by Ross Boissoneau, Something Else “Big bands are also bringing the joy. Bandleader and arranger Steven Feifke and lyricist, vocalist and trumpeter Benny Bennack III joined forces for Season’s Swinging Greetings. It kicks off with the enjoyable original “I Think My Girlfriend is an Elf” and hits a host of high notes (literally and figuratively). Another … Read More
By Ross Boissoneau, Something Else! Then there’s the disc from the 8-Bit Big Band: Released on Jan. 8, Backwards Compatible explores the further reaches of the so-called Great Video Game Songbook. The third such album from Tony-nominated Charlie Rosen, his inspiration is some of the most beloved video game franchises of all time: Sonic the … Read More
By Ross Boissoneau, Something Else! Canadian trumpet and flugelhorn player and composer Rachel Therrien has released five albums. She was the winner of the 2015 TD Grand Prize Jazz Award at the Montreal International Jazz Festival and the 2016 Stingray Jazz Rising Star Award. Therrien has performed with the likes of Claudio Roditi, Paquito D’Rivera, Lee Konitz and … Read More
By Ross Boissoneau, Something Else! Darren Barrett takes a side trip to delve into the innovations of Nyle Steiner, creator of the EWI, popularized by such innovators as Michael Brecker. Clocking in at under a half hour, The EVI Sessions: Mr. Steiner is more EP than LP. Read the full review here.
By Ross Boissoneau, Something Else The Brecker Brothers appeared on hundreds if not thousands of recordings, by the likes of James Taylor, Todd Rundgren (“Hello It’s Me”), Aerosmith (“Same Old Song and Dance”), Everything But the Girl, Bruce Springsteen, Art Blakey, Jaco Pastorius – even Blood, Sweat and Tears, of which Randy Brecker was a … Read More
