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.
Rodrigo Recabarren, Pablo Menares, Yago Vazquez Familia Greenleaf Music This piano trio offers a divergent path from the usual piano trio, which is understandable given the backgrounds of the three members. Drummer Rodrigo Recabarren and bassist Pablo Menares hail from Chile while pianist Yago Vazquez is from Galicia, Spain. On Familia, all three contributed compositions […]
Amigo The Devil Yours Until the War Is Over Regime Music Group This rather bizarre dirge-like music from the Austin-based artist with the moniker Amigo the Devil (Danny Kiranos) is perhaps not for everybody but this iconoclastic artist has amassed a considerable following for his singular approach. His songwriting bears similarities to Leonard Cohen, Tom […]
GORDON GRDINA THE MARROW with FATHIEH HONARI Attaboygirl Records Gordon Grdina, Oud/composer; Mark Helias, bass; Hank Roberts, cello; Hamin Honari, percussion; FEATURED GUEST: Fathieh Honari, voice. The distinctive sound of Gordon Grdina’s Oud instrument opens this album and draws the listener into the music like a magic spell. The voice of Fathieh Honari floats chant-like […]
DOUG MACDONALD SEXTET SESSION Dmac Music Doug MacDonald, guitar; Josh Nelson, piano; Mike Gurrola, bass; Charles Ruggiero, drums; Doug Webb, tenor saxophone; Aaron Janik, trumpet. Guitarist and composer, Doug MacDonald leads an all-star sextet of Southern California based musicians. Although he has headed many types of jazz ensembles, and boasts twenty-six record releases as a […]
Jim Snidero For All We Know Savant Ask jazz folks to name the top ten alto saxophonists, and you’ll be hard pressed to find Jim Snidero on many lists but if you alter the question to those who are well steeped in the music as to who is the most lyrical and possesses the purest […]
Moppa Elliott Advancing on a Wild Pitch (Quintet) – Disasters Vol. 2 Acceleration Due to Gravity (Nonet) – Jonesville Hot Cup The creative compositional mind of bassist Moppa Elliott is so full of brimming ideas that he’s released two recordings with two different bands on the same day. In fact, other than the leader, his […]
NIKOS CHATZITSAKOS TINY BIG BAND 2 Independent Label Nikos Chatzitsakos, double bass/arranger/bandleader; Wilfie Williams, piano; Samuël Bolduc, drums; Gabriel Nekrutman, baritone saxophone; Art Baden, tenor saxophone; Salim Charvet, alto saxophone; Robert Mac Vega Dowda, cornet; Joey Curreri, trumpet/flugelhorn; Armando Vergara, trombone; Alexandria DeWalt & Eleni Ermina Sofou, vocals. The band hits their stride on track […]
Mike LeDonne Groover Quartet + Gospel Choir Wonderful Cellar Music Group We’ve had countless reviews of organ-based soul-jazz albums on these pages but this is a first, not only here but likely in music. You’ve read about Mike LeDonne as a pianist in this space but here as the B3 maestro, he leads his elite […]
Christian Fabian Trio Hip to the Skip Spice Rack This trio recording comes as a surprise for at least three reasons. It’s the first time that drummer Jason Marsalis has played in a funk/fusion mode for the entire album, and secondly, it’s rare for a trio to render a funk/fusion record as most have horns […]
The Dangerous Dan Toler Quartet Rained Out (WallyGator Music / Bearsloth Publishing) Guitarist Dangerous Dan Toler left an indelible mark on a good amount of great rock ‘n roll by his “dangerous” but sinuous style of playing. In the mid-1970s, Allman Brothers guitarist Dickey Betts recruited Toler to take part in his solo project, Great […]
Gustavo Cortinas Live in Chicago Desafío Candente The intimacy and crystal-clear sound of this recording by composer, drummer, and educator Gustavo Cortiñas puts the listener right on the bandstand or at least in the proverbial first two. Add to that the warmth and sincerity of Cortiñas’ introductions to his compositions, and it makes for a […]
DAGGERBOARD ESCAPEMENT Wide Hive Records Erik Jekabson, trumpet/arranger/composer; Matt Clark, keyboard/piano; Gregory Howe, percussion/ composer; Mike Clark, drummer; Henry ‘the Skipper’ Franklin, bass; Mads Tolling, violin; Kasey Knudsen, alto saxophone; Mike Rinta, trombone/tuba; Ben Davis, cello; Jonathan Ring, French horn; William Winant, timpani/marimba. What better way to start the day than to put on some […]
