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Jeri Brown: Image In The Mirror: The Triptych
by Jim Santella
A consummate jazz singer, Jeri Brown has mastered all the elements. Her rich vocal quality is a natural for ballads. Seamless phrasing and a convincing emotional inflection make each story come alive. Her accuracy and power while scat singing lift the session to a higher level. Vocalese appears to be one of Brown's strongest qualities. Milton ...
Rachelle Ferrell: Individually (Can I Be Me?)
by Jim Santella
While her album entertains with a pleasant groove and a variety of electronic textures, Rachelle Ferrell shares only about half her true talent with the audience. Preferring instead to cover the session with background vocals, droning hip-hop rhythms and movie soundtrack effects, she weaves an acrobatic voice around originals that offer stories of romance and other ...
The Dave Brubeck Quartet: Jazz Impressions Of Japan
by Jim Santella
Dave Brubeck has always been able to effectively communicate with the average “Joe." His compositions bring a spark of recognition. It's jazz, but with an underlying meaning easy enough to comprehend at first listen. Stereotypes enter the picture when particular harmonies are employed or when distinctive rhythms dance freely. His quartet could easily make “Chopsticks" appeal ...
Various Artists: Jazz On The Latin Side All Stars, Vol. 2
by Jim Santella
There's something special about a live session. It's bound to be full of surprises. Exceptional artists may have a bad night, microphones may cause glitches, unheard-of talent may rise up to be noticed, or unexpected partnerships may appear out of nowhere. As explosive as volume 1, this live session retains the loose spirit and comes with ...
Keely Smith: Keely Sings Sinatra
by Jim Santella
Keely Smith sounds better than ever. Her comeback has proven that. Surrounded by a lush studio orchestra that includes L.A. big band regulars, the singer creates a lovely tribute to Frank Sinatra. It was recorded before he passed, and Sinatra was able to listen to an early release. He liked it too. Smith and Sinatra have ...
Thor Madsen: Metal Dog
by Jim Santella
Guitarist Thor Madsen retains an historical rhythmic swing throughout his session of modern mainstream originals. His quartet stretches the boundaries. Improvising with serious purpose, the foursome carries a Thelonious Monk influence along an extrapolated course. Quirky and energetic, Madsen's music includes the spirit of our bebop forefathers, while blazing a trail defining the future of jazz. ...
Miles Davis: Milestones
by Jim Santella
The calibre of personnel Miles Davis enlisted for his Sextet was the very best. Davis knew he couldn't keep this unit together for long. It was obvious to him that each was developing into a sensation. This was 1958, and history was being made with the emergence of Davis' modal sound. His sweet, open trumpet tone ...
Steve Davis: Portrait In Sound
by Jim Santella
Mainstream jazz has produced quite a few superior trombonists. From early tailgate counterpoint to swing era melody maker and hard bop leader, the artist has always been able to make use of his instrument's unique characteristics. Unlike piano and vibraphone, the trombone is able to bend pitches and slide from one pitch to the next. In ...
Stefano Di Battista: Stefano Di Battista
by Jim Santella
You can hear it in his originals. John Coltrane. Johnny Hodges. Art Pepper. Jackie McLean. Cannonball Adderley. Saxophonist Stefano Di Battista has studied the best. A native of Rome, the leader just turned thirty-two. While working in Paris, Di Battista has earned the kind of recognition that opens doors. This is his third album as leader, ...
Max Weinberg: The Max Weinberg 7
by Jim Santella
What a crazy bunch of guys. Much of their album is sampled at www.maxweinberg7.com . Piano-led boogie-woogie, rock & roll vocals, up-tempo, jitterbug swing, and a whole lotta party fun makes for an entertaining album. Scott Healy's dynamic piano acrobatics lead the way, while Max Weinberg and horns contribute swinging banter. This is music for serious ...
