Dayna Stephens Closer Than We Think Cellar Music Group Mighty saxophonist, composer, and educator Dayna Stephens steps forward with a bold new sound on his twelfth album, Closer Than We Think Now, his debut for the Cellar Music Group. You’ve seen him mostly as a sideman on these pages. He’s played with legends such as Billy […]
Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams All This Time Royal Potato Family The husband-and-wife duo of Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams return with their fourth album, and All This Time just feels different than the others. It’s as if the duo is no longer in the shadow of Levon Helm or Bob Dylan, two artists that […]
BRIAN BROMBERG with TOM ZINK & CHARLES RUGGIERO LAFARO Be Squared Productions Brian Bromberg, bass; Tom Zink, piano; Charles Ruggiero, drummer. This album is a tribute, by these three great musicians, to the great bassist, Scott LaFaro. Perhaps Brian Bromberg explained it best when he wrote these words in his liner notes: “ … The […]
Gilad Hekselman Live at the Village Vanguard la.reserve Imagine this. You are one of the acknowledged top guitarists in jazz having spent nearly the past two decades on the NYC jazz scene. Not only have you dreamed of playing in jazz’s most hallowed venue, The Village Vanguard, for a weeklong residency, but your wife is […]
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Anthony Geraci Tears in My Eyes Blue Heart Records Keyboardist Anthony Geraci plays tribute to the old masters on his second album for Blue Heart Records. Included are two studio sessions, the first four songs were recorded in Massachusetts, while the remaining seven songs are from a session recorded in Prague. Geraci’s seventeen Blues Music […]
Sam Anning Earthen Earshift Music Melbourne, Australia’s bassist, and composer Sam Anning delivers his third septet album with Earthen, a tribute to indigenous Australian music icon, Uncle Archie Roach. The album brims with gorgeous, cinematic soundscapes and is especially noteworthy as a jazz tribute to Roach who was an award-winning singer-songwriter, musician, and respected elder. […]
LORI BELL QUARTET RECORDA ME: REMEMBERING JOE HENDERSON Independent Label Lori Bell, C flute/alto flute/composer; Josh Nelson, piano; David Robaire, bass; Dan Schnelle, drums. Lori Bell has consistently produced amazing music over her decades-long career. She is an accomplished composer, arranger, educator, and musician who has made her mark in jazz playing the flute. This […]
Cris Jacobs One of These Days Soundly Music From 2001 until a final Thanksgiving bash ten years later, the highly gifted singer, songwriter, and guitarist Cris Jacobs led Baltimore’s The Bridge, a sextet that linked rock, blues, funk, folk, and bluegrass in unique, jam-inspired style. The band generated enough critical acclaim and wide appeal to […]
Deb Ryder Live and Havin Fun Vizztone Label Group “Live And Havin’ Fun” from Deb Ryder is her sixth album and first live recording. Included are fourteen originals including two completely new songs written by executive producer Deb and her husband bassist Ric W. Ryder. The album opens with “Fun Never Hurt No One” with […]
Steve Howell and the Mighty Men 99 1/2 Won’t Do Steve Howell is from the greater Texarkana area. The music there is steeped in tradition and Howell finger picks the guitar in a style we attribute to traditional country blues. Howell often covers time honored pop tunes reintroducing them as tradition. Smithsonian Folkways would define […]
Sue Foley One Guitar Woman Stony Plains Records “One Guitar Woman” is a sequel to 2005’s “Blues Guitar Women”. That two-CD set included a Contemporary Blues session and a Traditional Blues session and the performances included supporting musicians. This time Sue plays everything solo on this “a tribute to the female pioneers of guitar”. “They […]
Making a Scene Presents the PODCAST of LIVE from the Midnight Circus Featuring Bernard Allison This is the Voice of Indie Blues, the future of the blues. Artists who embrace the diversity of the blues that always has and still is being created from it’s roots. These artists understand the blues is a living […]
