thirteenth album, All You Need. The album carries the ambience of an authentic folk singer backed by an impressive casts including members of The Seldom Scene, guitarist Nina Gerber, Chao Tian (a special star on this album), Grammy winners Cathy […]
Joe Bonamassa Blues Deluxe Vol. 2 J&R Adventures Joe Bonamassa cannot possibly have an off switch, only one that adjusts the mode. If he’s not out promoting an album onstage somewhere in the world, he’s likely in a studio working on the next one. Blues Deluxe Vol. 2 marks his 51st in 23 years, considering […]
Dave Keller It’s Time To Shine Montpelier, Vermont’s Dave Keller has been schooled by the very best. He studied acoustic blues with guitarist Paul Rishell, and soul blues with guitarist Robert Ward. After releasing the Dave Keller Band debut in 1998 he began to be mentored by Mighty Sam McClain who lived in nearby New […]
Ray Bonneville On the Blind Side Stonefly Juno Award winner and multiple Juno nominee, the Quebec-born, well-traveled and currently Austin-based blues and roots artist Ray Bonneville returns with his tenth solo album, On the Blind Side. This is Bonneville’s post-pandemic release, and understandably may be even more introspective than some previous efforts, leaning a bit […]
David Bennett Cohen Seems Like a Good Time for the Blues Self-released Blues pianist David Bennett Cohen has been on the scene for over sixty years and yet, as hardly a household name, his resume would be the envy of many, even those that are indeed well recognized. He’s a founding member of Country Joe […]
Ghalia Volt Shout Sister Shout Ruf We have one quick clarifier before we get started. The title may cause some, like this writer, to think this is a tribute to Sister Rosetta Tharpe and an album of the same name did just that. The Belgian-born, ever-evolving, once one-woman band Ghalia Volt is not in that […]
Ethan Philion Gnosis Sunnyside We covered bassist Ethan Philion’s debut as a leader, 2022’s Meditations on Mingus on the pages. Now Philion returns with his second, a departure from the large 10-piece ensemble he led then, paring down to a quartet to render mostly his own originals on Gnosis. The rarely heard term means knowledge […]
Hiromi’s Sonicwonder Sonicwonderland Telarc The internationally recognized and Grammy-winning pianist and composer Hiromi, unveils her new quartet, dubbed Sonicwonder for a slight departure in her sound that now incorporates electronics and funk. For the first time Hiromi is also playing electric keyboards and synths while trumpeter Adam O’Farrill uses pedals. Hadrien Feraud is the bassist […]
Miho Hazama – m_unit Beyond Orbits Edition Composer and conductor Miho Hazama celebrates the tenth anniversary with her m_unit on Beyond Orbits, her version of the concept of Afro-futurism, explored by many creative musicians before her, most notably Sun Ra. Although the “Afro” piece of the equation doesn’t fit, Hazama’s concept is built on her […]
Matthew Shipp The Intrinsic Nature of Shipp Mahakala There well may not be a more prolific musician than pianist and composer Matthew Shipp, who since arriving in New York in the ‘90s has over one hundred releases under his name no fewer than eight since the inception of 2022. He is now regarded as one […]
André Bisson Latchford Self-released It’s somewhat rare to hear an artist for the first time on his tenth album release and in the case of Canadian soul/R&B/roots singer-songwriter André Bisson, it raises the obvious notion of ‘look at what I’ve been missing.” Bisson has been on the scene for twenty years, boasts numerous awards and […]
Todd Sickafoose Bear Proof Secret Hatch Bear Proof is 62 minutes of continuous music by a super group of creative musicians led by Tony and Grammy-winning bassist, composer, and producer Todd Sickafoose. The album was recorded in the since shuttered Fantasy studios (Berkeley, CA) and the delay in getting it issued likely attests to Sickafoose’s […]
Bowmanville Bowmanville Stoneagle Music Bowmanville is a Chicago-based quintet with a rather unique frontline of guitar, harmonica, and violin that straddles the gypsy jazz music of Django Reinhardt and those associated with “Hot Club” sonics, and Chicago blues. There are swing numbers, blues standards and originals in this infectious and inviting set that’s mostly instrumental […]
Davis Hall & The Green Lanterns Canboro Canborough Self-released Canboro Canborough is the second album from Toronto-based drummer/multi-instrumentalist Jim Casson and his band, The Green Lanterns. Admittedly, this writer is perplexed at how “Davis Hall” fits into this, except to guess that the character, like the song titles, relates to where Casson grew up on […]
