Recording News

Retro-Soul and Jazz

Source: Michael Ricci
August 16, 2009

John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble

The drummer and composer John Hollenbeck inhabits a world of gleaming modernity, and Eternal Interlude (Sunnyside), the second album featuring his Large Ensemble, reflects both the clarity and brightness of his vision. Timbre is his forte as much as rhythm: his strategies for the band often involve an autumnal rustle of woodwinds and a billowing swirl of brass. On the superb 19-minute title track he creates a gossamer shimmer of flutes, clarinets, piano and marimba; on ...

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Review: Commotion's CD Release Draws Portland Indie Jazz Stars

Source: Michael Ricci
August 16, 2009

Commotion's CD release at Someday Lounge on Friday night was apparently more than your average such event. So highly anticipated was this performance that many of Portland's young indie jazz stars showed up just to watch and listen. David Ornette Cherry was there, and Drew Shoals, Damian Erskine, Jason DuMars, Liv Warfield, Dusty York as well as several others. The band did not disappoint, but this happy occasion also marked the final performance for guitarist Chris Mosely with this group. ...

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Orchestra of Tetouan Performs the Classical Suites of Muslim Spain for U.S. Audiences

Source: rock paper scissors, inc.
August 15, 2009

Morocco's Orchestra of Tetouan Performs the Classical Suites of Muslim Spain for US Audiences

Andalusian classical music is journeying to the United States this September, thanks to the Orchestra of Tetouan. They will be making stops in Madison, WI, Chicago, Cambridge, MA, NYC and Bloomington, IN.

Based in the port city of Tetouan just a stone's throw from the Rock of Gibraltar, the ensemble reflects the full beauty and diversity of al-al, the Moorish repertoire carefully cultivated over generations that ...

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NPR Exclusive First Listens:Terence Blanchard, Joe Henry, Tim Buckley, & the New Lost City Ramblers

Source: Michael Ricci
August 15, 2009

NPR Music is presenting full advance streams of four new albums ahead of their release dates: Terence Blanchard's Choices; Joe Henry's Blood from Stars; Tim Buckley's Live at Folklore Center, NYC - March 6th, 1967 and a reissue box set from The New Lost City Ramblers. All four will be available for free, on-demand listening at www.npr.org/music as part of the site's “Exclusive First Listen" series. The entire series - which includes full albums in all genres - is available ...

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Voice and Voicings

Source: See! Hear! by Richard Kamins
August 15, 2009

Obsession - Tessa Souter (Motema) - This is vocalist Souter's 3rd release but only the first I've heard.  An interesting collection of tunes, from 60s “rock hits" to sweet Brazilian melodies to re-imagined jazz standards and, basically, a quartet of musicians backing Souter's handsome vocalizing.  And, it does sound like a group effort - guitarist Jason Ennis (Charles Neville Band, Sonya Kitchell Group) is an excellent second voice, a perfect match for Souter's explorations. His love of Brazilian melodies and ...

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Retro-Soul and Jazz, Fine, but Krautrock, Anyone?

Source: Michael Ricci
August 15, 2009

Ledisi For the R&B singer-songwriter Ledisi change is good even when it hurts, and there’s no point in resisting it anyway. “Turn Me Loose” (Verve Forecast), due out Tuesday, is her dissertation on the subject, inspired less by a recent presidential slogan than by a distant blues-rock anthem: “Them Changes,” a snarl of a tune by the former Band of Gypsies drummer Buddy Miles. Ledisi covers it here as a bonus track, working her strident, soulful voice into a fury. ...

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Marc Brenken Trio Release "It Could Happen to You"

Source: Michael Ricci
August 14, 2009

Marc Brenken – piano, composition Alex Morsey – double-bass Marcus Rieck – drums

Marc Brenken’s musical world is rife with suprise. In his new album It Could Happen to You;, together with bassist Alexander Morsey and drummer Marcus Rieck, the pianist tells everyday stories that are all but mundane: With ants in his pants he bashes the listener “Raus ausm Bett” [out of his bed], just to join us on a bicycle ride through ...

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Guitarist Omar Haddad Releases "Ceremony" - Concert at The Shrine (NYC) on September 18th

Source: Michael Ricci
August 14, 2009

Guitarist Omar Haddad presents his new CD of original Jazz compositions, Ceremony, a Guitar-Piano duo. The event will take place on Friday, September 18th at 6:00 p.m., at The Shrine: 2271 A. C. Powell Jr. Blvd., New York (7th Ave. at 134th St.), featuring Jesse Stacken on piano. There will be no cover charge. About Omar Haddad Omar Haddad began his jazz guitar studies in Buenos Aires in 1996 with Alejandro Moro, the author of the book revised and approved ...

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