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Rob McConnell & The Boss Brass: Easy To Love
by Brian Eaton
Rob McConnell & The Boss Brass was perhaps one of the most underrated jazz big bands. This world-class band from Toronto, Canada was led by trombonist, composer, and arranger Rob McConnell and featured top-notch players including altoist Moe Koffman, guitarist Ed Bickert, flugelhornist Guido Basso, and Eugene Amaro on tenor. Released back in 1985 on their ...
Peter Epstein, Brad Shepik, Matt Kilmer: Temoin
by Mike Jacobs
The nimble “Temoin" is one of the many piquant delights this unusually formatted trio (sax, guitar, frame drum) puts forth on Lingua Franca (Songlines, 2005), The absence of upright or electric bass creates a tangibly wider sonic space for their ethnically-tinged, odd-metered romps and highlights their wonderfully telepathic interplay. At times subtle, at others spicy, the ...
Don Byron: Cleo's Mood
by Ludovico Granvassu
In addition to being one of its most-forward looking voices, Don Byron has covered the whole gamut of American music--from Mickey Katz to Raymond Scott, from Duke Ellington to Lester Young and Stevie Wonder--and beyond, from Robert Schumann to Giacomo Puccini. He has done so with his signature sound, a deep understanding of those composers' traditions ...
Tord Gustavsen Trio: Changing Places
by Jeffrey Allen Chelsky
I never tire of listening to the masterful Tord Gustavsen in his various incarnations, this time with his trio composed of bassist Harald Johnsen and drummer Jarle Vespestad, Changing Places has been out since 2003 and seems new every time I play it. I listen and it is as if the world slows down and fades ...
Joe Chambers: Dance Kobina
by Marc Myers
Joe Chambers' Dance Kobina (Blue Note, 2023) proves once again that the 80-year-old percussionist still has it. The album is superb. What's most beautiful about the album and Chambers's playing is that he has retained the flavors of many totemic greats he has played with over the decades. Produced and arranged by Chambers, the album features ...
Jay Lawrence and The Platinum Jazz Orchestra: Payin' My Dues
by Edward Blanco
Veteran drummer Jay Lawrence leads a powerful big band comprised of jazz luminaries such as Wayne Bergeron, Andy Martin, Bob Sheppard, Nestor Torres, and Ed Calle among others on a big band romp of primarily original compositions. One of them, “Don't Blame Me," showcases the vocals of award-winning blues and gospel singer Dee Daniels accompanied by ...
A Gem From Richie Goods & Chien Chien Lu!
by J. Michael Harrison
The debut project from the ensemble known as Connected is fronted by the gifted bassist Richie Goods and the rising star vibraphonist/percussionist Chien Chien Lu. The project was formed during the pandemic while they were in lockdown together. Although I'm a huge fan of the entire album, the instrumental “Dull Ice Flower" continues to catch my ...
Ed Cherry: Are We There Yet?
by Edward Blanco
In remembering the great Wes Montgomery, guitarist phenom Ed Cherry records his arrangement and interpretations of one of the superstar's most memorable compositions with an incredible hard-swinging version of “Mr. Walker" featuring Kyle Koehler on the Hammond B3 organ reminiscent of Montgomery collaborations with organist Melvin Rhyne. Byron “Wookie" Landham on drums rounds out Cherry's quartet ...
