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 […]
Kevin Burt Heartland & Soul Little Village Foundation The latest installment from West Coast’s Little Village Foundation and Kid Andersen’s Greaseland Studios is Iowa-based Kevin Burt, the 2018 IBC Winner in three categories. Burt took the honors for Best Solo/Duo, Best Solo/Duo Guitarist and Best Harmonica Player. The irony of that is that Burt’s greatest […]
SHIJIN Self-titled Alter-Nativ/SOCADISC/AN100 You’re likely already thinking “what kind of name is that?” and “what’s with the weird record label name?” Yes, this is not your usual jazz group but instead a co-op group that brings American and European jazz artists together in a fusion-jazz/improvisational jazz format across eight original compositions that range from three […]
Paul Kelly Nature Gawd Aggie Paul Kelly considers Nature a companion piece to 2017’s Platinum-certified Life Is Fine but although it bears some similarities, it’s not exactly a sequel. It’s not one coherent statement or even one focused theme but instead a collection of different elements, come originals and, as we’ve come to know from Kelly, […]
John Akapo Paradise Blues Mensch House Hawaii usually conjures up that special sound of the Hawaiian slide guitar, not acoustic blues but Taumei “Big John” Akapo is here to change that perception. This is a breakout record that represents the big vocal sound and adept guitar picking that residents and visitors to Hawaii have heard […]
John Fedchock Quartet Live – Reminiscence Summit Trombonist and composer/arranger John Fedchock releases his follow-up to 2015’s Fluidity, both albums recorded live during a three-night stint at the now shuttered Havana Nights, in Virginia Beach, VA. Done in quartet format with piano, bass and drums they are a different side of Fedchock, who leads a […]
Ultan Conlon Last Days of the Night Owl Dark Sideout Irish singer/songwriter Ultan Conlon deliver his third album, recorded in Galway over the winter of 2017. Songs were written on both the west coasts of Ireland and America (where he lives in Santa Monica part-time) . The album features 15 musicians in the credits including […]
Fiona Boyes Voodoo in the Shadows Reference Recordings/Blue Empress Fiona Boyes has been Australia’s foremost blues artist for over two decades now. She spends considerable time in the states touring and she’s earned six BMA nominations, including Acoustic Album of the Year and Best Acoustic Artist in 2017. Her career trajectory continues to rise, and […]
Blue Largo Before the Devil Steals Your Soul CoffeeGrinds This is one mega project. Aside from the two principals, Alicia Aragon and Eric Leiberman. There are 15 supporting musicians, three recording sites, two engineers, two mixers, and two producers. This duo/band, Blue Largo, make their comeback with a strong statement, covering a few genres and […]
The Odd Dogs Beneath the Surface Manasus Music The Odd Dogs are a fusion-based group comprised of top shelf L.A. jazz musicians and Beneath the Surface is their debut. The quintet includes bassist and leader Steve Billman, guitarist Jeff Miley, saxophonist and pianist Andy Suzuki, drummer Ralph Humphrey, and percussionist Billy Hulting. They are all […]
Ken Wild/Tom Rizzo/Susan Krebs Trio WoRK GreenGig Music A serendipitous gig led to these three L.A. musicians getting together for this recording of standards. In fact the oldest song here is the oft-covered Lennon/McCartney “Eleanor Rigby.” What makes it different from other standard fare is its sparsity– just Tom Rizzo’s guitar, Ken Wild’s standup bass, […]
Kat Danser Goin’ Gone Black Hen This may introduce many of you to Edmonton, Canada blues artist Kat Danser, a three time nominee for a Western Canadian Music Award and a national Maple Blues Award – Best New Artist of the Year, winner of the Ambassador of the Blues Award (Blues Underground Network) and the […]
Jim Wyly The Artisan Texas Fanfair Publishing & Gaylord Music Jim Wyly must have had releasing a solo album on his bucket list. After playing in bands for forty years in and around Austin, the 72-year-old Texan is releasing The Artisan. His acoustic album sometimes features just Wyly alone while other tracks feature harmonicist Ray […]
Tony Joe White Bad Mouthin’ Yep Roc Many of us have long thought of Tony Joe White as a blues artist. After all, Eric Clapton covered White’s “Did Somebody Make a Fool Out of You” and more recently Robert Cray covered two songs and invited White to play on his album with the HI Rhythm […]
