by Rob Lester, Talkin’ Broadway “Some tracks notably give the talented instrumentalists time aplenty to strut their stuff. The gents are Chris Foreman on Hammond organ, guitarist Lee Rothenberg, and the two Gregs: Greg Ward on saxophone and drummer Greg Rockingham. When Hinda Hoffman Meets Soul Message, everybody meets expectations.” Read the review here.
By Rob Lester, Talkin’ Broadway Looking for variety in song styles and versatility of performance? You’ll find it on the rewarding release named Michael Stephenson Meets the Alexander Claffy Trio. If the title suggests all parties are meeting for the first time, we must ignore that because singer-saxophonist Stephenson and bassist/bandleader Claffy have been friends … Read More
By Rob Lester, Talkin’ Broadway he theme of change ties together a change-of-pace item for our column. Transformation is a collection of original instrumental pieces, many woven around spoken material, addressing such topics as environmental change, evolving attitudes needed to combat prejudice, and personal growth. Read more here.
by Rob Lester, Talkin’ Broadway “In love and music, misery always loves company and catharsis. No wonder the cautionary lament “You Don’t Know What Love Is,” about the agonizing symptoms of a broken heart is still around and being recorded. It has survived for 80 years, following its first near-death experience of being cut from … Read More
By Rob Lester, Talkin’ Broadway With a playing time of an hour and five minutes, clarinet and sax player Evan Arntzen’s newest recording as leader gives us plenty of time to appreciate the sounds of individual instruments played by the seven men, soaring melodies, percolating rhythms, and five vocal tracks that enrich the celebration. But, … Read More
By Rob Lester, Talkin’ Broadway Duke Ellington composed “In a Sentimental Mood” in 1935 in North Carolina; in the same year, with its story set in South Carolina, Broadway’s Porgy and Bess debuted, with its score including the declaration “I Loves You, Porgy.” Also in 1935 Fats Waller made the pop charts with one of … Read More
By Rob Lester, Talkin’ Broadway Prepare to be dazzled! The skillful close-harmony vocal quartet known as The Royal Bopsters brings a lot to the table for a banquet of musical treats. The blend is blissful. (I dare you not to sigh on the Billy Strayhorn/John LaTouche ballad “Day Dream.”) With creative arrangements mostly by the … Read More
By Rob Lester, Talkin Broadway Whether gliding into a groove softly with “Killing Me Softly with His Song” (two versions) or waxing nostalgic with their image-filled original “When I Was a Kid,” singer April May Webb and trumpeter/flugelhorn player Randall Haywood make for agreeable listening. The music floats through the air as his silky-smooth playing … Read More
By Rob Lester, Talkin’ Broadway To be gentle and understated appears to be the stated mission of singer Lauren Henderson’s way with a song. And the quiet, laser-beam-focused approach works with the well-chosen standards that make up The Songbook Session. The caring, knowing tip-toeing through “Tenderly” and the hushed sultriness lavished upon “Sabor a Mi” … Read More
By Rob Lester, Broadway World When I Googled “Catherine Russell” on my computer for the photo you see here, while trying to decide how to begin this review of her current Birdland blast of joy, my answer popped up, thanks to technology. I had only typed her first name when the “auto-complete” feature that presents … Read More