Making a Scene Brings you Turn it Up with Gerry Casey Show #340 with his Guest John Fairhurst! Herbst Nie Wieder Mike Franano Fire Dingo Brothers Formaldehyde Amann & The Wayward Sons My Freedom Badhoven All The Worlds A Fake Live! The Hollywood Stars Taxi Driver Silveroller Black Crow Jack Billmann & The Black Tide […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Bernard Allison There’s nothing like the sound of a world-class bluesman getting back to business. Last October, when Bernard Allison returned to his old haunt of Bessie Blue Studios, Tennessee, to be greeted by fabled producer and career-long collaborator Jim Gaines, it felt like coming home. […]
JIM ROTONDI FINESSE Cellar Music Group Jim Rotondi, composer/producer/trumpeter; Jakub Helling, arranger/conductor; NOTES & TONES JAZZ ORCHESTRA: Mario Gonzi, co-leader/drums; Danny Grissett, piano; Karol Hodas & Tim Dunin, bass; GUEST SOLOISTS: Dick Oatts, soprano saxophone; Steve Davis, trombone; Wolfgang Lindenthal, flute; Stefan Peindl, oboe; Julia Gutschlhofer, bassoon; Melissa Danas, horn; TRUMPETS/FLUGELHORNS: Tabias Weidinger, Markus Peachmann, […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Brings you Gerry Casey’s Interview with John Fairhurst John Fairhurst has spent the majority of his life travelling the world and playing music, meeting innumerable characters, collecting stories and drawing influence and inspiration from the varied musical styles and first hand experiences of a life on the road. Hailed by […]
CHRIS STANDRING AS WE THINK Ultimate Vibe Recording Chris Standring, guitar/composer; Andre Berry, bass; Chris Coleman, drums; Terry Disley, piano; Larry Steen, double bass; Lenny Castro, percussion; Aaron Janik, trumpet; Brandon Fields, alto saxophone; Katisse Buckingham & Dino Soldo, tenor saxophone/harmonica; Ido Meshulam, trombone; Rodney Lee, organ; Walter Murphy, horn arrangements. The opening tune on […]
Rachel Z Sensual Ozmosys Media Group/Dot Time Records. The renowned, virtuoso pianist, keyboardist, composer, and electronic musician Rachel Z, one of the modern-day pillars of jazz fusion, surprises with Sensual. Yes, this writer, having seen her and drummer husband, Omar Hakim, perform at the 2022 Montclair Jazz Festival in a high energy jazz fusion performance […]
Altin Sencalar Discover the Present Posi-Tone Discover the Present is trombonist and composer Altin Sencalar’s fifth album as a leader and by this writer’s count his third for the Posi-Tone label, all covered on these pages. On this date he leads a large ensemble but varies configurations. With eight originals in these eleven, Sencalar is […]
BRANDON GOLDBERG TRIO LIVE AT DIZZY’S Cellar Music Group Brandon Goldberg, piano; Ben Wolfe, bass; Aaron Kimmel, drums. Here is a trio of musicians who make me feel warm and fuzzy as they play a group of familiar, standard tunes I know and love. Goldberg, on piano, is the group leader at the unbelievable age […]
EDY FOREY CULTURE TODAY So Soul Records Guilhem Forey, keyboards/piano/Fender Rhodes/composer/synth bass/vocals/miscellaneous BG vocals; Edy Szewy, vocals/lyricist/sampling; Tom Gordon, drums/percussions; Femi Koleoso, Isac Jamba, Jonathan Tuitt & Seiya Osaka, drums; Leonn Meade, drums/BG vocals; Adam King, Andrew Robb & Luca Alemanno, double bass; Sharay Reed, Michael League & Dean Mark, electric bass; Carlinhos Percussao, percussions; […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with The HawtThorns! Envision and believe in your own universe, and it will eventually form around you. The HawtThorns are reimagining their universe in their latest recording adventures. The sun-kissed songwriting, deft guitar work, and lush vocal harmonies that have been at the core of their sound […]
Mark Lockheart Smiling Edition Saxophonist and composer Mark Lockheart has been on the vanguard of British jazz for four decades now, one surge in the ‘80s and the other here in the 2000s. Yet, his bent for experimentation and genre-agnostic approach would have many considering him an emerging force rather than an elder statesman for the music. […]
Julieta Eugenio STAY Self-released Argentinian-born saxophonist Julieta Eugenio returns with her trio for Stay, a self-released effort following 2023’s acclaimed debut Jump (Greenleaf Music). Eugenio’s trio includes bassist Matt Dwonszyk and drummer Jonathan Barber, and for this outing the outstanding fellow Argentinian keyboardist Leo Genovese joins on Fender Rhodes on two tracks. The inspiration for the album can be found on […]
