By Tom Lucci, WICN Catherine Russell, Alone Together. Any Catherine Russell release makes my best of the year by default. Her vitality, care, humor, and chops on rarely performed tunes like “Shake Down the Stars” make A-List standards like “I Only Have Eyes for You” and the title track stand out all the more. Svetlana, … 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 C. Michael Bailey, All About Jazz Vanessa Rubin The Dream is You: Vanessa Rubin sings Tadd Dameron Finally, a fitting tribute to the music of Tadd Dameron, with Vanessa Rubin‘s vocal adaptation of Dameron’s work as an added plus. The Cleveland native has distinguished herself as an impressive song stylist with a Midas touch … Read More
By Will Layman, Pop Matters Here is another record that probably shouldn’t be thought of as “jazz” but that is shot through with the kind of harmonic and melodic light that comes from this music. Emma Frank is a hush-voiced singer and writer of subtly brilliant songs, and this is her second recording with pianist … Read More