Josh Smith Burn to Grow VizzTone Put versatile southern Californian guitarist Josh Smith together with brilliant players like Davey Faragher and Pete Thomas from Elvis Costello and more recently their band, Jackshit, and other top L.A. musicians and you have the makings of some inventive, genre-crossing blues influenced music. Smith proves to be a quadruple […]
Celso Salim Band Mama’s Hometown Tower High Music Based in Southern California for the past four years, Brazilian guitarist Celso Salim and his band introduce their first album recorded here in the states. This is deep blues, not Brazilian music, and it’s fused with elements of soul, country, jazz and rock. There are eight originals […]
The Textones Old Stone Gang Blue Elan It’s hard to believe that the Textones have been together for thirty plus years and are just now releasing their third album, recently signed to Blue Elan Records. Fans will remember the Austin-based releases Midnight Mission and Cedar Creek from the ‘80s which were reissued by Omnivore in […]
Mandy Barnett Strange Conversation Dame Productions/Thirty Tigers Mandy Barnett made quite a splash recording her self-titled debut for Asylum before she was even 21 years old. Prior to that she had already been resurrecting Patsy Cline in the stage production Always…Patsy Cline. Barnett was a child prodigy who signed her first record deal at age […]
Kristina Murray Southern Ambrosia Loud Magnolia Kristina Murray, like many, loves the South for certain things and is conflicted about the duality of its legacy. This album hits several topical issues while praising the elements she cherishes. This is only her second release and it follows 2013’s Unravelin’. Murray originally hails from Atlanta, spent six […]
Various Artists Chicago/The Blues Legends/Today! West Tone Blues collectors will recognize the cover art work reminiscent of the Vanguard three album set, compiled by Samuel Charters and released in 1966. That project, like this one, shed light on some artists that didn’t have the reputations of Muddy or Wolf, who later went on to become […]
Mike Spinrad Horns Spin Radical It’s not often that you’ll find a jazz drummer releasing an entire album of original compositions. Not only does San Francisco Bay area-based Mike Spinrad have an affinity for engaging melodies but this album has an upbeat, enthusiastic feel throughout. The players are clearly having fun. This is Spinrad’s second […]
Mark Winkler and Cheryl Bentyne Eastern Standard Time Café Pacific This is the follow-up to West Coast Cool for the vocalist team of Mark Winkler and Cheryl Bentyne. The two have received numerous accolades for their solo projects too. Winkler is the 2018 Downbeat Rising Male Vocalist who has recorded 16 CDs and his songs […]
Johnaye Kendrick Flying Johnygirl Vocalist, composer and Thelonious Monk Institute grad Johnaye Kendrick has released her second album, Flying, on her own label. Kendrick is San Diego born and bred but is currently based in Seattle. Produced and arranged by Johnaye, who also plays harmonium, this set includes six well-constructed originals and six inventive arrangements of […]
Geoff Achison Sovereign Town Landslide Geoff Achison hails from Down Under and his album from last year, Another Mile, Another Minute was nominated for Album of the Year in the 2017 Australian Blues Awards. It was brilliantly eclectic and wide ranging, clearly one of the best albums in 2017. His electric guitar tone was so […]
Jonathon Long Jonathon Long Wild Heart We should know better than try to predict what Samantha Fish will do next. This is her first foray in the producer chair and as label owner. That’s right. She’s started her own label, Wild Heart Records. And, conventional wisdom (let’s say from two or three years ago) would […]
Roseanna Vitro Tell Me the Truth Skyline Grammy nominated jazz vocalist Roseanna Vitro is releasing her 14th album and this one is quite different than her last few tribute efforts. The constant is her pianist and arranger, Mark Soskin, who was aboard for The Music of Randy Newman (Best Vocal Jazz Grammy Nomination 2011) and […]
The Imperial Sound The New AM Pravda This is AM radio pop for the 21st century. For their debut, Chicago-based The Imperial Sound deliver brassy, shiny, vocally bright arrangements with hooks that linger in your head for days. In fact, some of the riffs and chords seem to reappear in several songs, as a means […]
