Tagged: Album Reviews

The proof, as they say, is in the pudding; and trombonist Steve Turre's new release “Woody's Delight” is a rich and highly palatable blend of straight ahead, relaxed and Latin sounds enhanced by an array of talented musicians augmenting the leader's consistently engaging compositional skills and playing. It's a marvelously diverse session and our CD of the month.

Electric pianist Tom Wetmore makes his debut with an impressive electric jazz recording which does not disappoint. Wetmore's energetic band includes the very talented Jaleel Shaw whose saxophone provides a stimulating conversational partner to Wetmore's electric piano. An all-original program of nine numbers ensures a satisfying listen for the jazz enthusiast. Tom Wetmore is a pianist, composer, and bandleader working in the New York City area.

Sure to warm up even the coldest of winter nights, the latest disc by Frank Macchia is a pleasure.  Swamp Thang presents a band of the same name lead by Grammy Nominated Compser Macchia. Wild groove music with crazy chromatic melodies come together with a dose of Cajun and a dash of humor.   The Swamp Thang band, led by Frank Macchia on saxophone, features  John Rosenberg on piano, organ and keyboards, Ken Rosser and Eric Jensen on electric guitars, Tom Lockett on electric bass and Frank Briggs on drums and percussion.

Another one of those live recordings that lets you feel that you are there.  Further Explorations is a 2 CD celebration of the music of Bill Evans with two of the former band mates of Evans on stage. There's Eddie Gomez, the legendary bassist who was with the Bill Evans trio for eleven years, 1966-1977.  Paul Motian is also on the stage, one of the most influential jazz drummers of the last 50 years who was with Evans from 1959 through 1964 .  Chick Corea, one of the most dynamic and creative pianists in all of jazz since Evans, joins Gomez and Motian.

Trumpeter and flugelhornist Jimmy Owens, an NEA Jazz Master, has gathered an outstanding septet to reinterpret the Thelonious Monk Songbook on The Monk Project, just released on IPO Recordings.This is Owens debut as a leader and he has the backing of fellow NEA Jazz Master Kenny Barron at the piano, Wycliffe Gordon- trombone, Marcus Strickland- tenor sax, Howard Johnson- tuba and baritone sax, Kenny Davis-bass and Winard Harper-drums.Highlights include a Latin take on Well You Needn't, a gutbucket blues arrangement of Blue Monk and Let's Cool One arranged as a waltz with Owens playin

Jazz vocalist's tremendous artistry is demonstrated on "Cosmic".

By Chris Cooke