This is the second album in the past few weeks I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing that features percussionist Devin Gray, and the two musicians he collaborates with on this disc are legendary: Andrea Parkins- electronics, accordion & wurlitzer Frank Gratkowski- saxophones, flutes, & clarinets Devin Gray – drums & Continue Reading
Jazz
Marco Benevento – Glera
I don’t know how Marco Beneveto managed not to get caught by my radar, as he produces such great Nu-Jazz that I almost feel bad I didn’t know about him sooner. This is an upcoming release, but the tracks available are funky and as contemporary as it gets.
Hadley Caliman – Iapetus
Wewantsounds, the most esteemed reissue label around, socks it to us yet again with a vinyl reissue of a long-forgotten work by Hadley Caliman, criminally unavailable since 1971. Instrumentation & PersonnelHadley Caliman: Tenor Saxophone & FluteWoody “Sonship” Theus: DrumsJames Leary: BassTodd Cochran: PianoVictor Pantoja: CongaLuis Gasca: TrumpetHungria Garcia: Timbales
Nikolay Smagliev & Dr.Jazz – Tailagan
I had some dear friends who were members of the Siberian jazz scene many years ago. Names like Roman Stolyar, Sergei Belichenko and others produced music equal-to or better than their contemporaries in Moscow and St. Petersburg for a while. Nikolay Smagliev & Dr.Jazz seem to be keeping in that Continue Reading
Esbjörn Svensson Trio – HOME.S.
The world lost one of jazz’s most incredible players in 2008 when pianist Esbjörn Svensson was killed in a diving accident. He and his trio were at the peak of their creative powers in this album, where the playing is gentle but dynamic. One could only imagine what sort of Continue Reading
Armen Donelian – Sayat-Nova: Songs Of My Ancestors
From Armen Donelian’s Bandcamp site: “Pianist, composer, bandleader, and educator Armen Donelian has carved out an enviable career spanning four decades, including seminal stints with Jazzmen Sonny Rollins, Billy Harper, Chet Baker, and Mongo Santamaria. But two other streams – Classical and Middle Eastern music – have influenced Donelian’s artistic Continue Reading
Fania All Stars – Live At Yankee Stadium Vol. 1
Adalberto Santiago, Alfredo De La Fé, Alphonse Mouzon, Barry Rogers, Billy Cobham, Bobby Cruz, Bobby Quesada, Bobby Valentin, Boncana Maïga, Cali Aleman, Celia Cruz, Cheo Feliciano, Eddie Palmieri, Hector Lavoe, Hector Zarzuela, Ismael Miranda, Izzy Sanabria, Jimmy Delgado, Joe Bataan, Johnny Pacheco. Look at that list. These are the kings of salsa. bolero, and so many other genres, with a few legendary jazz folks helping out. The Fania All Continue Reading
Muriel Grossmann – Plays the music of McCoy Tyner and Grateful Dead
From Muriel Grossman’s Bandcamp site: “On the surface, Tyner and the Dead appear to come from different galaxies. But listen deeply, and it becomes clear: they were orbiting the same planet. Tyner’s playing was all about shape. He built modal infrastructure—riffs and voicings sturdy enough to ground the music, malleable Continue Reading
Srdjan Ivanović Blazin’ Quartet – Sleeping Beauty
What a pleasant and elegant surprise this album is! The Blazin’ Quartet offers up a late-night smoky jazz with a hint of ECM Records‘ sonic aesthetics, early Durutti Column and a more instrumental Tindersticks. True whiskey-and-cigarette music.
Chet Baker – My Funny Valentine (Live)
No need to say anything else. Choose your favorite adult beverage and enjoy.