NEAL ALGER OLD SOULS Calligram Records Neal Alger, guitar/composer; Clark Sommers, acoustic bass; Dana Hall, drums/cymbals; Chris Madsen, tenor saxophone; Chad McCullough, trumpet/flugelhorn. Neal Alger is an educator, (professor at Elmhurst College) a guitarist, a composer, and a lover of all genres of music. From the oldest original tune on this recording, one that he […]
Willy Rodriguez Seeing Sounds Self-released Drummer-composer Willy Rodriguez makes his debut with Seeing Sounds, not a Latin jazz record that we might expect from the experienced Puerto Rico-born, New York based musician but one that ventures into the avant-garde. Joining Rodriguez in his trailblazing adventure are trumpeter Jason Palmer, saxophonist Hery Paz, pianist Leo Genovese, bassists John Hébert and Kenneth Jimenez, special guest artist, saxophonist Dave […]
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ABE POLLACK UNPRECEDENTED TIME Independent Label Abe Pollack, composer/arranger/bass/electric keyboard/guitar; Brad Brose, guitar; Uri Zelig, drums; Albert Behar, accordion/vocals; Marcus Millius, vocals; Jonathan Greene, clarinet/alto saxophone; Ryan Weisheit, tenor and alto saxophone/flute. Bassist, Abe Pollack opens the first album track with what we used to call ‘slap-bass.’ The song is titled “The World is Waiting […]
Dan Weiss Even Odds Cygnus Dan Weiss is one of the leading drummers in jazz and bandleaders of the first order, highly respected in new and improvised music, both acoustic and electronic. His swath is wide, also embracing Indian classical music, contemporary classical, West African, extreme metal, and atmospheric, emotional cinematic music. This effort, Even […]
Nick Gravenities Rogue Blues MC Records Nick Gravenities has never won a Blues Music Award but has been inducted into the Blues Music Hall of Fame twice. In 1976 he was co-producer, with Otis Rush, of the “Right Place, Wrong Time” album on Bullfrog Records. In 2006 the album The Paul Butterfield Blues Band was […]
Making a Scene Presents the PODCAST of LIVE from the Midnight Circus Featuring John Clifton This is the Voice of Indie Blues, the future of the blues. Artists who embrace the diversity of the blues that always has and still is being created from it’s roots. These artists understand the blues is a living […]
AI and the Future of the Music Industry Introduction Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been rapidly advancing and integrating into our lives over recent years whether we see it or not. It is leaving an indelible mark on multiple industries and revolutionizing not only the way see the world around us, but opens up Technological advancements […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Pi Jacobs Pi Jacobs is a lifer. Born in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury district, she’s spent two decades onstage and on the road, creating a rhythmic, rootsy sound that’s every bit as diverse as her own upbringing. “My dad’s Filipino, my mom’s white, and my step-grandmother and cousins are […]
Triad Triad Ropeadope Leave it to Ropeadope to break the mold. That should come as no surprise to fans of the progressive label. Triad is not only a trio with instrumentation like you’ve never heard but with a debut album that’s so full of stunning surprises, that you’ll be checking your player to ensure you’re […]
Ian Carey & Wood Metal Plastic Strange Arts Slow and Steady Trumpeter and composer Ian Carey pays homage to his recently passed visual artist father, to whom the cover and jacket art of the album owes. Leveraging a grant from Intermusic SF, Carey added a string trio to his working quartet, Wood Metal Plastic, comprised […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Bring you Gerry Casey’s Interview with Alice Armstrong! Alice Armstrong is a multi-award nominated singer-songwriter and entertainer from Surrey, UK, known for her impressive vocal range, dynamic songwriting and unmatched stage presence. Her voice and songs vary widely in emotional tone and are a common addition to Joe Bonamassa’s personal […]