Greg Murphy You Remind Me Whaling City Sound We last visited with pianist and composer Greg Murphy with his 1991 Cool Water on these pages. While that album celebrated his travels to Africa, this is a heartfelt love letter to his recently passed wife, Nancy. Having studied extensively with the late pianist Ellis Marsalis and […]
Johnny Griffin Live at Ronnie Scott’s 1964 Gearbox This latest discovery hit with little warning, but true audiophiles and tenor sax aficionados may already be hip to this this latest offering from Gearbox – Johnny Griffin’s Live at Ronnie Scott’s 1964. This white-hot set has already issued on digital, CD, standard, limited edition, and Japanese […]
Giorgi Mikadze Trio Face to Face – Georgian Songbook Vol. 1 Peewee! Georgian-born pianist and composer Giorgi Mikadze leads his trio in an exploration of notable Georgian composers in this highly melodic and memorable effort, as Volume One suggests more will follow. Mikadze studied in the U.S. at Berklee and The Manhattan School of Music […]
Diego Rivera With Just a Word Posi-Tone Saxophonist and composer Diego Rivera has been prolific both as a leader and sideman for Posi-Tone in recent years but on this leader effort, With Just a Word, he augments his typical quartet configuration, inviting trumpeter (and conquero) Pete Rodriguez to form the double horn front line classic […]
Rufus Reid & Sullivan Fortner It’s The Nights I Like Sunnyside This music, most of which has been released before on Elan Mehler’s vinyl only NewVelle Records, under the title Always in the Moment comes coincidentally at a time not long after a review of Sullivan Fortner’s Solo/Game on these pages and Mehler’s Trouble in […]
Terry Adams Terrible Omnivore Notwithstanding the album title itself, which is likely just a tongue-in-cheek reference to the opposite, this is an album that attests to NRBQ’s leader and keyboardist Terry Adam’s jazz chops. NRBQ albums have covered Monk, Sun Ra, and other jazz artists but excepting the full album for Monk, usually in the […]
Andrew Binder’s Conspiracy Deliracy Conspiracy Deliracy Self-released Bassist and composer Andrew Binder leads his spirited septet in a program of original compositions at the intersection of modern jazz and pop with tongue-in-cheek references to today’s era of fake news and outlandish theories. The ensemble features trumpeter Justin Dyar, saxophonist/flutist Brian Stark, trombonist Frank Niemeyer, Brazilian […]
LAWRENCE FIELDS TO THE SURFACE Rhythm N’ Flow Records Lawrence Fields, piano/composer; Corey Fonville, drums; Yasushi Nakamura, bass. A native of St. Louis, Missouri and currently based in New York City, pianist Lawrence Fields is making his debut recording for Rhythm N’ Flow Records. After a long swim through the waters of great musicians like […]
Ches Smith Laugh Ash Pyroclastic Drummer and composer Ches Smith is a free spirit that keeps us constantly guessing on what his next project holds. Two are never the same and even rarely similar when considering his Haitian Vodou ensemble We All Break, his stunning Interpret It Well with Bill Frisell, Craig Taborn and Mat […]
Tinsley Ellis Naked Truth Alligator Records Atlanta’s Tinsley Ellis Offers Making a Scene Some Peeks Behind the Scenes of Naked Truth, His First All Acoustic Album “I still have that string!” The excitement Tinsley Ellis felt as a 15-year-old when B.B. King handed him his broken string from the stage resonates as if 51 years […]
Satoko Fujii Tokyo Trio Jet Black Libra Satoko Fujii is recognized as one of the world’s leading composers for large jazz ensemble but is also building a reputation for leading one of the most forward-thinking piano trios of our times with this, Jet Black, only the trio’s second recording. It follows 2021’s Moon on the […]
Marshall Gilkes and the WDR Big Band LifeSongs Alternate Side Records Twice Grammy-nominated trombonist and composer Marshall Gilkes, well-renowned for his big band compositions, teams with the esteemed WDR Big Band for Life Songs. There’s some glowing history here as The WDR Big Band is where Gilkes both established and cemented as reputation. If the […]
Marlon Simon and The Nagual Spirits On Different Paths Truth Revolution Drummer and composer Marlon Simon leads his sextet, The Nagual Spirits On Different Paths, his fifth effort with the unit as they fuse pan-Latin jazz with classical influences, some veering toward chamber music with the addition of a bassoonist and French horn player. With […]
