He only wants to reach people’s hearts through song and a trumpet. New York City-based Wayne Tucker has an impeccable – seemingly innate – sense of timing and phrasing. He doesn’t sweat over formulas or industry standards. Rather, the stories we all experience through love and loss and grief and joy are what he communicates.... Continue Reading →
Greg Vail’s been wailing on the sax since the big hair days of the 1980s (with his own mane to match), through the chill days of smooth as it was breaking out on its very own. Now, he’s re-examining some classic jazz (“Feels So Good”) and has new projects on the table that he’ll be... Continue Reading →
He gives the music a sturdy and funky floor – with his bass keeping the bottom, Reggie Washington’s playing is spare yet each note necessary. In “Fall,” guitarist David Gilmore plays a high-register melody, adding climbing chords punctuated by falls of his own, then the percussionist inserts crashes and rolls. Reggie provides the song with... Continue Reading →
Bucking the notorious traffic on NYC’s George Washington Bridge, car troubles, and living through the disappearance of the Moog synthesizer, musician Pete Levin treks on. Organ, keys, piano and a great ear for composing fresh and engaging music keep things moving along; that, plus his new CD “Mobius” just released this past September. With sparkling... Continue Reading →
Palm, wrist or fingertips, Chembo Corniel places love upon the conga drums, leading his band – his “Friends” – into a rhythmic soul dance. A classic Latin song like “Oye! Como Va?” is light with air and space, yet full of tonal intricacies that pass around the stage. As he launches into “Manteca” the band... Continue Reading →
Sweet as honey with the clarity of a sunny morning, “They Say” is Monika Lidke’s bluesy tale of undeniable love. Even when friends warn you about the dangers of getting your heart broken, it’s a pit you willingly fall into. Her voice here is whipped light, like lace; the melody dances off into the air... Continue Reading →
The strong syncopation, simultaneously lending a Latin and classical edge to “Before I Go,” is a perfect entrée to the music of “Better Than TV.” With its many moving parts and sheer energy, the song bubbles up new melodic thoughts all over, adorning the whole like the bejeweled wings of birds in flight. Even a... Continue Reading →
The enthusiasm, the biting humor, the voracious passion to make music are what define Ms. Grace Garland. She’s a snappy and energetic rubber band, going from the raw and raucous “Single Mingle Jingle” (a contemporary anthem for singlehood that can stand proudly right next to “It’s Raining Men”) to the more somber and classically driven... Continue Reading →
Tal Cohen peers so deeply into the piano keys when he plays that you fear he might fall in. He’s listening to how the notes ring out, and just as intently, plays the pauses and negative spaces. “The Gentle Giant” is a thoughtful piece, delicately utilizing the full length of the instrument. In the more... Continue Reading →
Debbie Burke - jazz author 
You must be logged in to post a comment.