New Jazz Adds – 8/12/2018
New Jazz News – 8/12/2018
Karrin Allyson – Some Of That Sunshine (Self-produced): Release number 15 for Karrin Allyson is a total winner! Her voice is unique and her command of nuance makes her singing and talking combination is both warm and dazzling. “Allyson coolly stakes her claim. She brings a timbre that is part ice and part grain — incisive, original, and emotionally convincing. Heart, intelligence, warmth — an emotional range from bittersweet to sassy —you hear it every time you listen. Make no mistake — Karrin Allyson is singing to you.” (Gary Giddons, Village Voice) Allyson composed all of the songs on this disc and also plays piano on one. Accompanying musicians include Miro Sprague (piano, Rhodes), Chris Caswell (organ), Jeff Johnson (bass), Rod Fleeman (guitar), Jerome Jennings (drums, percussion), and guest appearances by Regina Carter (violin on 3 songs), Houston Person (tenor sax on 3 songs, including a killer solo on “Nobody Said Love Was Easy”) and Lee Sklar (bass on one song). Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Marty Elkins – Fat Daddy (Nagel Heyer): Jazz vocalist Marty Elkins fell in love with jazz and the styles of Bessie Smith and Billie Holiday while in college in Boston. She has developed her own style, reflecting her heroines and touches of a variety jump styles, reminiscent of Ella Mae Morse. Elkins is accompanied by Jon-Erik Kellso (trumpet), James Chirillo (guitar), Joel Diamond (piano, organ, alto sax), Steve Ash (piano), Lee Hudson (bass), Taro Okamoto (drums, tambourine) and Leopoldo Fleming (conga, claves). Smooth. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Chris Hazelton’s Boogaloo Seven – The Basement Beat (Sunflower Soul): “Hammond organist Chris Hazelton and his large-group Boogaloo 7 pay homage to greats such as Lonnie Smith, Jimmy McGriff, Grant Green, and Lou Donaldson with their groove-centered brand of jazz….” (https://chrishazeltonsboogaloo7.bandcamp.com/) Hazleton composed four of the six songs on this disc. The opener was composed by Melvin Sparks and the closer by Gabriel Roth and Sharon Jones, “100 Days, 100 Nights”. There are some really grooving moments on this disc, but it’s not just funk. That being said, the “Basement Beat” is most successful when the when the funk is in the front! In addition to Hazelton, the group also features Nick Howell (trumpet, tambourine), Nick Rowland and Zak Pischnotte (trading songs on alto and tenor sax), Brett Jackson (bari sax), Matt Hopper (guitar) and Danny Rojas (drums) with a three man percussion section added on one song. Click here to listen to the songs on this disc.
Maggie Herron – A Ton Of Trouble (Self-produced): Singer/songwriter/pianist Maggie Herron releases what appears to be her fourth release. She won the 2017 “Nā Hōkū Hanohano” Jazz Album of the Year Award for her album “Between the Music and the Moon” and returns this year with a new release that features ten originals, including five that were co-written with her daughter and three with others. She also includes Leonard Cohen’s “Dance Me To The End Of Love” and Lennon & McCartney’s “In My Life”. The backing instrumentation shifts with the style of the songs and ranges from piano, guitar and bass or drums to the addition of a horn section. Supporting musicians are Bill Cunliffe (piano); Grant Geissman or Larry Koonse (guitar); Dean Taba (bass); Jake Reed (drums); Bob Sheppard (flute, bass clarinet); Gillan Margt and Jason Morales (vocal harmonies); and a horn section of Brandon Fields, Bob McChesney and Ryan Pewees. The music here is straightforward and touches on several styles, including wonderful ballads, show style vocals and even an original tribute to Thelonious Monk with Herron on the piano. Click here to check out a brief introduction to this disc.