Vinicius Cantuaria Psychedelic Rio Sunnyside Psychedelic Rio offers a refreshing departure from the cool strains of Brazilian music, most identified by cool and breezy bossa nova or the steamier, danceable samba. Brazilian composer, guitarist, and vocalist virtuoso Vinicius Cantuaria decided to radicalize these forms by going electric and turning up the amps in the vein […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with John Clifton! Who is John Clifton, and why are they saying those things about him? After 30 plus years on stage, the former frontman of a well-known, notorious Central California band started with his brother Bill, is spoken of not only in hushed whispers but in […]
Charlie Parr Little Sun Smithsonian Folkways Minnesota-based singer, songwriter and fingerstyle guitarist Charlie Parr is the epitome of prolific as Little Sun is his eighteenth album in a recording career that began only in 2002. Yet, Little Sun marks a first in a couple of respects. This is the first time that Parr recorded in […]
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Bernard Allison Luther’s Blues Ruf Records Ruf Records is celebrating it’s 30th anniversary. They began by bringing Luther Allison’s music to the world. This two-disc set features 20 stellar tracks from his son, Bernard Allison, each one a Luther Allison composition previously released on one of Bernard’s many albums. “I made a promise…that I’d always […]
Rick Vito Cadillac Man In 1987 Rick Vito was a member of Fleetwood Mac finally taking over for Lindsey Buckingham in 1991. Vito’s first solo album was 1992’s “King of Hearts” on Atlantic Records.In 2001 Vito won a Blues Music Award for writing the Song of the Year “It’s 2 A.M.” covered by Shemekia Copeland […]
DataMind Audio Unveils Virtual AI Instrument and Ethically Sourced “Artist Brains” Wildly creative music tech trailblazers team up with sound designers and music producers to set an ethical, green paradigm for AI in music. While much of the AI-powered tech for music creation spits out replicas or facsimiles, DataMind Audio does something radically different. Founded […]
Making a Scene Presents the PODCAST of LIVE from the Midnight Circus Featuring Katie Henry This is the Voice of Indie Blues, the future of the blues. Artists who embrace the diversity of the blues that always has and still is being created from it’s roots. These artists understand the blues is a living […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an interview with Katie Henry The New Jersey songwriter might have started out banging on doors, braving New York’s blues clubs, playing piano until her fingers bled, and winning over the city one show at a time. But lately, the multi-instrumentalist has raced through career milestones at a rocket […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Brings you Gerry Casey’s Interview with Seth James James and his All-Star Grammy ® winning Band celebrate the great American Roots Music of Delbert McClinton. 11 “deep cuts” and major hits by the man Rolling Stone magazine named the “Founding Father of Americana.”
TOBIN MUELLER AT THE PIANO, VOL. 2 Independent Label “ArtsForge” Tobin Mueller, solo piano. There is nothing more exposed than an artist playing solo. Anyone who is brave enough to do so sheds all pretense and camouflage. Tobin Mueller is not only brave, but he is also talented and prepared to mesmerize us with his […]
ALLISON BURIK REALM Independent Label Allison Burik, composer/arranger/co-producer/Alto saxophone/bass clarinet/vocals/alto flute/ guitar; Magdalena Abrego, guitar; Sylvaine Arnaud, recording engineer/mixing/co-producer; Peter Atkinson, recording engineer/winds; Harris Newman, mastering; Renee Abaroa, bone typeface on cover. For several years Allison Burik has gained notoriety and audience in the world of modern jazz and experimental music. The opening “Be the […]
Remy Le Boeuf Heartland Radio Soundspore Heartland Radio is not the kind of title one expects from a jazz orchestra. Yet, four-time Grammy-nominated composer and saxophonist Remy Le Boeuf wanted a soundtrack for his move from New York City to Colorado. Thus, he peppers these large ensemble offerings with pop, indie rock, soul, and electronic […]
