Articles by James Nadal
Joe Smith & The Spicy Pickles: Gin & Moonlight
by James Nadal
Long before jazz became a spectator event, it was dance music. The big bands that played swing made their reputations on being able to flood the floor with dancers. Joe Smith & The Spicy Pickles are on a mission to bring back those days, and Gin & Moonlight has them on the right track. Formed in Denver in 2013, and led by trumpeter Joe Smith, the band has been focusing on dance oriented swing since their 2015 release High Fidelity. ...
Continue ReadingSan Francisco String Trio: May I Introduce To You
by James Nadal
Fifty years after its release, The Beatles masterpiece, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, has not only seen a resurgence in its popularity, but a slew of inquisitive musicians continue to glean from its creative depths. May I Introduce To You is an intellectual tribute to this iconic album by the San Francisco String Trio, who discovered a treasure trove of material for musical exploration, setting a new standard for jazz interpretation of the Fab Four. The trio ...
Continue ReadingJorginho Neto Collective: Harlem
by James Nadal
American jazz musicians for years looked to the exciting rhythms and exotic melodies found in Brazilian music, to nourish the music's evolving nature. In a reversal of roles, the Jorginho Neto Collective, a Brazilian ensemble immersed in urban fusion-funk, step out of their native boundaries to prove that they can play from deep in the pocket, and do it well. Riding on the acclaim of his previous releases Samba Jazz (2012) and Leste (2015), trombonist Jorginho Neto plugged into the ...
Continue ReadingDial & Oatts/Rich DeRosa/The WDR Big Band: Rediscovered Ellington
by James Nadal
After sitting on his archival collection of rare Duke Ellington music for close to forty years, pianist Garry Dial decided it was time the music was heard. Connecting with his musical partner, and prominent reedman Dick Oatts, they contacted WDR Big Band conductor and arranger Rich DeRosa, and the Rediscovered Ellington project, was launched. Traveling to the WDR home base of Cologne, Germany, where DeRosa was awaiting, the three of them remodeled the music into a cohesive presentation ...
Continue ReadingMaurice Tani: The Lovers card
by James Nadal
The term Renaissance man could and should be applied to Maurice Tani. A certified jack of all trades in the San Francisco music scene for over forty years, Tani has extensive experience in the recording industry as singer, songwriter, guitarist, bassist, and producer. Recent alt-country/roots music releases with his band 77 El Deora, have garnered him a local following for both his records and live performances. Tani is right at home where the blues relaxes into Americana, and can sing ...
Continue ReadingRanky Tanky: Ranky Tanky
by James Nadal
Against all odds, the Gullah tradition prevails on the Sea Islands of South Carolina's Low Country. Maintaining their West African traditions and singular way of life for generations, their direct impact on African-American music is undeniable, and continues to be a vital source of inspiration. Combining revered Gullah kinship with a jazz sensibility, Ranky Tanky accentuates the spirituality connected to the ring shouts and praise houses, proposing a modern rendition of their ancestral music. Ranky Tanky loosely translates ...
Continue ReadingLizz Wright: Grace
by James Nadal
In reaffirming the adage that you can go home again, Lizz Wright did just that. The songs on Grace reflect a homecoming to the singer's southern heritage--a personal rite of passage to glean inspiration and redefine her musical origins. She revisits her rural Georgia upbringing and Atlanta gospel roots, and finds comfort at her current home in Asheville, North Carolina. Having had an enduring taste of fame and success, she articulates the need for humanity, direly absent in times like ...
Continue ReadingMike Stern: Trip
by James Nadal
Having established himself as an imaginative technical wizard in the forefront of the fusion movement during the 1980's, guitarist Mike Stern has left an indelible mark on the way the instrument is utilized in the jazz idiom. But there would be an unforeseen event that would test his physical and emotional will to overcome adversity. In July of 2016 Stern suffered a serious accident when he tripped over construction debris leaving his apartment in New York City. This led to ...
Continue ReadingOscar Feldman: Gol
by James Nadal
Don't let the paucity of recordings from saxophonist Oscar Feldman fool you. It appears he has been woodshedding, assembling a new band of compatible musicians, and is now ready to step back into the spotlight. After his hiatus, quietly working on other projects, Feldman presents Gol, an eclectic blend of music covering the sounds of South America, Beck and The Beatles, all re-invented and revolving around his signature sound on alto and soprano saxophones. Feldman hand-picked his band ...
Continue ReadingUlysses Owens, Jr.: Falling Forward
by James Nadal
Amidst a successful trajectory as a sought-after drummer with some of the premier jazz bands in the business, Ulysses Owens, Jr. has decided to take a giant step outside his comfort zone with Falling Forward, his fourth venture as leader. In a radical departure from typical jazz ensemble configurations, the assembled group consists of Owens, bassist Reuben Rogers, and vibraphonist Joel Ross, known collectively as Three. The instrumental sparseness is an obvious intent to expand individual contributions, as the triangular ...
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