Lorne Lofsky This Song Is New Modica Music Canadian jazz guitarist Lorne Lofsky delivers his first album in more than two decades with This Song is New. A master guitarist known for his pianistic voicings and virtuosic skill, Lofsky is considered one of Canada’s great musical treasures. Joining Lofsky is his tight-knit quartet made up of his […]
Vinnie Riccitelli Octet For the Record Self-released The music is one thing. And then there’s the story. Sometimes there are both and such is the case with Vinnie Riccitelli as we are looking at likely the longest gap between recording projects in history – 65 years to be exact. Yes, you read that correctly; Riccitelli […]
John Smith The Fray Commoner/Thirty Tigers UK Singer-songwriter John Smith, with one of the most common names around, is not your run-of-the-mill singer-songwriter-guitarist. Those types cannot attract a cast like Smith does here for his highly emotive The Fray. Smith co-produced with long-time friend and producer Sam Lakeman at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studio, assembling pianist […]
Jihye Lee Orchestra Daring Mind Motema The possibilities for large jazz ensembles are wide ranging- from boring, to traditionally solid, to utterly fascinating. The latter is relatively rare, but when it occurs, it can be a stunning, awe-inspiring listen. One can go long stretches without having such an experience but that has changed in the […]
Jazz WORMS Squirmin’ Capri Sometimes it’s difficult to leave a good thing alone, even if it takes thirty years to get back to the moment. That’s the case for the Denver-based jazz quintet Jazz WORMS who reunite after (can we call it) a 30-year hiatus. All five original members come together with pianist Andy Weyl, saxophonist Keith […]
Diego Baliardo and The Gypsy Evolution Este Ritmo Moondo Music Okay, the name may be unfamiliar at first, but Diego Baliardo is one of the founders of the world-famous Gipsy Kings, the highest selling musical group to come out of France, with over 20 million albums sold over their 35-year run. Baliardo is carrying on […]
Rick Holmstrom See That Light LuEllie Records Rick Holmstrom was born in Fairbanks but later relocated to Southern California. While attending college he joined a local blues band and sat in with Smokey Wilson and Junior Watson. Holmstrom was the guitarist in The William Clarke Band from 1985 to 1988. He joined up with another […]
Michael Wolff Live at Vitellos Sunnyside Admittedly, not sure why this album, Live at Vitellos, recorded in 2011, is just coming out now but we certainly welcome it. Award-winning pianist Michael Wolff, known for an impressive and eclectic career that has spanned five decades, and stints with Cannonball Adderley and Cal Tjader early in his career, brings […]
David Olney and Anana Kaye Wispers and Sighs Schoolkids Records Whispers And Sighs is the latest album by David Olney and Anana Kaye and makes a much-anticipated debut on March 19, 2021. Just before the last day of winter. Just before David’s birthday. Just at the right moment. It is an album that had a […]
Ian Charleton Big Band A Fresh Perspective Self-released Ian Charleton, composer/conductor arranger, is a Senior Chief Musician, who was the Head of Academics at the Naval School of Music, where he taught arranging. Also, a graduate of the University of North Texas, he burst on the scene with his 2013 debut CD, Brain Chatter. This […]
Claire Kelly Scenic Route Self-released Midwest born and raised, Nashville-based singer-songwriter Claire Kelly does plenty of justice to her Irish roots on her first full-length album Scenic Route. It comes after releasing four EPs. The album features her soaring soprano vocals, all but one original track, and spare arrangements that feature multi-instrumentalist Nick Stone doing […]
Brian Charette Power From the Air Steeplechase Power From the Air is the third album for organist Brian Charette with his primarily woodwind sextet, the most albums he has ever made with one group. Consider however that this lineup has three new players from the previous The Question That Drives Us although the configuration remains […]
Reggie Quinerly New York Nowhere Redefinition Music With what could be the best album title in this pandemic era, drummer-composer Reggie Quinerly is instead not speaking so much about the present state of NYC but bidding goodbye to what was his home after 21 years. He and his family relocated to Los Angeles last fall […]
