Jazz /Blues Adds: April 15, 2014
Feature image photographed by Martin Phillips
Jazz
Vijay Iyer. Mutations. ecm. Gorgeous experiments from pianist/composer Vijay Iyer working with a string quartet and electronica. recording is divided between 40 minute suite-like mutations with strings, and solo piano reveries from earlier jazz trio work. nods to Philip Glass; stately elegance, categorically, perhaps crossover “wet ink” classical music.
The Bad Plus. The Rite of Spring. masterworks. More windows into classical music from jazz talent. the bad plus trio–Reid Anderson, bass; Ethan Iverson, piano; David King, drums–brings on Igor Stravinsky’s the rite of spring. complete and with all the barn-burning intensity of the 1913 original.
Regina Carter. Southern Comfort. masterworks. Bright, authentic arrangements from the songbook of American Creole and Appalachia; the artist is Detroit-native, classically trained violinist Regina Carter looking deeply into the roots music of her ancestors. all hits, from Dennis Mcgee’s blues de Basile to Gram Parsons hickory wind. the superb band–Marvin Sewell, Jesse Murphy, Chris Lightcap, Will Holshouser– shine modest beauty on the traditional song arrangements by a dozen different artists.
Oscar Peterson/ Ben Webster. During this Time. NDR. A cd/dvd combination featuring jazz giants pianist Oscar Peterson and tenor Ben Webster recorded in Hannover, Germany at the NDR Jazz workshop, december 1972, just months before webster passed away in Amsterdam. Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen on bass, Tony Inzalaco at the drums; seasoned quartet playing Ellington classics, and Webster originals.
Marcus Roberts. From Rags to Rhythm. j-master. Twelve movement suite from New Orleans pianist Marcus Robert and trio: Rodney Jordan, bass and Jason Marsalis, drums. Ambitious, stirring, elegant, crossover music—plays better in its entirety, or as multi-segments than plucking out individual cues.
Eric Vloeimans. North Sea Jazz Legendary Concerts. bob city. No one plays trumpet like Eric Vloeimans–risky, tender, controlled, captain of the ship. what we have here are cd + dvd. cd includes Fugimundi concert (Rotterdam) with Harmen Fraanje, piano and Anton Goudsmit on guitar; plus Gatecrash show (Rotterdam) with Jasper Van Hulten, drums; Jeroen Van Vliet, fender; Gulli Gudmundsson, bass. but the dvd has many golden nuggets that deserve cd release in their own right. rumor says Vloeimans returns to Cville fall, 2014.
Mark Egan. About Now. wavetone. Loved this; trio led by bass guitarist Mark Egan with outstanding pianist Mitchell Forman and drummer Danny Gottlieb. all originals; often with the Pat Metheny group, Egan has played with the many and mighty.
Pete Mcguinness. Strength in Numbers. summit. Trombonist/arranger/vocalist Pete Mcguinness directs his jazz orchestra through a graceful playlist of mostly originals; strong musicianship from what is primarily a woodwind & horn ensemble, and they swing.
Charlie Dennard. From Brazil to New Orleans. self. Multi-keyboardist, composer, Cirque De Soleil musical director, Charlie Dennard loves his hometown New Orleans, but believes that NoLa and Brazil have musical affinities. playlist includes Luiz Gonzaga’s Asa Branca, and many accordion-friendly cues. Doug Belote, drums; Brian Seeger, guitar; Matt Perrine, bass; Steve Masakowski, 7-string guitar.
David Hazeltime. For All We Know. smoke sessions. Veteran jazz pianist David Hazeltine tributes his influences with a stellar quartet: Seamus Blake, tenor; David Williams, bass; Joe Farnsworth, drums. et cedra and my ship are dedicated to Cedar Walton; Eddie Harris to that man; Cheryl to Charie Parker;
John La Barbera. Caravan. jazz compass. Excellent arrangements from arranger/leader John La Barbera for his big band. originals and others playlist; stand-outs include Kenny Barron’s voyage, Jao Bosco’s incompatible.
Mo’Fone. ‘Fonology. self. Bay Area funky jazz trio has invited guests to help them stir some New Orleans into their blistering sound. the core– Jeremy Steinholer (drums) + Larry De La Cruz (sax) + Jim Peterson (more sax, percussion)– adds in Kirk Joseph on sousaphone, Marty Wehner, trombone to their originals playlist.
Blues
Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne. Rollin ‘with the Blues Boss. stony plain. Boogie woogie piano man/ vocalist Kenny Wayne, native of New Orleans, has taken his blues stride to Canada where he “cooks” in the clubs of Vancouver. guests on this recording include Eric Bibb and Diunna Greenleaf.
Josh Hoyer. and the Shadowboxers. self. Out of the heartland, Lincoln, NE comes vocalist Josh Hoyer with an originals setlist, a six piece R&B/soul/funk band with a female vocals trio. it’s a big, demanding sound; more action from the kickstarter musical universe.
Lil’Ronnie & the Bluebeats with Claudia Carawan. Unfinished Business. ellersoul. Harmonicat Ronnie Owens joins with gospel vocalist Claudia Carawan and many other blues musicians to finish the work of songwriting they started back in the 1990′s.
Blues Mix 13. Grown Folks Soul. Ecko. Soul compilations that includes Ms. Jody, Donnie Ray, Sony Mack, O.B. Buchana.
Author: Ann Porotti, host of All That Jazz (Thursday, 10-noon) and co-host of Melodiya (Friday, 6-8pm), has fallen in love with all kinds of music as a result of writing the Jazz + Blues Adds blog.
