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Laurin Talese: Gorgeous Chaos
by James Nadal
True talent, like water, will rise and seek its own level. With a lifetime of readiness and recognizing opportunity, vocalist Laurin Talese brings a natural sense of self-awareness into Gorgeous Chaos, her riveting debut as a jazz chanteuse. The acapella gospel tinged phrasing that Talese conveys on the opening “Someone To Watch Over Me," ...
Cafêzz: Sol Boricua
by James Nadal
Coffee was introduced by the Spanish to the island of Puerto Rico in the mid 1700's, it's history coinciding with the hybridized Spanish/African musical entity which has come to define the island. The local jazz ensemble Cafêzz based their name and repertoire around coffee inspired themes--releasing “Music & Friends," in 2014-- and on Sol Boricua they ...
Eugenia Choe: Magic Light
by James Nadal
One of the most interesting aspects of jazz immersion studies is how it influences and affects players from diverse backgrounds. Korean born and classically trained pianist Eugenia Choe was drawn to jazz by its opportunities for compositional development and improvisational challenges, bringing to Magic Light a lyrical understanding of technical structure, and an intellectual ability to ...
Jackie Gage: Siren Songs
by James Nadal
It is an era of difficult choices for young vocalists, but the ones that follow their heart are certainly the better for it. Jackie Gage is a determined singer who self-produced Siren Songs as a commitment toward her career in jazz. The production features a refined string quartet, augmenting the rhythm section, but the highlight is ...
Various Artists: Hungarian Noir
by James Nadal
When Billie Holiday released “Gloomy Sunday," in 1941, accompanied by the Teddy Wilson Orchestra, no one could possibly imagine the back story and consequent repercussions associated with this song. Originally composed by Hungarian Reszo Seress in 1933 as “Szomorú Vasárnap," it was quickly rewritten with lyrics by poet Laslo Javor, and recorded by Pál Kalmár in ...
Kaoru Watanabe: Néo
by James Nadal
Nostalgia, in Japanese, lightly translates into natsukashisa, a yearning for something from the past. American born, multi-instrumentalist Kaoru Watanabe has reverted to his ancestral Japan for inspiration on Néo, a synthesis of dignified taiko drumming with the jazz sensibility of improvisation. Prepared with a degree in jazz flute and saxophone performance, Watanabe spent a decade performing ...
Golden State Lone Star Blues Revue: Golden State Lone Star Blues Revue
by James Nadal
The road from Texas to California runs right through T-Bone Walker, no detours about it. Since Walker packed his guitar and moved there in the 1940's, what is termed as West Coast Blues revolves around a style he defined. Golden State Lone Star Blues Revue is a blues ensemble founded by harmonica player and singer Mark ...
Noah Preminger: Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground
by James Nadal
The Delta Blues, spawned from the callous conditions on Mississippi plantations and farmlands, is an artistic manifestation that creativity can overcome, survive, and thrive, amidst overwhelming situations. These sparse, rural blues, which came out of the fields so long ago, continue to influence contemporary musicians seeking a raw form of expression. Count saxophonist Noah Preminger among ...
Ratatet: Arctic
by James Nadal
The Ridgeway Arts non-profit venture in San Francisco Bay Area, was established by bassist/educator Jeff Denson, to provide and promote performance, education and recording opportunities for serious artists. The electro- acoustic ensemble, Ratatet, released Arctic as part of this program, and is an example what can be accomplished with dedication and determination. Ratatet was ...
Alberto Vilas Quartet: Ubuntu
by James Nadal
Jazz musicians have always been in tune to external influences and open to worldly perspectives. Spanish pianist Alberto Vilas titled his release Ubuntu, based on the South African philosophy dealing with human kindness and how we become better through interaction with others. In a modern world gone mad, this is certainly a welcome idea, and the ...
