Brandon Fields

Biography
Articles

Bob Holz: Night Watch

Read "Night Watch" reviewed by Glenn Astarita

by Glenn Astarita
August 8, 2024

Bob Holz, an acclaimed drummer and composer, has been a significant figure in the jazz and fusion scenes for several decades. With a background that includes collaborations with legends such as Larry Coryell and Stanley Clarke, Holz's drumming prowess is marked by superior technical abilities and depth. His experience and deep understanding of various musical styles are vividly reflected in Night Watch. Notably, talented keyboardist Billy Steinway composed most of the tracks, adding a cohesive and dynamic touch to the ...

Album Review

Brian Eisenberg Jazz Orchestra: Pain & Beauty

Read "Pain & Beauty" reviewed by Edward Blanco

by Edward Blanco
July 23, 2023

A religious man at heart, composer/band leader and producer Brian Eisenberg leads an 18-piece big band (The Brian Eisenberg Jazz Orchestra) on a personal musical exploration on the meaning of love through the perspective of what may be beautiful, and what may seem hurtful on the very introspective and challenging Pain & Beauty. The album, as he writes, “is dedicated to that ideal of genuine love...painful yet, beautiful love." Eisenberg sets the musical bar quite high on such lofty and ...

Album Review

Richard Williams: Hollywood Christmas

Read "Hollywood Christmas" reviewed by Richard J Salvucci

by Richard J Salvucci
November 20, 2022

Ready or not, Christmas music is on the way. And this is Christmas music, old school. Do you remember The Andy Williams Christmas Album? Then, as the old joke goes, there may be fire in the hearth, but snow on the roof, because that was 1963, at least the first version. This recording, for sure, is a walk down memory lane and will produce a lot of nostalgia in listeners of a certain age. For some folks, that ...

Album Review

Mike Miller: Trust

by Jim Worsley
March 4, 2022

This record is more than a breath of fresh air. It is more like when you open the front door and that momentary rush of crisp wind blows in. Trust embraces that sensation and creates a limitless screen door of opportunity. Ten original and melodious compositions by Mike Miller seamlessly flow, and both sustain and cherish the feel of the moment for the duration. The magnitude of this project propelled Miller to assemble an elite group of musicians. ...

Album Review

Bob Holz: Live in New York & L.A.

Read "Live in New York & L.A." reviewed by Dan Bilawsky

by Dan Bilawsky
April 21, 2021

While Live in New York & L.A. is a split-scene production crossing coasts, spanning several years and utilizing different personnel lists, it offers a cohesive playlist. Not surprisingly, Bob Holz ties everything together with his kit and charisma. Mixing standards and originals to good effect, this Berklee-trained drummer, who previously worked with everybody from guitarist Larry Coryell to trumpeter Randy Brecker to bassist Stanley Clarke, is always in his element. Frontloading the album with half a dozen ...

Album Review

The Jazz All Stars: The Jazz All Stars Volume 1

Read "The Jazz All Stars Volume 1" reviewed by Jim Worsley

by Jim Worsley
February 25, 2021

The gigless times of 2020--the year of the Covid-19 pandemic--could have brought musicians and the industry to their collective knees, gasping for air. Instead, it resulted in more new music than ever before. It filled our lungs with fresh air. It filled our hearts and souls, not to mention our ears. New businesses opening, defying the odds and pursuing their dreams, is a relevant factor. Le Coq Records, emerging in 2020, boldly presents an all-star ensemble—featuring many of ...