Ted Nash and Glenn Close Transformation Tiger Turn This one takes plenty of concentration. The liner booklet and perhaps this review will help when you listen to Transformation from reedist Ted Nash and actress Glenn Close. It is an ambitious project of the first order with the subhead entitled Personal Stories of Change, Acceptance, and […]
Van Morrison Latest Record Project: Volume 1 BMG Perhaps no artist was more upset about the pandemic lockdown, at least to the point of railing against it in song, as the ever prolific Van Morrison. And yes, he used the time to generate a ton of new material, indicating that this tongue-in-cheek entitled Latest Record […]
Francesco Amenta Midtown Walk Amenta Music International This is the second release and U.S. debut for saxophonist, pianist, and composer Francesco Amenta. The Italian-born, now New York City based Amenta enlists some premiere players or this effort including co-producer John Lee (best known as Dizzy Gillespie’s bassist and producer for Larry Coryell, Roy Hargrove, Antonio […]
Paul Colombo Group Rio Crystal Vectordisc The Paul Colombo Group is a quartet of players residing in the Philadelphia area, that expanded the original trio of guitarist Paul Colombo, bassist Andy Alonso, and drummer Chris Loser with the addition of renowned pianist/composer Ron Thomas who had played with Pat Martino on 1972’s Pat Martino/Live. As […]
Berta Moreno Afro-Jazz Soul Project Tumaini Tiger Turn Berta Moreno is a Madrid-born, New York -based saxophonist and composer who leads a sextet dubbed the Afro-Jazz Soul Project through the music of Kenya. Morena volunteered, working with children at the Little Ray of Hope School in the Kawangware region of that country several years ago […]
John Daversa Jazz Orchestra (featuring Justin Morell) All Without Words: Variations Inspired by Loren Tiger Turn Multiple Grammy winner, trumpet master, bandleader, composer and arranger John Daversa continues his string of poignant, imaginative, and vastly different projects with this captivating work – All Without Words -Variations Inspired by Loren. And yet, he does not compose, […]
Spike Wilner Trio Aliens & Wizards Cellar Music Group Animated pianist, bandleader and club manager Spike Wilner has enjoyed a long tenure on the New York City and global jazz scenes, performing with the likes of The Artie Shaw Big Band, The Glenn Miller Orchestra, Maynard Ferguson & Lennie Cuje while remaining highly active as a […]
Evan Arntzen Countermelody Dot Time Countermelody is the third album from multi-reedist, vocalist and bandleader Evan Arntzen. This is a throw-back record to the vintage sounds of New Orleans and Chicago in the early days of Black American music in the first half of the twentieth century, signaled in part by the premiere vocalist in the […]
Melody Gardot Sunset in Blue (Deluxe Edition) Decca Singer Melody Gardot is the definition of sultry, dusky romanticism. Her highly acclaimed 2020 Sunset in Blue, is reissued here less than a year later to include five intimate bonus tracks, that leave out the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra that backed the original album, providing soft cushions for […]
Marques Carroll The Ancestors’ Call JMarq This is the debut of trumpeter Marques Carroll leading his quintet, but Carroll is no stranger to Chicago audiences as a member of the Chicago Soul Jazz Collective and the Count Basie Orchestra. This project, The Ancestors’ Call, pays homage to his ancestors and heritage. Joining Carroll is his […]
