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Walker Family Singers: Panola County Spirit
by James Nadal
The significance of gospel singing in African-American musical heritage is indisputable and well documented. With a history dating back to the infamous period of slavery, it has served as a sense of relief and offered hope for redemption to the faithful. Rooted in the negro spirituals with their intense sorrow songs and joyful jubilees, they were ...
Chris Klaxton: Collage
by James Nadal
With each release, the current crop of young lions demonstrate they have what it takes to come up with novel ideas, keeping the music renewed. Since his 2014 debut of “Starcode,"--a foray into cosmic jazz--trumpeter Chris Klaxton has remained perpetually engaged and appears not to slow down on Collage , a patchwork of progressive jazz injected ...
Zane Rodulfo: Pathways
by James Nadal
If a record cover can be any indication of the content of the music it encases, then Pathways, by drummer/composer Zane Rodulfo, has the perfect depiction. It shows Rodulfo walking along a well-worn rainforest trail, drumsticks in hand with a look of absolute confidence that he knows where he is going. Hailing from Trinidad, he has ...
Stanley Clarke/Biréli Lagrene/Jean-Luc Ponty: D-Stringz
by James Nadal
As sometimes happens in life, the best experiences are those that come as an unexpected surprise. The formation of the acoustic trio D-Stringz, featuring violinist Jean-Luc Ponty, guitarist Bireli Lagrene, and bassist Stanley Clarke, was almost by accident, as they were all on the same bill back in 2012, in Paris, playing with different ensembles. As ...
Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet: Intercambio
by James Nadal
The music that commenced as accompaniment to ancestral rituals and gained its popularity in dancehalls and ballrooms, has come of age. Latin infused jazz, has been steadily evolving since the African drums came to the Caribbean, and melded with European musical influences. Trombonist, composer, arranger, and producer Wayne Wallace is aptly tuned into this evolutionary process ...
Wesli: Ayiti Etoile Nouvelle
by James Nadal
There is no other country in the western hemisphere that has been so grossly neglected and misunderstood as Haiti. In a historical context, it has contributed much in spite of overwhelming conditions, and has socially and culturally remained vibrant and vital. Vodou, the national religion of Haiti, has also suffered from lack of acceptance and understanding ...
Avataar: Petal
by James Nadal
A simplified definition of classical Indian music can be characterized as Hindustani from the north, and Carnatic from the south. Though both are based on the raga system of melodic scales, Hindustani's structure is open to improvisation, whereas Carnatic is more scientific and devotional in its approach. Saxophonist Sundar Viswanathan, although a longtime resident of Canada, ...
Carlos Henriquez: The Bronx Pyramid
by James Nadal
A common attribute or quality that Latin musicians have is that they are innately connected and tuned into their cultural roots. As in the case of Carlos Henriquez, who holds the bass chair in the prestigious Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. Though he performs straight ahead mainstream jazz at a high level with that collective, on ...
Blind Willie Johnson: God Don't Never Change: The Songs of Blind Willie Johnson
by James Nadal
As time moves on and the genuine bluesmen slip into historical archives, it is a cause for celebration when someone makes the effort to reconstruct the music of one of the true innovators in the blues genre. Produced by Jeffrey Gaskill, God Don't Never Change: The Songs Of Blind Willie Johnson, is a contemporary tribute to ...
James Nadal's Best of 2015
by James Nadal
These selections start out heavy into the blues, in appreciation to those that are still playing and producing this important American art form. Gospel and soul tinged vocals as well as a Latin dance oriented orchestra are represented, as is African derived world music featuring native acoustic instrumentation. We round it out by offering a trio ...
