Jazz Articles about Austin Walker

About Austin Walker

Album Review

Charlie Apicella and Iron City Meet the Griots Speak: Destiny Calling

Read "Destiny Calling" reviewed by Troy Dostert

by Troy Dostert
June 29, 2023

Since the early 2000s, guitarist Charlie Apicella's Iron City trio has devoted itself to maintaining the tradition of soulful, organ-based jazz. The aptly-titled Groove Machine (OA2 Records, 2019) preceded Destiny Calling, the group's 2023 album. And the latest one is quite a change-up. For this outing, Apicella has teamed up with The Griots Speak, an all-star assemblage of veterans who trace their roots to the halcyon days of the New York loft scene of the 1970s: multi-instrumentalist Daniel Carter, percussionist ...

Album Review

Charlie Apicella & Iron City: The Griots Speak: Destiny Calling

Read "The Griots Speak: Destiny Calling" reviewed by Hrayr Attarian

by Hrayr Attarian
June 18, 2023

Guitarist Charlie Apicella and his organ trio Iron City are solidly based in the hard-bop mainstream. However, some of their releases are flavored with other motifs, partially by virtue of the guest artists. For instance, the tribute to legendary guitarist B.B. King, Payin' the Cost To Be the Boss (CArlo, Music, 2016), with an augmented sextet, was aptly bluesy. Meanwhile Classic Guitar (Zoho, 2020), with tenor saxophonist Stephen Riley, was an intimate interpretation of the Great American Songbook.