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The 14 Jazz Orchestra: Islands
by Jack Bowers
The music on these Islands is almost as sizzling as the summer weather in sun-drenched Miami, thanks to composer/arranger Dan Bonsanti's Florida-based, world-class The 14 Jazz Orchestra, whose fourth album provides yet another textbook lesson in the art of colorful and swinging big-band rhetoric. Bonsanti formed the ensemble as a rehearsal band in 2013, stocking it for the most part with former students at Miami's prestigious Frost School of Music to give teachers and students a forum ...
read moreDan Bonsanti and the 14 Jazz Orchestra: Islands
by Nicholas F. Mondello
"Islands" from Dan Bonsanti is a tour de force consisting of eleven unique selections, colorful textured arrangements, and outstanding ensemble and solo playing. The fare includes straight-ahead bop, to calypso, film and fusion, all presented by a highly-energized ensemble of Miami-affiliated greats and guest greats. The opener, McCoy Tyner's “Man from Tanganyika" is an ultra-rhythmic grabber, offering fine solos and polyrhythmic burn. “Islands," from Mike Mainieri's pen, is a catchy, upbeat calypso with an extravagant middle section. ...
read moreCamilo Valencia / Richard Bravo: Made in Miami
by Dan Bilawsky
Miami is a melting pot where people and musics of all stripes share space and influence, cross-pollinating to create a sound and culture like no other. That fact provides the foundation for this upbeat collection. Blending elements sourced from numerous musical styles and languages including salsa, pop, samba, jazz and R&B, among others, multi-instrumentalist Camilo Valencia and drummer Richard Bravo create unique and flavorful dishes served hot by a rotating cast. Opening on “CCU (Coronary Care Unit)," ...
read moreNegroni's Trio: Esperanzas / Hopes
by Edward Blanco
The three-time Latin Grammy-nominated group Negroni's Trio unveils their eleventh album titled Esperanzas / Hope, offering a host of consistently bright and sizzling Latin rhythms over vocals and augmented instrumentals featuring other players all on a pallet of six originals and three cover songs. Considered one of the finest trio bands on the jazz landscape today, the group is led by Puerto Rican pianist Jose Negroni with son Nomar Negroni on the drums and young bassist extraordinaire Josh Allen rounding ...
read moreMike Levine: Just Chillin
by Edward Blanco
A proponent of the more relaxing side of the jazz spectrum, pianist and keyboardist Mike Levine presents his fourth album as leader, offering thirteen primarily original pieces falling decidedly within the smooth jazz category. A talented composer, Levine's music seems to eschew the core jazz tenet of improvisation in favor of catchy melodies perfect for those chilling-out moments that overwhelm us all sooner or later. A first-call musician by anyone's count, Levine draws on his vast experience performing ...
read moreDan Bonsanti: Cartoon Bebop
by Jack Bowers
The malicious coronavirus pandemic that brought most of the world to its knees in 2020 has spawned the use of several reanimated words including “virtual," whose meaning is “sort of here but not really," as in virtual video chats, conference calls, exhibits, films and even musical performances. “Virtual" has spread its tentacles into almost every walk of life including jazz, via YouTube and other creative channels. And now, it seems, to big bands as well. Cartoon Bebop, the third album ...
read moreSouth Florida Jazz Orchestra: Cheap Thrills: The Music Of Rick Margitza
by Jack Bowers
In 2019, the acclaimed Michigan-bred, Paris-based tenor saxophonist Rick Margitza thought he was being asked to contribute a couple of charts to the University of South Florida Jazz Orchestra's fifth recording in its fifteen-year history as a working ensemble. But when SFJO founder and leader Chuck Bergeron looked at the charts he had an even better idea, and asked Margitza to write and / or arrange everything on the album, which thus became Cheap Thrills: The Music of Rick Margitza. ...
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