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Book Review: Aaron Cohen’s GENTLEMAN OF JAZZ: A Life in Music
Author and jazz journalist Aaron Cohen has already accomplished so much and added to the body of knowledge on jazz, but now there’s more great stuff. His new book, Gentleman of Jazz: A Life in Music (Blackstone Publishing), is a veritable cornucopia of mid-century jazz tales told to Cohen through conversations with pianist Ramsey Lewis.... Continue Reading →
Debut Album by Adam Beaudoin Tips a Top Hat to Class in “I Hear a Rhapsody”
Vocalist Adam Beaudoin’s new album I Hear a Rhapsody introduces the world to a seasoned voice that nails the nuance of the slide and slur with mood and energy. With musicians Paul Janoschka (piano), Giacomo Tagliavia (bass) and Jonas Esser (drums), this release is a celebration of classic songs like “You Don’t Know What Love... Continue Reading →
Drums Expand on the New York Groove in Debut Album BRIDGES by Ilya Dynov
Composer-drummer Ilya Dynov’s debut album Bridges is a playground for the ears, sounding polished, sophisticated and nourishing. The title track is a fast ride through town, pulsingly light yet insistent thanks to Dynov’s percussive magic and the engaging musicians on piano, bass and trumpet. The ensemble slowly stirs together a lush-colored mood in “68th Street,”... Continue Reading →
The Surprise of Jazz from Israel: Assaf Levitin’s The IsREAL Book
An Israeli singer (a cantor as well as a modern musician) based in Berlin has released his first jazz album titled The IsReal Book: The Real Book of Israeli Songs, proving language is no barrier when it comes to a theme, a vibe, a melody and some kick-ass rhythms. Leader and singer/songwriter Assaf Levitin’s perspective... Continue Reading →
Sailing Effortlessly into a Mid-Century Vibe: Ben Fox with New CD, Ben’s Bop
Revisiting the year 1957 in jazz is a trip to when melodies could be hummed, when small ensembles could make grand statements with the music, and when the rhythms made us tap our feet. Bassist and leader Ben Fox’s new work, Ben’s Bop, features young artists from the New Orleans region who want to give... Continue Reading →
Kansas City Jazz: A Little Evil Will Do You Good by Con Chapman
A new book on the early 20th-century Kansas City jazz scene by Con Chapman is a treat for anybody interested in music in the Reconstructionist US. Densely packed with countless historical details that are delivered with a deft hand, this book sails along smoothly and easily, relating the little-known facts surrounding the genesis of ragtime,... Continue Reading →
Into the Great Blue Swing of It All: Karen Hammarstrand on the New CD, Still Life
A clear and unfettered voice that tells the truth through melodies seems to catch the ear right away: that’s how you can easily peg Karen Hammarstrand. In her new CD called Still Life, the waltz feel of the title song is familiar yet fresh, with a layer of bright horn sitting flavorfully on top. “The... Continue Reading →
New Music from Claudio Piselli: Nothing Else to Say but How Hip This Is
The energy is like sunlight and presses on with a jazzy insistence. On vibes, the masterful mallets of Claudio Piselli dance and spin through eight flaming tracks. His band’s new CD called Love the Sunshine has hit the airwaves with style. The song “But the Beat Goes On” spotlights the amazing vocals of Oumy N’Diaye ... Continue Reading →
Jewish Women Songwriters Get a Love Letter: Hadar Orshalimy in “Witchcraft”
Where do the classics come from; the words and music from very early in the 20th century that so many take today and make their own…riffing (not ripping) off the Great American Songbook, each with their unique interpretations and melodic bent? It struck vocalist and songwriter Hadar Orshalimy that so many of the unheralded powerhouses... Continue Reading →
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