“Jesse has imbibed the virtues of swing and bop/hard bop fluency, combining them with an enticingly attractive, full-bodied tone and warm timbre, incorporating the best of swing era altos and Charlie Parker,” – George Kanzler See Jesse Davis on the cover of Hot House Jazz Magazine’s February 2023 issue here.
by George Kanzler, Hot House “No one is more a veteran than Sheila..” “Simplicity, John Minnock, features a singer with a great sense of jazz harmony and an inclination toward the storytelling of cabaret.” Read the full cover story on page 11 of Hot House’s August 2022 issue, here.
by Seton Hawkins, Hot House “After the two years of extreme uncertainty, this full-throttle launch into the spotlight marks a long-overdue live ovation for one of the alto saxophone’s exceptional voices.” Read the cover story on Lakecia Benjamin on page 15 of Hot House Jazz Magazine here.
by Don Jay Smith, Hot House “Everything I do has to swing. It’s like medicine to me,” explains Catherine Russell when talking about her music, and that characterization applies to all she does, performing and recording. She also pays close attention to the lyrics, saying that ‘I like songs that paint a picture with lyrics … Read More
By Elzy Kolb, Hot House The pandemic pause appears to be winding down far sooner than Brandi Disterheft expected. When the shutdown began, “I thought it would last five years, I was budgeting for the worst,” says the Canada-born, New York-based bassist, singer and composer. “I’m optimistic now. I hope New York will recover quickly, … Read More
George Kanzler, Hot House Two tenor saxophonists with distinctive sounds that skirt the current Coltrane/Shorter-style mainstream of tenor playing have new recordings. Walter Smith III comes out with a second edition of the quintet he coleads with guitarist Matthew Stevens, while Dayna Stephens debuts a new trio with just his saxophones, bass and drums. On In … Read More
By Don Jay Smith, Hot House Born and raised in Moscow, Svetlana fell for jazz at a young age. After immigrating to New York in the 1990s, she pursued passions for science and music, with music winning out. She has performed around the world, leading various ensembles, and attracting enthusiastic audiences with her swinging vocals … Read More
By Stephanie Jones, Hot House Few artists challenge perceived limits of their own medium as earnestly as Thana Alexa. The Queens-based vocalist and composer of Croatian lineage creates expanding blankets of sound with her own voice, using effects pedals and processors. Read the full review here.
By Bettie Hu, Hot House Flutist and composer Elsa Nilsson experiments as deliberately with harmonic ideas and rhythmic elements as she does with sound itself. Her live performances draw listeners into a tempoed narrative of spontaneity and inquiry. Full review here.
Winning Spins by George Kanzler What’s notable about the two albums here is that both are distinguished by excellent ensemble execution, appealing arrangements, cogent solos and way-above-average originals. They also feature front lines that deviate creatively from the usual quintet arrangement: Sax and guitar on one; two flutes or flute and soprano sax on the … Read More