Eddie Roberts & The Lucky Strokes Self-titled Color Red Guitarist Eddie Roberts steps away from his The New Mastersounds and other jazz-funk related projects that typically appear on the label Color Red, to step into southern rock with a new group of musicians who are debuting on the label. Dubbed The Lucky Strokes, the band […]
Cary Morin Innocent Allies Self-released Fingerstyle guitarist and singer-songwriter Cary Morin has long been identified with Colorado but on Innocent Allies, we learn (if not knowing before) that he was born and raised in Billings, Montana by native American father and mother from two different tribes. Although we’ve heard his Native American references on previous […]
Betty Bryant Lotta Livin’ Bry-Mar Music We last visited pianist, vocalist and composer, the now 94-year-young Betty Bryant when she celebrated her 88th birthday with her 2019 release Project 88 and despite the loos of most of her vision, she’s still belting out her trademark mix of blues and jazz. Bryant is one of the […]
Abdullah Ibrahim 3 Gearbox This live recording, 3, from NEA Jazz Master, pianist, and composer Abdullah Ibrahim (formerly Dollar Brand and dubbed the “Duke Ellington of South Africa) will long hold a special place for this writer and those fortunate enough to attend live performances of this repertoire in the states (where there were only […]
Keyon Harrold Foreverland Concord The much-anticipated release, Foreverland, from trumpeter and composer Keyon Harrold, his first album in six years, is effectively two albums in one, the first part featuring a potpourri of guests and the second part showcasing Harrold leading various small combos. Doubtlessly the bevy of guests is due in part to the […]
Peter Hand Blue Topaz Whaling City Sound Guitarist Peter Hand is both new to this writer and these pages even though he has issued three acclaimed big band recordings. Blue Topaz, though represents a new step forward for Hand, working with a surefire small combo to deliver his straight-ahead originals, jazz standard interpretations, as well […]
Reggie Quinerly The Thousandth Scholar Redefinition Music The curiously titled The Thousandth Scholar is drummer/composer Reggie Quinerly’s fifth album as a leader. Known primarily for his straight-ahead chops, (last covered herein on his fond farewell to NYC, 2021’s New York Nowhere) Quinerly challenges himself with an Afro-Latin jazz offering, lending credence to the album title […]
Elan Mehler Trouble in Mind Sunnyside We often use the term “in the moment” or talk about most jazz compositions never rendered quite the same way twice, especially live. Another factor, though less discussed, is the circumstances leading up to and surrounding a recording. These are all critical elements in gaining appreciation for this solo […]
Diane Coll Old Ghosts Happy Fish Atlanta-based folk singer-songwriter Diane Coll brings us her second release, Old Ghosts, which follows her debut in 2022, Happy Fish and other Delights and her 2023 EP Into the Fire. While the initial impression of the album may be dark and moody, certainly introspective, there are multiple healing messages […]
Ulysses Owens Jr. and Generation Y A New Beat Cellar Music Group GRAMMY-Award winning drummer and composer Ulysses Owens Jr. has risen quickly from “young lion” to seasoned mentor. In jazz’s time-honored tradition of recruiting younger musicians to keep pushing the music forward (i.e. Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers and Miles Davis’s Second Great Quintet, as […]
Anthony Gomes Peace , Love , And Loud Guitars Well what can I say about this remixed album of High Voltage Gold . Back in 2018 when I heard the original version I was blown away with the quality of this album. At the time, entering the amazon charts at #1 and deservingly so . Six […]
PAT BIANCHI, COLIN STRANAHAN, TROY ROBERTS THREE Independent Label Pat Bianchi, organ; Colin Stranahan, drums; Troy Roberts, tenor saxophone. Anyone who knows me well knows that this journalist loves a jazz organ trio! Pat Bianchi is carrying the torch for organ jazz in a magnificent way. His trio opens with “Love for Sale” as they […]
