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The Bix Centennial All-Stars: Celebrating Bix!
by Nicholas F. Mondello
Cornetist Leon Bismark “Bix" Beiderbecke, while certainly heavily influenced by Louis Armstrong, developed his own highly stylized way of playing and improvising jazz. One wonders what musical highlights might have been accomplished had he lived beyond his 28 years. Celebrating Bix!, originally released in 2003 as a single CD album, adds selections which, due ...
Glenn Zottola, Romero Lubambo, Pamela Driggs: Summer Samba
by Nicholas F. Mondello
2023 news reports and events acknowledged and celebrated 50 Years Of Hip-Hop. While noteworthy, it is doubtful that hip hop classics such as “Get Ur Freak On," “Sucker M.C.'s and “Nuthin' But a G Thang" will ever find themselves in the Great American Songbook. The genre simply cannot compare with the vast extent of musical influence ...
Rich Willey: Puttin' On the Ritz
by Nicholas F. Mondello
When Irving Berlin wrote “Puttin' On the Ritz" in 1927 on a unique “transposing piano" tuned to his preferred key of F#, little could he ever know that one day, among the myriad numbers of covers of the tune, that it would title an album that features, among other attractions, Electronic Voice Instrument “wah-wah" solos. Putting ...
Heat and Horn Engine: (Put Your) Trust in Love
by Nicholas F. Mondello
"(Put Your) Trust in Love" from Heat (a multi-artist recording source created in 1979 and led by Tom Saviano) and trumpeter Bill Dowling's “Horn Engine" is a throwback to the recordings of great male vocalists such as Al Jarreau, Luther Vandross, and George Benson. It is a stellar effort. Rhythmically, the track falls ...
The John La Barbera Big Band: Grooveyard
by Nicholas F. Mondello
The geometry, if you will, of a terrific big band recording is such that the three major elements--the players, the arrangements, and the performance--balance in every regard. Grooveyard from the John La Barbera Big Band is such an offering. The album features ten masterfully selected, arranged, and performed selections, each containing outstanding section, solo, and ensemble ...
Dan Bonsanti and the 14 Jazz Orchestra: Islands
by Nicholas F. Mondello
"Islands" from Dan Bonsanti is a tour de force consisting of eleven unique selections, colorful textured arrangements, and outstanding ensemble and solo playing. The fare includes straight-ahead bop, to calypso, film and fusion, all presented by a highly-energized ensemble of Miami-affiliated greats and guest greats. The opener, McCoy Tyner's “Man from Tanganyika" is ...
Bill Ortiz: Points of View
by Nicholas F. Mondello
Long associated with Carlos Santana, with whom he had a 16-year stint, trumpeter Bill Ortiz steps into the spotlight here with an auspicious and highly entertaining session. Ten selections showcase Ortiz who is supported by some of the Bay area's best. The order of the day is energy, excitement, and an overall superb show.
Angela DeNiro with the Ron Aprea Big Band: Swingin' with Legends 2
by Nicholas F. Mondello
Swingin' with Legends 2 from Angela DeNiro with the Ron Aprea Big Band, is a follow-up to their first Legends effort in 1988. The album, as was its Grammy-entered predecessor, is a quintessentially classic big band recording featuring a fine female vocalist. The fourteen tunes here are predominantly from the Great American Songbook, with jazz greats ...
Big Band Italia: Blue Sun
by Nicholas F. Mondello
Big Band Italia's “Blue Sun" is intriguing listening. Saxophonist/co-leader Gianni Bardaro's tune could best be described as a modernised Oliver Nelson track exploding on steroids. Bruno Luise's arrangement is complex and challenging in terms of time signature and textures and it is performed superbly by this cadre of Italy's foremost jazz musicians--with guest artists trumpeter Randy ...
Keith Fiala: Let Go
by Nicholas F. Mondello
"Let Go" from trumpeter/composer Keith Fiala is a track that is a near-perfect blend of groove, effects, orchestration, and solos. After a brief textural intro of cascading trumpet and a segue into a smooth jazz vibe, the tune offers an infectious easy-to-hum-along melody laid down by a doubling of horn and keys. The ...