Michael Dease Swing Low Posi-Tone This writer was initially puzzled to see trombonist Altin Sencalar on a small combo album by the award-winning trombonist Michael Dease but when viewing the album cover that has Dease cradling a baritone saxophone, I began to better understand this latest effort, Swing Low. We call Dease lots of things […]
Jason Ricci and the Bad Kind Behind the Veil Gulf Coast Records Jason Ricci and the Bad Kind. What a suitable, vivacious name for this bunch, given all the ins and outs and ups and downs crisscrossing Ricci’s story. Ricci’s traits include being an on again off again drug abuser, and a spiritual, openly […]
Bobby Zankel/Wonderful Sound 8 A Change of Destiny Mahakala For many of you this is your introduction to Philly saxophonist and composer Bobby Zankel. Yet even those familiar with Zankel are likely not familiar with the story he tells on A Change of Destiny. Let’s take them one at a time. Zankel spent the better […]
Slowly Rolling Camera Flow Edition Flow is the digital only release that follows Slowly Rolling Camera’s (SCR) 2021 Where the Streets Lead. The band hails from Wales and is now nearing their tenth year of recording where they blend jazz forms, some neo soul, trip hop, and electronica. A reference point could be Gogo Penguin but […]
Dave Keller It’s Time to Shine Tastee Tone In previous reviews of Vermonter soul/blues artist Dave Keller, this writer recalls a quote from Keller about preferring to be a big fish in a small pond than an artist competing with many in the same locale. Do you know any other national blues artists from Vermont? […]
Brad Turner Quintet The Magnificent Cellar Music The title seems to be hyperbolic but is not a term describing the leader of the Brad Turner Quintet. Instead, it references the great trumpeter, bandleader and composer Thad Jones, and specifically his 1956 recording The Magnificent Thad Jones. The title track does just that. The label Cellar Music, […]
Heather Lynne Horton Get Me to a Nunnery Pauper Sky Singer-songwriter Heather Lynne Horton delivers the richly ethereal Get Me to a Nunnery, transporting us to some otherworldly place that seems cushioned by clouds and sounds that echo well beyond mere earthly realms. It’s a sound forged by her violin, layered voices, and the keyboards […]
The Count Basie Orchestra, Directed by Scotty Barnhart (with Guests) Basie Swings the Blues Candid Records (assisted by Alligator Records) ‘There ain’t nothin’ wrong with havin’ a good ol’ time,’ Mr. Sipp urges in “Let’s Have a Good Time,” the hip-shaking opening number to Basie Swings the Blues. Sipp, the saucy, dapper, alter ego of […]
Jeff Coffin – Jordan Perlson – Viktor Krauss Coffin/Perlson/Krauss Ear Up Records The prolific saxophonist and composer Jeff Coffin is back, this time with a chordless trio featuring his longtime drumming colleague Jordan Perlson and Nashville multi-genre first call bassist Viktor Krauss for nine tracks, to which each contributed. The trio recorded at Krauss’ home studio, […]
Veronica Swift Veronica Swift Mack Avenue To say vocalist Veronica Swift moves beyond jazz on her third album is a vast understatement. In her self-described ‘transgenre,’ self-titled album the range of artists and styled covered is beyond mere comprehensive in words alone, until one begins listening to find a surprising cohesiveness among tracks nodding to […]
Nick Wade Feeling Good Is Good Enough ESP It’s not often that a younger bluesman comes along, steeped in the country Delta blues. Enter Nick Wade, who has received a glowing endorsement from Guy Davis and Corey Harris, and surely many others who don’t grace the liner notes. Guy Davis says, “…a young cat with […]
Jerome Sabbagh Quartet Vintage Sunnyside As the title and cover art suggest, tenor saxophonist Jerome Sabbagh invokes tradition on the first album he’s ever recorded with a pianist. In fact, Sabbagh chose this supporting trio with utmost taste, tapping pianist NEA Jazz Master Kenny Barron, bassist Joe Martin, and drummer Johnathan Blake to record a […]
Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps Rose-Colored Glasses Vol. 2 Blue Heart The highly decorated Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps are on a roll. They return with Rose-Colored Glasses Vol. 2, going for three in a row. The hot streak began with 2019’s Grammy-nominated Here in Babylon, followed by the first installment of Rose-Colored […]
Carlos Henriquez A Nuyorican’s Tale Tiger Turn To begin, this writer has just a wee bit of egg on his face for the first part of this sentence in the review of Carlos Henriquez’s The South Bronx Story that read as follows – “This project will never reach {West Side Story’s”} lofty stature but is more […]
Lee Oskar She Said Mahalo Dreams We Share She Said Mahalo is harmonica legend, Lee Oskar’s more lighthearted, uplifting follow-up to his stunning career tour-de-force, 2022’s Never Forget, covered on these pages. This one is similar in Oskar’s melodic lines that often front fairly large ensembles, creating cinematic, expansive sonic palettes. If you’re thinking of […]