Mark Winkler The Rules Don’t Apply Café Pacific The Rules Don’t Apply is the 21st album for vocalist and songwriter, the L.A. based Mark Winkler. This is the fifth time this writer has reviewed a Winkler effort, one a year since beginning to write on these pages. To his credit, he brings a different configuration […]
SOFIA RUBINA I AM SOUL Independent Label Sofia Rubina, vocals/composer; Evgeny Lebedev, piano; Anton Revnyuk, bass; Ignat Kravtsov, drums. MAIN STRINGS: string quartet. Estonia is a small country in Northern Europe and the birthplace of Sofia Rubina. This country, with a population of about 1.3 million people, is located bordering the Baltic Sea and the […]
The Dave Stryker Trio w/ Bob Mintzer Groove Street Strikezone At this point you surely know what you’re getting with the soul-jazz of Dave Stryker’s Trio with the leader on guitar, the redoubtable Jared Gold on organ and groove maestro McClenty Hunter on drums. Yet, this session, Groove Street, adds the legendary tenor saxophonist of […]
ANTONIO GAVRILA TANGO SUITE BUENOS AIRES Zoho Records Antonio Gavrila, piano/composer; Walther Castro, bandoneon; Quique Sinesi, guitar; Horacio “Mono” Hurtado, bass. The opening composition by A. Piazzolla is arranged in a dramatic way, with Antonio Gavrila’s piano spraying like a powerful waterfall across the chord changes and demanding attention. He builds this tune, starting with […]
Chris O’Leary The Hard Line Alligator Records Chris O’Leary plays entertaining roadhouse blues styles from boogie woogie to Southside Chicago and Louisiana stompers. These performances emote passion and authority.His forceful harmonica accentuates his powerful songwriting. His first album “Mr. Used To Be” was nominated for a Blues Music Award and won a Blues Blast Award for […]
GERALD CANNON LIVE AT DIZZY’S CLUB: THE MUSIC OF ELVIN & McCOY Woodneck Records Gerald Cannon, bass/composer; Lenny White, drums; Dave Kikoski, piano; Steve Turre, trombone; Joe Lovano, tenor saxophone; Sherman Irby, alto saxophone; Eddie Henderson, trumpet. When you put together an all-star group of musicians to play the music of Elvin Jones and McCoy […]
Blue Moods Swing & Soul Posi -Tone We kick off 2024 with Posi-Tone’s super quartet Blue Moods delivering a stirring set of soul-jazz and swing that will invariably evoke the glory years of Blue Note Records. Aficionados may note, though likely covered before that the name “Blue Moods” is a play on hard bop/soul-jazz trumpeter […]
The Allman Brothers Band Manley Field House, Syracuse University, April 7th, 1972 Allman Brothers Band Recording Company This latest archival release by the keepers of The Allman Brothers Band flame captures the iconic group doing what they did best during one of the unique, short-lived periods in their 45-year-long existence. Singer and keyboardist Gregg Allman, […]
CONSTANTINE ALEXANDER FIRETET Independent Label Constantine Alexander, trumpet/flugelhorn/composer; Julius Tucker, piano; Greg Essig, drums; Ben Dillinger, acoustic bass; Roy McGrath, tenor saxophone. This album is ‘hard bop’ at its best! Opening with a tune Alexander penned titled “The Show” I am swept into the energy and excitement of this Chicago-based trumpeter and his capable quintet. […]
The Memphis Blues Box Original Recordings First Released on 78s and 45s, 1914-1969 Bear Family Here are the staggering numbers: 534 songs, 161 artists, 360 11×11 pages in a hefty hard-bound coffee table book, 20 CDs, 13 years in the making, for a total weight of 10.5 lbs. How can we possibly do justice to […]
Rob Susman Top Secret Lab Self-released Trombonist, composer, and arranger Rob Susman is a veteran of many NYC-based large ensembles, two of which we have covered on these pages – Swingadelic and Funk Shui NYC. Top Secret Lab is his first effort as a leader since his eponymous album in 2002, giving him the opportunity […]
Micah Thomas Reveal Artwork It seems only appropriate as we finish 2023 to have a review of a jazz pianist as one of final reviews. It has been an extraordinary year for jazz pianists and for jazz piano trio and solo albums. This new label, Artwork, in his first year boasts a Grammy nomination for […]
Charles Owens Trio Here It Is LA Reserve Here It Is follows up 2021’s 10 Years from the Charles Owens Trio, a jazz-funk unit from Richmond, VA, the same town in which Butcher Brown resides and, in fact, claims the other two members of saxophonist Owens’ trio. They are drummer DJ Harrison, a master of […]