Hector Aviles, Latin Music Café The Spanish Harlem Orchestra is celebrating 15 years of helping revive “Salsa Dura” with their new album “Anniversary”. Fifteen Years Ago… …the Spanish Harlem Orchestra (SHO) started as a concept for a recording project that was commissioned to Oscar Hernandez. Oscar sharpened the concept, got the musicians, and made some of the arrangements … Read More
Kay Shackelford, Jazzwise When listening to Jonathan Barber, there’s an earful of innovative and thoughtful rhythmic execution that causes pause. Barber is technically well groomed, focused and a little fussy over what drum products will deliver the ‘right’ sonic landscapes from his drum set. In addition, Barber is far from self-limiting as it relates to … Read More
Robert Elms Show, BBC Radio London Live music from singer Kathy Kosins, author John Simmons on his novel “Spanish Crossings” set during the Spanish Civil War and London actor Jack Rowan, an ex-boxer with no formal acting training, on his new film role in the US.
Sound Check, AFROPUNK PREMIERE: ECLECTIC JAZZ GROUP FREELANCE RELEASES PASSIONATE LOVE LETTER TO THE AFRICAN DIASPORA Amongst all the noise of today is Revive Music’s FREELANCE “Your Love”. The song is a visceral melting pot that tells the story of a romantic courtship that leads to a journey through the African diaspora. With melodic conventions, … Read More
Brazilian guitarist and composer Flavio Silva is proud to announce the Friday, June 1st release of his sophomore album Break Free. Featuring a talented line-up including saxophonist Seamus Blake, bassist Alex “Apolo” Ayala, drummer Curtis Nowosad, pianist James Francies and vocalist Michael Mayo, Break Free is a call for love, hope and justice through music. … Read More
Andrew Gilbert, The Mercury News Vocalist and pianist Kelly Green makes a powerful first impression. Since landing in the New York jazz scene a few years ago she’s earned the admiration of heavyweights like bassist Christian McBride and vibraphonist Steve Nelson, who both perform on her impressive debut album “Life Rearranged.” Accompanying herself with harmonic … Read More
Troy Doster, All About Jazz In 1933, Europeans were only beginning to understand the horrors that the Nazi regime would bring to the continent. But already at that early stage, Jewish communities reacted with alarm to Hitler’s rise to power—and many consequently made the decision to emigrate. One of the most common destinations in the … Read More
Chris Spector, Midwest Record The well chopped sax man avoids all the clichés that would have made this celebration of Earth Wind & Fire and Stevie Wonder a gift shop record. He also doesn’t cover “September” avoiding being lumped in with Taylor Swift. Presenting his take on the great American songbook as heard through a … Read More
Chris Spector, Midwest Record A tyro that took the time to study with the best rather than be a know it all serves up a Zen informed piano jazz date that swings as mightily as all the past great records in the genre. The kind of date you’ll keep coming back to as the vibe … Read More
Raul da Gama, Jazz da Gama There are deep, allegorical overtones in Harlem by the powerful Jorginho Neto Collective. This is an album that begins on a prophetic note, with an appropriately in the soaring crescendo of Martin Luther King Jr.’s iconic speech popularly known by the seminal phrase: “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” Reverend King spoke … Read More
