What sounds like soft “noodling” is a quick study in modes and harmonics. Guitarist Matt Chandler brings us from ethereal to picking up steam to flying high. Such sweet precision that it looks effortless. Equal weight with soloing is contributed by Ross Stanley (organ) and Eric Ford (drums). Nobody falters and fingers fly for all... Continue Reading →
A duet that can perform so intuitively with all the necessary nuances need not even be in the same space, may be blindfolded, may be separated. Still that duet will produce elegant and beautiful harmonies in perfect rhythmic respect to one another. As its name suggests, eMPathia Jazz Duo basically shares one jazzy heart. With... Continue Reading →
Mauricio Zottarelli ’s new CD is most distinguishable by its opening suite, three panels conveying how we can be upside-down in life, and in need of re-orienting ourselves to a new path. Part 1 has conflicting rhythms that pull each other forward, hold each other back- opening to a sweet sax solo that leads the... Continue Reading →
Rhythmically boppy with unexpected chord changes and thick strands of textures, the UK’s Philip Clouts Quartet is accessible and joyous. As an example, the song “Umoya” shows its optimism with an ever-present sax noodling throughout, piano subtly giving it a foundation, and multi-dimensional rhythm urging us forward. The joy is easy to spot. Frontman Clouts’... Continue Reading →
Bass player Donald Wayne King’s style is calm and almost mesmerizing, with a lot of funk. One of his favorite hangouts is a little joint in Hartford, CT called Black Eyed Sally’s – good food, great jazz. His tune “Slam” has his bass keeping the fattest beat with a screaming guitar over it, where “Latina”... Continue Reading →
Singer/songwriter Stephanie Jeannot hosts a jazz radio show called The JNote at Medgar Evers College in New York City. Her recent Sunday broadcast on WNYE 91.5 FM – always relevant – was a celebration of the life of Dizzy Gillespie who would have made 100 this year. A powerhouse of a singer who belts it... Continue Reading →
Freshly-baked, experimental, with challenging time signatures that shift like tectonic plates, Dave Manington’s band Riff Raff is highly innovative. They have a new CD coming out in 2018 that’s totally different. And, he’s in two other bands. Keeping their identities separate is a snap for this dedicated and idea-driven double bassist. One example of unheard... Continue Reading →
With a deep love and appreciation for the jazz figures who have come before him, Bruce Purse is the jazz lover’s futurist: looking ahead and allowing the musical tide to bring jazz to its new evolution. On trumpet (and sometimes pocket trumpet) his sound is fat, wide; a big and hot hug that stays with... Continue Reading →
The nuances possible with the EVI – a breath-controlled wind synthesizer – are mastered yet always being explored for further depths by Blu7 Music’s James Barela. Due to an injury to his lip, James had been unable to continue to play the trumpet, his instrument of choice when Blu7 was founded. But another door opened,... Continue Reading →
Debbie Burke - jazz author 
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