By George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly Pianist Matt Herskowitz brings melodicism and a modern classical approach to a wide variety of lyrical songs. The melding of jazz and classical works well, with a rich and stately read of “My One And Only Love” and a wondrous “Ballade” as a strong dynamic range is heard on … Read More
By John White, Jazz Journal An accomplished hard bop trumpeter and a prolific composer, Brian Lynch is not yet a jazz household name in the UK. Born in Urbana, Illinois, he grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and studied at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. He also sat in with local jazz musicians, including pianist Buddy … Read More
By Preston Frazier, Something Else Say Yes is the latest release by versatile singer La Tonya Hall. She recorded this first new work since 2009’s It’s About Time in between dates as backup singer for Steely Dan. The results on Say Yes are what you would expect from such an acclaimed vocalist. Working with Andy … Read More
Birdland Jazz Club and Birdland Theater are pleased to present the schedule for the month of February! At Birdland Jazz Club, catch the iconic Lionel Hampton Big Band Featuring Jason Marsalis, current GRAMMY nominee Catherine Russell, the Birdland debut of AGUAS Trio with Omar Sosa, Yilian Cañizares and Gustavo Ovalles, and iconic vocalist Jane Monheit. … Read More
By Howard Reich, The Chicago Tribune Chicago bassist Clark Sommers made impact in 2013 with the debut recording of his band’s eponymous recording, “Ba(SH),” featuring fellow Chicagoans Geof Bradfield playing reeds and Dana Hall on drums. In March, the band will release its followup, “Peninsula,” featuring Sommers’ original compositions. Here’s an early chance to hear … Read More
By Mike Greenlatt, The Aquarian A Night At The Deer Head Inn Someday (Deer Head Records), by father-son team Skip and Dan Wilkins, is a love letter of sorts to the hallowed environs of Pennsylvania’s legendary Deer Head Inn. Built in the eighteen-forties, it’s been operating as a jazz club since the nineteen-fifties. That makes it … Read More
By Chris Struck, Broadway World Birdland Jazz Club, NYC, January 9th, 2020 Kurt Elling: a name synonymous with jazz. He remains as much a luminary of the art form this year as last when I saw him pick up the mic on the same stage. His CDs from decades past are the sounds that should … Read More
By Elisa Shoenberger, She Shreds Brandee Younger is bringing the harp to new levels, following in the footsteps of her heroes: Alice Coltrane and Dorothy Ashby. Brandee Younger was once determined to bring her harp into unconventional places. Not the easiest to carry around, the acclaimed musician has played the harp in studios, bars, and … Read More
By Jedd Beaudoin, PopMatters Svetlana‘s 2019 LP Night at the Movies pays tribute to some of the Russian-born musicians favorite music from the silver screen, including “Moonlight”, which appeared in the 1995 picture Sabrina. The tune was written by Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman, and John T. Williams. “Film and music both express a fleeting beauty; … Read More
By C. Michael Bailey, All About Jazz Russian-American singer-composer Svetlana (she has a last name, Schmulyian, but prefers the monomoniker) is onto something. Her debut recording, Night at the Speakeasy(OA2 Records, 2016) with her self-appointed Delancey Five, was a structured affair which concentrated on the music of the “Jazz Age” (save for the Beach Boys’ … Read More
