By Dee Dee McNeil, Musical Memoirs’s Blog SKIP WILKINS & DAN WILKINS – SOMEDAY This is a delightful album of somewhat obscure compositions by some of the most iconic American composers in the business of music. Skip and Dan Wilkins use their excellent talents to introduce us to songs like, “Spring Isn’t Spring Anymore” by … Read More
By Matt Micucci, JAZZIZ Trumpeter/composer/multi-instrumentalist Darren Barrett released his new album, Mr. Steiner, on November 8 via his label, dB Studios. This nine-track collection finds Barrett exploring the innovations of studio musician/electronic musical instrument inventor Nyle Steiner who, among other things, invented brass-style electronic synthesizers in the ’60s and ’70s known as Electronic Valve Instrument … Read More
By Willy Lopéz, Cultura Overdose Verdadero, cierto, efectivo, acendrado, fiel, verídico, limpio, puro, genuino, indiscutible y autentico. Así es el jazz de Wallace Roney. Así lo define él, media sonrisa, mirada a su trompeta, coge aire y bum…una tonelada de voz rasgada y profunda sella un fraseo a loMiles Davis…TRUE. Un eco en los camerinos … Read More
By Jose Ramón, La Habitacion del Jazz Es de agradecer la publicación de discos de jazz con mayúsculas, sin colorantes, sin aditivos, sin edulcorantes. Wallace Roney publica Blue Dawn – Blue Nights, su vigésimo segundo disco como líder y el octavo en el sello HighNote. Este trompetista nacido en Filadelfia, al que a los 4 … Read More
By George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly Various environs and locations are evoked by these songstresses Svetlana Shmulyian has been described as “Astrud Gilberto in New York via Moscow” by my childhood friend Guy Eckstine, and that’s a clever way of reading this lady’s wide range of talents. Here, she brings an A list of artists … Read More
By George Harris, Jazz Weekly The Curtis Brothers Algorithm Vintage hard bop reminiscent of classic Blue Note era Jazz Messengers is on display with brothers Zaccai/p and Luques/b Curti team up with vets Ralph Peterson/dr, Donald Harrison/as and Brian Lynch/tp for a hip night at Connecticut’s The Side Door Jazz Club. It sure doesn’t hurt … Read More
by Keanna Faircloth, WBGO Raised in Harlem, NY, Vivian Sessoms truly “gets it honest.” Her mother was a session and jingle singer. Her father, a former flutist and percussionist for James Brown. Music was always around in her household, and her talent was apparent early on. Now, as a seasoned vocalist, Sessoms looks forward to … Read More
by Jim Hynes, Making A Scene Fusion lives. The adage says every fifty years or so, trends reappear. There have been plenty of very good recent fusion albums from the likes of Hudson, Shijin, Gerry Gibbs, The Funky Knuckles and many, many others. What is striking about the new release from keyboard ace Santiago Bosch, … Read More
by Phil Freeman, Stereogum Santiago Bosch, Galactic Warrior (Independent/Self-Released) Venezuelan keyboardist Santiago Bosch’s second album as a leader is a soundtrack to a nonexistent video game. The music is entirely composed, though it has the freedom of improvisation at times. The ensemble includes Bosch on piano, Fender Rhodes, and synths; Tucker Antell and George Garzone on tenor … Read More
by J.D. Considine, JazzTimes o say that Randy Weston was underappreciated is not the same as saying he wasn’t appreciated; instead, it’s to acknowledge that the honors he received, which include being named a National Endowment of the Arts Jazz Master, never quite matched the enormity of his achievements in connecting jazz to its African roots. The Rhythms … Read More