Schapiro 17 Human Qualities Summit Last year we covered Schapiro17’s debut recording, New Shoes: Kind of Blue at 60 on these pages. Human Qualities is the follow-up with this same 17-piece band and seven new Schapiro compositions plus a fresh rendition of a classic ballad. Jon Schapiro’s consistently surprising arrangements keep one guessing and inspire […]
David Larsen The Mulligan Chronicles Self-released Ask any casual fan of jazz for a bandleader who played baritone saxophone and it is likely that just one name will emerge – the famed player and composer Gerry Mulligan. Mulligan was every bit as important to the post bebop, cool movement aka “Birth of the Cool” as […]
Roni Ben-Hur Stories Dot Time Jazz guitar virtuoso Roni Ben-Hur shares another chapter of his genre-busting 40-year multicultural musical journey with Stories and an impressive lineup that includes the legendary George Cables on piano, esteemed trumpeter Ingrid Jensen, the steadfast rhythm section with bassist Harvie S and drummer Victor Lewis, and special guest vocalists Magos Herrera and Tamuz Nissim. Ben Hur’s story began in Dimona, a small, provincial desert […]
Bruce Brown Death of Expertise Triangle 7 Herein lies another one of those interesting musical stories as vocalist/songwriter Bruce Brown, who was once a pianist too, found some new inspiration in songwriting, following recovery from a life-threatening stroke four years ago. Two decades ago, Brown was gigging in L.A. but has lived in New Zealand […]
Michael Dease Give It All You Got Posi-Tone Recalling many of those great Blue Note albums with trombonist Curtis Fuller and Art Blakey, Give It All You Got, the eighth Posi-Tone release by one of today’s leading voices on the trombone, Michael Dease, carries that infectious soul-jazz vibe and percolates with similar energy. Dease has […]
Mark Winkler and David Benoit Old Friends Café Pacific Readers of these pages know that Mark Winkler is one of the premiere vocalists in jazz, with more than 16 albums to his credit, two of which we have covered here. Now we bring you his collaboration with old friend, pianist/composer David Benoit. The aptly titled […]
The David Angel Jazz Ensemble Out on the Coast – 3 CDs Basset Hound Music David Angel is likely the best arranger and composer you have never heard of. You are not alone. Even though he is one of the most respected on the West Coast, he is virtually unknown to the public. It certainly […]
Greg Murphy Cool Water Whaling City Sound Master keyboardist and composer Greg Murphy delivers a very inspirational project, Cool Water, based on his trip to Africa. “The inspiration for the concept of the album and title track, ‘Enkare Nairobi,’ (which means ‘cool water’ in Maasai and refers to the Nairobi River which flows through the […]
Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra Bernstein Reimagined MCG Jazz Seeing the name Leonard Bernstein, will make most associate this ambitious project with classical music yet it reads more like a Duke Ellington or Gil Evans record. In fact, Bernstein stated that Ellington wrote symphonic jazz while he wrote jazz symphonies. Also, the legendary composer once called […]
Larry Newcomb Quartet Love, Dad Essential Messenger As you might guess from the title this is a father-son duo featured in this quartet led by renowned guitarist Larry Newcomb, with his son Jake Newcomb on the standup bass. Rounding out the foursome are pianist Thomas Royal and drummer Dave Marsh. This is the guitarist’s third […]
Greg Sover Band The Parade Grounded Soul Records Pennsylvania based Greg Sover has been influenced by multiple genres including classic rock, blues, and reggae. He released his debut album “Songs of a Renegade” in 2016. His follow up recording was 2018’s “Jubilee”. “The Parade”, an EP completed during the pandemic, is only Sover’s third release. […]
Binker and Moses Escape the Flames Gearbox This serves to both inform you about the London-based sax-drum duo of Binker and Moses as well as the label, Gearbox. Binker and Moses We have covered sax-drum duos on these pages before, specifically the London duo of Tony Irving & Massimo Magee with Vitriol and the Third […]
Miles Donahue Just Passing Thru Whaling City Sound Miles Donahue is a unique cat, even in jazz circles. As a multi-instrumentalist he not only plays a couple of also, tenor, and soprano saxophones, but also trumpet and keyboards. This writer can’t point to many in that category although Joey DeFrancesco is one who comes to […]
