I stand with my jazz brothers and sisters. THIS HAS TO STOP. Miles Davis (c) Jerry Kinstler/NY Daily News (c) Debbie Burke 2020
#BLACKLIVESMATTER
The Steps of a Life’s Journey: “Totem” with Ferdinando Romano
Bassist Ferdinando Romano’s debut as a front man in the new CD called “Totem” is proof he has the chops to create a variety of textures and flavors, coaxing the very best from his ensemble. “Mirrors” has the quality of a band tuning up/coming together, its independent melodic fragments sprinkled skillfully; “Evocation” gives Romano the... Continue Reading →
Linguistics and Musical Meanderings – Sophie Tassignon on “Mysteries Unfold”
The new CD from Sophie Tassignon, “Mysteries Unfold,” has a potpourri of sounds dancing in many different corners of jazz: the cabaret-like “Don’t Be So Shy with Me” (a perfect lilt and bounce with a dash of cynicism), its echo-chambered voices in the bridge unexpectedly bringing a quick change of temperature and tempo. “Cum Dederit”... Continue Reading →
Double Time: Two Tasty New CDs from Ratko Zjaca
Two new works by guitarist Ratko Zjaca (interviewed earlier here) are almost too much of a treat at once. Not only is his instrumentation firmly in that perfect Goldilocks zone; his melodic lines are uncluttered, tempos tight but unobtrusive, and the phrasing flows like a river. Consider the sensibility of a meandering soul (“Here Nothing... Continue Reading →
Bright and Tight: Dave Stryker with Bob Mintzer and the WDR Big Band
Those airy swells, chill on-pointness and big band brilliance make guitarist/leader Dave Stryker’s new album “Blue Soul” an amazing contribution to jazzhood. The first track, “Trouble Man,” starts hot right out of the gate, swinging its way through the theme, veering off for some intense and bluesy solos by Stryker and then a stellar take-off... Continue Reading →
Velvet Fireworks from Mozambique: Moreira Chonguica
Saxophonist Moreira Chonguica has assembled an amazing cadre of musicians who pour their hearts into his latest CD called “M & M,” so titled because of the collaboration with Manu Dibango, the recently passed icon and singer/songwriter from Cameroon. A celebration and fresh remembrance of his contribution to music, this CD is infused with glints... Continue Reading →
Javier Subatin Shares Social Distancing Strategies
Advice and tidbits on how to keep your music and your brand on track. Today's inspiration comes from Lisbon-based guitarist Javier Subatin who has just come out with the self-released "Variaciones." How are you getting gigs, whether performing or teaching? In order to get gigs... I'm looking for festivals starting in January and after. Regarding... Continue Reading →
Mist, Trickle, Waterfall: Jeremy Siskind’s New “Perpetual Motion Etudes”
To imbue nuanced atmosphere so skillfully into what is really a brilliant study of dynamics and chordal structures, one needs to be part musician, part teacher and part painter. That is not a tall order for songwriter and pianist Jeremy Siskind. In his latest release “Perpetual Motion Etudes for Piano,” he takes us from the... Continue Reading →
Channeling Chopin: The Yellow Wallpaper
Composer, arranger and jazz vocalist Carol Nethen brilliantly invokes her classical Muse and conjures up clouds of ether and mystery with her accompaniment to a Victorian era work titled "The Yellow Wallpaper." Just re-released by The Spencer Library, the project creatively pairs fine literature with what amounts to sonic poetry. Taking the time to explore... Continue Reading →
