By John Chacona Every week, it seems, I get a new CD by female jazz singer, presumably aspiring to a big career. Putting aside the absurdity of that notion, the formula remains the same: collect a few standards, hire some big-name sidemen, spend a lot of a cover photo and hope for the best. Depressingly, … Read More
By Simon Rentner, WBGO One annual Checkout tradition is to pinpoint innovative takes on the holiday canon This year we welcomed Martina DaSilva and Dan Chmielinski to deliver a lesser-known take of “Greensleeves,” a gorgeous selection from the Brazilian songbook, and a slick arrangement of the blockbuster hit “Last Christmas,” by Wham! All of this … Read More
By Dee Dee McNeil, Musicalmemoirs’s Blog MARTINA DaSILVA, DAN CHMIELINSKI & FRIENDS – “A VERY CHIMYTINA CHRISTMAS” Outside In Music Martina DaSilva, voice; Dan Chmielinski (“Chimy”),bass; Lucas Pino,tenor saxophone; Gabe Schnider,guitar; Ben Wolfe,bass; Joel Ross,vibraphone. This is a lovely production that features vocalist, Marina DaSilva and bassist Dan Chmielinski. It’s a very clean production, with … Read More
By Troy Dostert, All About Jazz Gabriel Zucker Weighting ESP-Disk With Rachel Kushner’s whirlwind novel Flamethrowers for inspiration, pianist Zucker creates a compelling, mysterious world that is as beautiful as it is elusive. Moments of bracing intensity emerge, fueled by Tyshawn Sorey‘s percussive flurries and Zucker’s powerful flourishes; but it’s the two-horn team of … Read More
By Jerome Wilson, All About Jazz Steve Haines And The Third Floor Orchestra Justin Time Bassist Haines arranges a gorgeous suite of folk, pop and classical pieces for string orchestra that features solo work by Chad Eby on soprano saxophone, Joey Calderazzoon piano and Becca Stevens doing the finest singing of her career. Eric Hofbauer‘s … Read More
By Brian Kiwanuka, Nextbop 10. Brandee Younger – Soul Awakening (Self Release) The harp is a spellbinding instrument and throughout Soul Awakening Brandee Younger is a sorceress. The harpist’s playing is never anything other than gorgeous and she has extremely strong chemistry with Ravi Coltrane (tenor saxophone), who is featured on “Soulris” and “Lover’s Prayer”. … Read More
By Ron Schepper, Textura 01. Brandee Younger: Soul Awakening (Brandee Younger) An immensely satisfying portrait of harpist Brandee Younger, Soul Awakening sounds as fresh as if it were recorded yesterday, even if it was completed six years ago. It’s somewhat of a summative portrait, too, as it checks many of the critical boxes associated with … Read More
by Jerome Wilson, All About Jazz Eric Hofbauer‘s Five Agents Book Of Water Creative Nation Music Guitarist Hofbauer leads a spellbinding live recording where his spidery and intricate lines weave in and out of the bracing free-to-funk blowing of an able group of musicians. Steve Haines And The Third Floor Orchestra Justin Time Bassist Haines … Read More
by Ian Ward, UK Vibe It’s always a pleasure to hear Matt Ulery’s and Greg Ward’s unique, innovative takes on jazz. “Delicate Charms” is bass player/composer Ulery’s 9th (!) album as bandleader and it brings him together with Ward (alto sax) plus old mates Zach Broch (violin), Rob Clearfield (piano) and Quin Kirchner (drums). A … Read More