Andy James Tu Amor Le Coq Le Coq is a new record label whose inaugural releases just two weeks ago assembled some of the strongest names in jazz to present an eclectic set of styles worthy of the stellar musicians that set the stage for what the label will be offering. On The Jazz All […]
Sounds of A&R (S.O.A.R) Questions Left Unanswered Self-released The group dubbed Sounds of A&R, or as they are commonly referenced S.O.A. R., is the partnering team of vocalist April May Webb and the trumpeter Randall Haywood, with support from April May’s siblings Jacob Webb on bass and Nathan Webb on drums, plus guitarist Charlie Sigler, pianist James Austin and harpist Riza Printup. Questions Left […]
Santi Debriano Flash of the Spirit Truth Revolution To understand the eclectic nature of bassist/guitarist/composer Santi Debriano’s Flash of the Spirit, it helps to understand his makeup. The native Panamanian, who moved to New York at age 4, has never abandoned his original heritage, so for essentially an entire lifetime he has lived in several […]
David Detweiler Astoria Suite NEXTLEVEL/Outside in Music Born and raised in Houston, TX but having lived on opposite sides of the United States in both New York and Florida, Saxophonist and composer David Detweiler is well acquainted with shifting definitions of home. In 2010, Detweiler returned to New York, moving to Astoria, with his wife […]
J.T. Lauritsen & The Buckshot Hunters Blue Eyed Soul Vol. 2 Hunter Records Jan Tore Lauritsen, better known as JT, hails from Lillestrom, Norway. He began playing piano at an early age but soon switched to the Hammond B-3. Lauritsen had his first paying gig at the age of fourteen. Because the B-3 was too […]
The Grasso-Ravita Jazz Ensemble Jagged Spaces Self-released This is the recording debut for co-leaders guitarist Skip Grasso and bassist Phil Ravita. Each of the nine tunes was written by a band member in the quintet that also features saxophonist Benny Russell, pianist Greg Small, and drummer Nuc Vega. Four tunes are from Grasso, two apiece […]
Miguel Zenon and Luis Perdomo El Arte Del Bolero (Digital Release Only) Miel Music Last year we were late bringing you the eighth Grammy-nominated album, Sonero: The Music of Ismael Rivera, from reigning Saxophonist of the Year from the Jazz Journalists Association, Miguel Zenon. Zenon has also received four Latin Grammy nominations among his many […]
Jon KT The Real Cover Up KT Productions Jon Lindley was born in England and currently lives in Wisconsin. He is an independent music producer and audio engineer. He started with music at an early age and taught himself to play drums and keyboards. After many years of working in the woodworking industry, he decided […]
Rhythm City Rhythm City Autumn Hill Drummer Rob Silverman released his own Drumology two months ago, an album that brought together jazz and rock drummers in primarily a jazz fusion vein. Now Silverman returns with a St. Louis-based trio, Rhythm City, featuring pianist Ptah Williams, and bassist Larry Kornfield for another mostly fusion inspired outing. […]
Markus Gottschlich Found Sounds Self-released The U.S.-based Austrian pianist, composer, bandleader, and Steinway Artist Markus Gottschlich leads his trio with guests across a concept album. Found Sounds aims at helping people examine and re-examine their relationship to their environment. In developing the album, his third as a leader, Gottschlich recorded and collected sounds (thus the […]
Jeff Ellwood The Sounds Around the House Self-released Sometimes a musician can get comfortable as an in-demand sideman and it takes a little push to step forward as a leader. Such is the case with tenor saxophonist Jeff Ellwood who steps into that role for the first time with The Sounds Around the House. In […]
Paul Wilkinson 400 Bears Self-released This is a pleasant surprise from a local artist to this Pennsylvanian-based writer. Normally these kinds of efforts are hit or miss at best but Paul Wilkinson, longtime guitarist for the West Chester-based roots rock band Mason Porter, debut solo album , 400 Bears, impresses from the opening notes and […]
