Jazz Rising: Greg Ward Presents Rogue Parade, Ilhan Ersahin, Brandee Younger & Theon Cross by Aaron Stein, Jambase As we get into the summer months, it always feels like a good time to take stock of the excellent jazz releases of the year so far. The genre continues to get twisted into new shapes by … Read More
Dave Rogers, WTJU Tenor and soprano saxophonist Michael Eaton offers this session with other voices in the “dialogical” which is defined as “thinking that involves a dialogue or extended exchange between different points of view or frames of reference”. (http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/glossary-of-critical-thinking-terms/496). These performances are fascinating and often delightful. Eaton’s quartet features Brad Whiteley (piano), Daniel Ori … Read More
Matt Micucci, Jazziz Aaron Whitby, “Cousin from Another Planet” JAZZIZ presents the premiere of pianist Aaron Whitby’s title track from his debut album as a bandleader, Cousin from Another Planet, due out June 21 on Ropeadope, partly inspired by his life journey as a Londoner living and working in New York City. “The music is inspired … Read More
by Nate Chinen, WBGO Roxy Coss, “Don’t Cross the Coss” Speaking of strong voices on the tenor saxophone, Roxy Coss recently announced a new video album, Quintet, to be released by Outside In Music on Aug. 23. The quintet in question is a corker, with Coss on tenor, Alex Wintz on guitar, Miki Yamanaka on piano, Rick Rosato on … Read More
Jeremy D. Goodwin, The Boston Globe Grace Kelly, the Brookline-raised saxophone wunderkind, met Branford Marsalis when she was 13. The first thing he said to her blew her away. “Fred’s told me all about you!” she remembers the eminent musician telling her. The go-between in question was Fred Taylor, the legendary nightclub promoter who has … Read More
Q&A, Vivian Sessoms: Songs in the Key of Life by MATT MICUCCI, JAZZIZ Singer/songwriter Vivian Sessoms’ new album, Life II, is out now via Ropeadope Records. This 12-track collection of originals and interpretations of songs by such artists as The Fixx and Stevie Wonder is a companion piece to Life I, released last November, through which she tells … Read More
by Marcus J. Moore, Bandcamp Daily Brandee Younger knows what she’s up against. As a harpist, she knows people will hear her music and drop the names Alice Coltrane and Dorothy Ashby. Younger is fine with that: Coltrane and Ashby are legends who are still somewhat underrated in the pantheon of all-time great jazz musicians. “It’s a compliment,” Younger says … Read More
Brandee Younger and the New Shape of Jazz to Come She’s brought her harp along to sessions for Drake, Common and Lauryn Hill. Now it’s time to freshen up the great American art form by Bonnie Stiernberg, Inside Hook Brandee Younger has just arrived for her gig at the Edition Hotel in New York City … Read More
Joe Woodard, Jazziz Strings play a much smaller role on Visitors (Tone Rogue), the debut album from co-leaders Christian Li (piano, keyboards) and Mike Bono (guitar). But when violinist Alex Hargreaves and string player Chris Marion insert their bowed sonic input, ears perk up. Hargreaves enlivens Li’s restless, antic “Little Rascals” and Bono’s tartly moody “Tango,” while Marion’s layered string sound … Read More
Five Questions with Brandee Younger by Ron Schepper, Texutra FIVE QUESTIONS WITH BRANDEE YOUNGER Currently promoting her latest release Soul Awakening, Brandee Younger brings a wealth of experience to any project with which she’s involved, jazz-related or otherwise. Though the classically trained, New York-based harpist has graced classical concert stages and performed with an array of … Read More
