A fugue of tones and textures where vocals sail away with violin might give a clue to the surprises in one song, a new one by the Simeon Davis Group. “Pleiades” is an awesome mixed-tempo expression with violin very much central in modes minor and major, grinding, stabbing and double-stopping while the other instruments (horn,... Continue Reading →
Throw out what you thought you knew about the ukulele. Yes, it can be quaint, charming, a wanna-be, higher-register guitar in miniature. Enter Stephen Godsall, who has set out to play the uke to its fullest potential, funkifying it, making it swing like gypsy jazz, riffing out in hearty solos. His latest work, Ukulele Forms... Continue Reading →
The gratification of a hook-drenched melody will never leave you high and dry. That is what you’ll find in Atlantic Groove Society’s newest venture (Feb. 2022), “Past and Present.” The album creates a warm, expansive feeling in ten memorable tracks. While the horn (from leader Alexander Hartgers) soars and sings, guitar, drums, keys, bass and... Continue Reading →
Nine new tracks from Big Brooklyn show the light peeking through after lockdown and two difficult years for all of us. “Everyone Everywhere” is the CD that invites us to restore music to its rightful place in our lives. The song “Send it to Me” rolls right along with a tight hook and lots of... Continue Reading →
A steady beat by piano and darkly colored dissonances collide with an ethereal voice, twinned by cello and grounded by luscious bass. This is the title track of Jacopo Ferrazza’s new CD Fantasia, where the music takes off like a bird in flight with a sudden fugue of horns, piano and notes too high to... Continue Reading →
Debbie Burke - jazz author 
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