Nabate Isles – Eclectic Excursions (NSI Universal): Composer/trumpet player Nabate Isles gained significant attention and praise as a musician when he performed with Wynton Marsalis, Jon Faddis and Doc Cheatham at the age of twelve. Since then he has played as a soloist with Christian McBride, who plays bass on one song on this disc. This is Isles premiere release and it is self-produced. He also plays keys and programs drums on one song and he composed eleven of the fourteen songs on offer. The songs range from the opening duo between Isles and percussionist Allakoi Peete to groupings as large as nine. There is a lot of variety here generated by the combination of players from one song to the next. Supporting musicians include Elzhi (MC); Jrdn, Alita Moses and Michael Mayo (vocals); David Gilmore (guitar); Sam Barsh (piano); Ben Williams and Brad Jones (bass); Johnathan Blake and Nate Smith (drums); Entela Brace, Frederika Krier and Amy Bateman (violin); Beth Myers (viola); Eric Stephenson (cello); Stacy Dillard (tenor sax); Ku-umba Frank Lacy (trombone); Adam Klipple (organ); Jaleel Shaw (alto sax); Adam Klipple (Fender Rhodes, piano); Elena Pinderhughes (flute); Kaveh Rastegar (guitar, bass); Allakoi Peete (percussion). The disc shows terrific reach and flexibility by Isles and his companions as they guide through these “eclectic excursions”! Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
The Nittwitts – Tuning Up (Self-produced): “The Nittwitt sound features a regular but complex pulse by the drums, bass, and keys, while the guitar takes various thematic lines or chords in a series of brief, dissonant fanfares. No real label such jazz, new age, free jazz, mood music etc. can be placed on the Nittwitts. They have attempted everything from vocal songs to movie tracks; but, their passion remains the freedom to chime in as they wish, producing extraordinary passages of collective improvisation. This new album contains instrumental, thematic, and fusion elements which create various moods throughout the ten track album.” (https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/thenittwitts) Group members are Jim Bellin (guitars, keys, effects, programming), Chris Sherlock (drums, percussion) and Carlos Coral (bass). Very melodic and infectious overall with a tiny bit of weird. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Ben Paterson – Live At Van Gelder’s (Cellar Live): A live recording performed in Rudy Van Gelder’s New Jersey studio by organist Ben Paterson, Ed Cherry (guitar) and Jason Tiemann (drums)! Imagine playing on the same organ used by Jimmy Smith and Jack McDuff among others. Whether the magic was created by the spirits of yesterday’s greats or the desire to breathe in the air and give their best back to the spirits of the past, we’ll probably never really know the feeling except by enjoying the performance. The result is terrific! Ten songs composed by the likes of Wayne Shorter, Grant Green, Horace Silver, Jack McDuff, Benny Golson and other greats played by an absolutely terrific trio. If you are a fan of organ trios, do NOT miss this set! Click here to listen to samples of all ten songs on this disc.
John Pittman – Kinship (Slammin Media): Educator/composer/trumpet player John Pittman offers his debut release, “Kinship”. His quintet is tied together as smoothly as can be – they play beautifully as a full unit and they augment each other’s playing seamlessly. Pittman composed six of the eight songs on the disc and arranged the remaining two. The supporting players are Shirantha Beddage (sax), Jeff McLeod (piano), Mike Downes (bass) and Curtis Nowosad (drums). Each of Pittman’s compositions was inspired by his family or thoughts about the meaning of family. The playing really supports the cohesion and positive connections of the unit, whether of family or of the players. Click here for an introduction to this release by John Pittman.
Tim Rachbach – Under One Moon (Self-produced): Composer/drummer Tim Rachbach offers his first release one year after his graduation from the Manhattan School of Music in 2017. He also composed seven of the eight compositions on the disc. The other members of the band are Adam O’Farrill (trumpet), Xavier Del Castillo (tenor sax), Manuel Schmiedel (piano/synth) and Rick Rosato (bass) and everyone reaches out during the songs with fresh ideas as well as being totally in sync with the other players. The result is fresh music that stretches the boundaries, but always brings the beauty of the ensemble back into sync and harmony. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Joani Taylor – In A Sentimental Mood (Cellar Live): Twelve songs interpreted by Joani Taylor ranging from “In A Sentimental Mood” and “Embraceable You” to “Alfie” and “More Than You Know”. PJ Perry (alto, tenor sax) comments in the liner notes that Taylor is “not a jazz singer in the usual sense…Not always perfect but always honest.” (Liner notes) The remaining players are Miles Black (piano) and Neil Swainson (bass). There are some wonderful moments and some that are that are a stretch. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Kopasetically,
Professor Bebop
