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A Broad Boulevard of Music from Mehdi Nabti with “Grooves à Mystères”
The latest album by Quebec-based composer and saxophonist Mehdi Nabti pulls from a keen interest in and detailed knowledge of music from the African continent, Europe and Asia. What he has come up with is informed by his understanding of established and novel modes, but the result is natural, easy to get and vibeful. The... Continue Reading →
SHOWING SOME TLC: Taking Care of Your Sax, Clarinet, Trumpet etc.!
A fascinating primer on taking care of your woodwind or horn from Mike Jacobsen, the owner of Grey Door Music in Australia. He began his career in 1992, and while being a great technician and artisan, he continues to learn from his industry peers and instrument manufacturers. Advice, tips and how to keep loving on... Continue Reading →
The Message Burns Bright in “Song for Our People” by Mustapha Khan and Company
Originally created to honor the memory of his deceased father, a just-released film “Song for Our People” from writer/director Mustapha Kahn is an emotional and stunningly produced documentary that is like conversations with friends over a cup of coffee. A studio-full of talented musicians discuss their experiences as Black Americans, and is interspersed with a... Continue Reading →
HAIRETIS HARPER’s New CD “Draft” Floats on Wings of Strings
What makes “Draft” – the latest CD from Hairetis Harper (comprised of Yiagos Hairetis and Marie-Christina Harper) – unique and familiar at the same time is that the music explores moods and harmonies while playing on (literally) the characteristics of different instruments with strings. Combining the qualities of the Cretan lute and electric harp, the... Continue Reading →
The Consecutives and “Vol. 2” Has Power to Spare
Focusing on a strong pulse and melody lines that float right up to the top, Dan Klug’s group The Consecutives is about to drop its newest release simply called “Volume 2.” The Brooklyn-based band acknowledges its funk and blues patterns that are also injected with jazz. From Vol. 1, “Glide” has a fat and confident... Continue Reading →
Inventive Jazzy Stories on “El Murciélago” – New CD from Alejandro Kanek Ballesteros Coria
The new CD from composer Alejandro Kanek Ballesteros Coria with sax musician Luis Tena presents eleven tracks that show how a variety of influences (Latin, Afro-Cuban and techno) combine to create sounds that are full of life and deserving of exploration. “El Murciélago” is named after the famous Mexican wrestler and TV star Jesus Velazquez... Continue Reading →
A Tonal Cohesion: “Different Roots” from Rodrigo Faina and the Change Ensemble
A new CD from Rodrigo Faina called "Different Roots" shows his chops in composing for a wide swath of musicians. The swell and tension of the opening chords of the track “Deep, Dark and Blue” are capped off by simmering cymbals and suspenseful vocals in unison with the horns; an orchestral piece that breaks its... Continue Reading →
Homero Alvarez’s SEP7ETT Bursts Back in with “Recycle”
RECYCLE is the second EP from Homero Alvarez Sep7ett. After letting out three up-tempo tunes with Brazilian rhythms in the first EP there was, what Alvarez terms, "a need to present our other face." The new work comes from his experience as a composer for different TV, radio and theater productions. "Making music that never... Continue Reading →
The Prismatic Facets of Brian Charette’s New CD “Power in the Air”
Coming March 15: “Power in the Air” by Brian Charette represents album number 3 for his sextet. The NYC-based organist has amped up the wattage in songs like “Harlem Nocturne” – sassy, brassy and with a wicked drag (and an unexpected couple of punches from the flute); “Want” shows playful counterpoint with a fantastic layered... Continue Reading →
