By Mark Sullivan, All About Jazz “Pianist, composer and arranger Alex Conde has a unique identity; he is a flamenco musician who combines flamenco with his jazz background. After the broad Latin fusion of Origins (Uprising/Ropeadope, 2018), Conde has returned to a focus on classic bebop. Like Descarga For Monk (Zoho Music, 2015), the pianist revisits a foundational bebop pianist. … Read More
By Mark Sullivan, All About Jazz When last heard from, the salsa powerhouse Spanish Harlem Orchestrawas celebrating fifteen years of playing together with Anniversary (ArtistShare, 2018). There have always been elements of Latin jazz in the group’s music, and Artistic Director Oscar Hernandez is a noted Latin jazz pianist, so it was only a matter … Read More
by Mark Sullivan, All About Jazz Vocalist Martina DaSilva and double bassist Dan Chmielinski have adopted the name “ChimyTina” for their duet project. The focus is on voice and bass, but they welcome some of their closest friends and mentors as guests, including saxophonist Lucas Pino, vibraphonist Joel Ross, bassist Ben Wolfe and guitarist Gabe Schnider . DaSilva harmonizes with herself on “Greensleeves” to open … Read More
Mark Sullivan, All About Jazz Guitarist/composer Phil Schurger is a native of Fort Wayne, Indiana. He leads his Chicago-based quartet—previously heard on Echoes of the Ancestors (ears&eyes, 2017)—through six expansive originals. The tracks run an average of ten minutes or more apiece, and they attain that length through compositional complexity rather than extended solos (although the band is blessed … Read More
Mark Sullivan, All About Jazz The 13-piece all-star salsa big band Spanish Harlem Orchestra celebrates their 15-year anniversary in grand style with Anniversary, their sixth studio album. Champions of salsa dura (“hard salsa”), this is a band whose technical skill is matched only by their consistent high energy. They have three lead vocalists, so the chorus singing is … Read More
Mark Sullivan, All About Jazz In 2007 BBC Radio commissioned saxophonist Dave Liebmanto record an all-Coltrane program to mark the 40th anniversary of legendary saxophonist/composer John Coltrane‘s passing. Asked to bring in Saxophone Summit—the band Liebman co-led with fellow saxophonists Joe Lovano and Ravi Coltrane—Liebman managed to assemble regular members Lovano, pianist Phil Markowitz, and drummer Billy Hart, along with bassist Ron McClure as … Read More
