Just released in January: original compositions by violinist Gabe Terracciano on a CD called “In Flight” from label Red Piano Records. These are six ear-pleasing tracks strong on melody, sweetness and snazz. How did you come to start playing violin at such an early age? My father is a piano player, and his grandfather played... Continue Reading →
As art moves us, the ripple effects can cause the creation of new art; so has composer and vibraphonist Christian Tamburr been inspired by the larger-than-life sculptures of artist Seward Johnson. Tamburr’s new CD that riffs off these massive works was named after his favorite one of them, “Awakening.” From the sweet hook of “Between... Continue Reading →
“They Call Me Big New York” is the newest CD by Brooklyn-born guitarist Christian DeMesones (featured earlier here). If you want to know why he’s called that, it’s because of his big personality and heart, and an approach to music that is 110% all in. The album (just released on 2/20/20 and with over a... Continue Reading →
Bandleader, composer, arranger, trumpeter and a guy who found an important place for 34 strings in his latest oeuvre, Rich Willey has just completed a new CD that brims with depth, texture and amazing walls of jazz. “Down and Dirty” is an all-out experience that’s ambitious and brightly reflects the hard work of a group... Continue Reading →
A reedy mournfulness gives way to outstretched arms seeking to capture the light in a new CD “Green Sapphire” from Canadian guitarist Artur Bayramgalin. The title track (inspired by a dream about his father) journeys comfortably as a mood piece of pastel colors. It’s a deceptive start, because the stop-start jaggedness of “Obsession” follows, paying... Continue Reading →
"Becoming” is 2020’s answer to fresh sounds coming from Shubh Saran & Friends. The EP has five outstanding tracks that paint bold and sweet emotions with extremely creative chord modulations (the title track). “Storm” is a beautiful mass of entangled rhythms, and “Dust” makes amazing use of melodies in unison, bleeds itself of a sense... Continue Reading →
Excitement rolls in like a drum from the very opening of Teymur Phell’s first-ever release titled “Master Volume.” In this generously portioned album of all-original songs, Phell has assembled a sparkling group of artists who mesh their different flavors together with admirable skill. The high-energy track “Zero to Sixty” spotlights Phell’s amazing technical expertise to... Continue Reading →
Indie and newbie musicians alike can flex their chops and get honest critiquing from their peers on a Facebook page devoted to jazz artists working their craft. Called “Jam of the Week” or JOTW, it’s run by trumpet player Farnell Newton, whose own signature sound is smooth, chill and blends in some hip hop and... Continue Reading →
What Django Reinhardt started let no man (or woman) put asunder. Gypsy jazz (sometimes called “Manouche” after Django’s ethnic roots) is a hotbed of intensity recalling the vibe in clubs from 1930’s Paris that has come into its own with excellent jazz practitioners. Speaking of which, Dario Napoli leads Modern Manouche and their latest album,... Continue Reading →
