Dan Ouellette, Billboard The Harlem-based violinist Meg Okura, who leads her 10-piece Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble, says that when growing up in Japan, she experienced egalitarian support where her creativity was celebrated. “We were encouraged to embrace anything we’d choose,” she says. “We were free to explore jazz as an art form deeply rooted … Read More
Raul da Gama, Jazz da Gama There are deep, allegorical overtones in Harlem by the powerful Jorginho Neto Collective. This is an album that begins on a prophetic note, with an appropriately in the soaring crescendo of Martin Luther King Jr.’s iconic speech popularly known by the seminal phrase: “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” Reverend King spoke … Read More
Leonid Auskern, Jazz Quad Harlem We are used to the fact that Brazilian jazz musicians are great at playing bossa nova, not to mention samba – a purely Brazilian phenomenon. We are used to the fact that American jazz musicians are eager to turn to the Brazilian musical heritage, from Wall Goetz and Charlie Byrd … Read More
D. Oscar Groomes, O’s Place Trombonist Jorginho Neto leads his Brazilian band Collective into American contemporary jazz with urban beats and lots of soul! They set the stage with “Prelúdio” marrying excerpts from Martin Luther King with “Amazing Grace”. “Mr. Dave” has a cool funky groove and “777” continues along that line with a throwback feel … Read More
DARREN BARRETT – “dB-ISH – THE OPENER” dB Studios Darren Barerett, trumpet/keyboards/percussion; Santiago Bosch, piano/keyboards; Alexander Toth, bass; Anthony Toth, drums; Clay Lyons & Erena Terakubo, alto saxophone; Judith Barrett, percussion; Kurt Rosenwinkel & Nir Felder, guitar; Chad Selph, keyboards. At first listen, I had a 1950 & 1960 jazz flash-back and I mean that … Read More
James Nadal, All About Jazz American jazz musicians for years looked to the exciting rhythms and exotic melodies found in Brazilian music, to nourish the music’s evolving nature. In a reversal of roles, the Jorginho Neto Collective, a Brazilian ensemble immersed in urban fusion-funk, step out of their native boundaries to prove that they can … Read More
Chris Spector, Midwest Record Starting off with some Martin Luther King stuff, you could easily be fooled into thinking this is some kind of angry, classic Gil Scott Heron sounding set but if you stick around, this explodes into a set gloriously inspired by “Headhunters”. Joined by a bunch of players that are really feeling … Read More