Bill Evans Live at Ronnie Scott’s (with Eddie Gomez and Jack DeJohnette) Resonance Ah, Black Friday is here. This one features legendary, influential pianist Bill Evans across 20 tracks live at London’s iconic Ronnie Scott’s in 1968 with his short-lived but remarkable trio of Jack DeJohnette and Eddie Gomez, who were at Scott’s for a […]
MicroCorgi MicroCosmos Self-released MicroCorgi is a New York -based trio debuting and featuring Andrew McGowan (keys), Yuto Kanazawa (guitar), and Ilya Dynov (drums). They hail from far corners of the globe and have diverse influences such as European Jazz, Japanese rock, Afro-beat, and New Orleans brass band music. Having formed in 2018, they forged a […]
John Calvin Abney Familiar Ground Black Mesa Oklahoma has produced some of the best roots music in recent years. Think John Moreland, John Fullbright, Michael McClure, Jason Boland, Turnpike Troubadours, and Carter Sampson to name a few. Yes, some notices that John Calvin Abney was missing from that short list. He is the multi-instrumentalist, solo […]
Deborah Silver Glitter and Grit (featuring Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel) Bismeaux Productions Rather inexplicably, considering that vocalist Deborah Silver reached #1 in Billboard on both the Traditional Jazz Album and the Heatseeker Album chart with her 2016 release, The Gold Standards, her latest release, Glitter and Grit, where she is backed by Ray […]
Paulette McWilliams A Woman’s Story Blujazz Chances are that you’ve heard Paulette McWilliams sing before. If you’ve heard Richard L’Hommedieu’s interview and/or seen the accompanying cover story (11/17/2020) you’re already aware of this but suffice it to say, McWilliams is the primary female voice on Michael Jackson’s “Don’t Stop ‘Til you Get Enough,” Aretha Franklin’s […]
Carla Marciano Quartet Psychosis – Homage to Bernard Herrmann Challenge This one comes from across the pond and yes, saxophonist Carla Marciano and her quartet hail from Italy. This is this writer’s first exposure to her remarkable tone and passionate approach to her instruments – alto and sopranino saxes. It’s no surprise that she is […]
The Mariel Bildsten Quintet Backbone Outside in Music Maybe you are guessing that this is a debut and if so, you’re right. However, trombonist Mariel Bildsten has considerable side-woman experience and plays in several big bands, notably as the lead trombonist in Arturo O’Farrill’s Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra. She also plays in the Eyal Vilner Big Band, […]
Brandi Disterheft Trio featuring George Coleman Surfboard Justin Time Bassist-composer-singer Brandi Disterheft’s fifth album, Surfboard, features two iconic octogenarian masters — virtuoso tenor saxophonist George Coleman and the definitive Brazilian drummer Portinho — as well as world-class pianist Klaus Mueller. Disterheft’s kinetic, harmonically erudite basslines anchor ensemble interpretations of choice tunes culled from the blues, mainstream jazz, and the Great Brazilian and American […]
Kevin Burt Stone Crazy Gulf Coast Records Iowan Kevin Burt has been on the Midwest blues scene honing his soulful presentation for some twenty-five years. He is a self-taught guitarist, harmonica player and vocalist, who has shared the stage with B.B. King, Koko Taylor, Albert Collins, Luther Allison, Lonnie Brooks and many others. His festival […]
Chad McCullough Forward Outside in Music Trumpeter and composer Chad McCullough releases Forward, his eighth as a leader. McCullough leads a quartet made up of three of Chicago’s best: pianist Rob Clearfield, bassist Matt Ulery, and drummer Jon Deitemyer. Renowned producer Ryan Cohan augments the affair by contributing additional programming and part-writing to Forward; creating ambient layers for McCullough’s lyrical compositions and augmenting […]
Shemekia Copeland Uncivil War Alligator Records Shemekia Copeland is the daughter of the four-time Blues Music Award winning bluesman Johnny “Clyde” Copeland. Growing up in a household surrounded by music she inherited the urge to perform. At the age of eighteen Shemekia released her 1998 Alligator Records debut “Turn The Heat Up” receiving her first […]
Alonzo Demetrius Live from the Prison Nation Onyx Productions Trumpeter Alonzo Demetrius and his working band The Ego deliver, as you would guess from the title, a socially conscious album, recorded live this past May from Boston’s Berklee School of Music. Demetrius is working on acclaimed drummer Ralph Peterson’s label, and, as such is the first instrumentalist to record […]