Maddie Vogler While We Have Time Origin While We Have Time is the debut for alto saxophonist, composer, and educator Chicago-based Maggie Vogler. Vogler hails from Cuban heritage and a few of those strains are heard in this uplifting set of original tunes. Vogler performs with a Chicago-based quintet/sextet featuring her mentor and now label […]
Joyann Parker Roots Hopeless Romantics Records Too often an artist that takes on this amount of variety in style for one project ends up presenting a flat experience. Not Joyann Parker with Roots. Not by a country mile and a half. Few shift so fluidly between rock, country, blues, hard and smooth soul, and even […]
Itamar Borochov Arba Greenleaf Music Arba, which in Hebrew means ‘four,” marks the number of albums issued by New York-based trumpeter, composer, and vocalist Itamar Borochov. Perhaps just as importantly it marks his debut for Dave Douglas’ Greenleaf Music. There are a couple of other firsts as well as Borochov sings here and almost exclusively […]
Geof Bradfield, Richard D. Johnson, John Tate and Samuel Jewell Our Heroes AFAR Music In democratic fashion, the names of all four quartet members appear, yet the leader here is label owner and pianist Richard D. Johnson, who has helmed a series of themed collaborative projects. This one, Our Heroes, pays tribute to important jazz […]
Mike Boone Enjoying the View Self-released In the spirit of an independent release, the backbone of this magazine, we present bassist/composer/vocalist Mike Boone, a vital contributor to the Philadelphia jazz community since the early ‘80s. Enjoying the View is Boone’s eighth release as a leader, and it defies many of the so-called conventions. It does […]
Will Bernard & Beth Custer SKY Dreck-to-Disk Guitarist and composer Will Bernard should be a familiar name to readers of these pages as we’ve covered him on straight-ahead trio, organ trio, and ensemble releases for Posi-Tone, and his 2022 exploratory effort Pond Life. The ever-adventurous Bernard now goes in yet a different direction, with his […]
Hilario Duran and His Latin Jazz Big Band Cry Me a River Alma The Cuban Canadian composer and pianist Hilario Duran delivers his first big band project in 17 years with Cry Me a River. He leads a 19-piece ensemble and features special guests Paquito D’ Rivera, Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez, and the Toronto-based duo […]
Bill Connell with John Lynskey Forward by Chuck Leavell Allman Joy: Keeping the Beat with Duane and Gregg Mercer University Press Tuscaloosa, Alabama native Bill Connell lived a fulfilled, rollercoaster ride of a life that included playing the drums for, and on bills with, several significant names in the annals of rock and roll. […]
Jim Campilongo & Steve Cardenas New Year Sunnyside Jim Campilongo and Steve Cardenas are two longtime friends and guitarists, who, although playing as a tandem for twenty years, had never had the opportunity to record together until now. That makes it a momentous celebratory occasion, worthy of the album title, New Year. Readers of these […]
Jason Moran – Marcus Gilmore – BlankFor.ms Refract Red Hook Over the past decade, Jason Moran, whether leading his own ensembles or trios; or paired with Archie Shepp or Charles Lloyd, has been one of the leading piano voices in jazz. He also serves as the Artistic Director for Jazz at The Kennedy Center in […]
Dan Levinson Celebrating Bix! Turtle Bay Records In one sense this feels like a continuation of the story we brought you about Gennett Records this past June where the Buselli/Wallarab Jazz Orchestra delivered the 2-CD set The Gennett Suite, the second part of which featured mostly to the music of cornetist and premier jazz soloist […]
Christian Dillingham Cascades Greenleaf Music Bassist and composer Christian Dillingham debuts on Dave Douglas’ Greenleaf Music, a testament to the quality of Dillingham’s music, and his first jazz album as a leader. Dillingham has a gospel, classical, and pop background as a sideman having appeared on jazz albums by Greg Ward, gospel with Kirk Franklin, […]
The Christopher Dean Band w/ “Chicago” Carl Snyder Need a Friend Lost World Music If not mistaken, Need a Friend is the fifth album for guitarist/singer-songwriter Christopher Dean on “Chicago” Carl Snyder’s Lost World Music label. Dean has been touring steadily with his own combo for close to thirty years while “Chicago” Carl Snyder has […]
Madd for Tadd (Kent Engelhardt & Stephen Enos) Central Avenue Swing and Our Delight (2 CD set) Tighten Up The first order of business is to explain the various heading here. Madd for Tadd is a 15-piece big band co-led by saxophonist Kent Engelhardt and trumpeter Stephen Enos, devoted to the music of legendary jazz […]
