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New Jazz Adds – 9/10/2018

Tia Brazda – Daydream (Flatcar): This appears to be singer Tia Brazda’s third release and it features eight original songs of “jazz-pop”, a moniker that suits her singing style quite well. She is backed by Mike Freedman and Chris Graham (guitars), Chris Graham (organ), Alison Young (alto sax), Chris Gale (tenor sax), Shirantha Beddage (bari sax), William Sperandel and John John Pittman (trumpet), William Carl (trombone), Marc Rogers (bass), Larnell Lewis (drums), Sarah Wwiebe and Amy Spurr (violin), Rachael Abramoff (viola), Alice Kim (cello) and Alana Bridgewater, Sarah Hiltz, Karen Jewels and Quisha Wint (backing vocals). The line-up shifts from song to song adding additional variety to the program. The feeling is more on the pop side than straight jazz. Click here to listen to the song “Daydream” from this disc.   

Circles Around The Sun – Let It Wander (Rhino): Circles Around The Sun, featuring Neal Casal (guitar), Adam MacDougall (keys), Dan Horne (bass) and Mark Levy (drums, percussion) were contracted to record instrumentals to be played in between sets of The Grateful Dead’s “Fare Thee Well tour, but this is their second release as a performing group beyond that time because they had such a great time playing together. The sound here is far more spacey that the Dead’s music and the electronic aspects are a large reason for that. It’s space / psych with a dash of funk. As with many jam experiments, some are wonderful and some overstay their creativity or welcome, but there are some very good moments on this set if this is your kind of music. Click here and scroll down to listen to samples of this disc.   

Henry Conerway III – With Pride For Dignity (Self-produced): Drummer Henry Conerway III grew up in Detroit and after graduating from Morehouse College specializing in composition returned to his home town. He moved to New York in 2015 and is building quite a following. This disc features his trio which includes Kevin Smith (bass) and Kenny Banks, Jr (piano). Their blend is quite nice and they cover a lot of ground on the release: one original composition by Coneray, one from Banks, and several other songs arranged by various members of the trio. The music flows well and the sound is fresh. I regret that I am unable to find a sample from this disc.

Greg Diaz & The Art Of Imagination Jazz Orchestra – Begin The Agora (Self-produced): Greg Diaz (tenor sax, clarinet, lead vocal) describes his music as “…an eclectic example of modern jazz scored for a big band jazz orchestra with the idea of allowing enough creative freedom that allows for, and thrives on adventurous improvisations and interactions.” Diaz composed three songs and part of a medley with covers of “Brother John” and “Iko Iko” and one composition by Kevin Eubanks. Additional players include Ismael Vergara and Manny Echazbel (alto sax, clarinet),Scott Clarman (tenor sax), Mike Brignola (bari sax), Jesus Mato, Doug Michels, Seth Merlin and Kevin Wilde (trumpets); Russell Freeland, Jason Pyle, and Tom Warfel (trombones), Michael Nunez (bass trombone), Eero Turunen (guitar), James McCoy (bass) and Matt Calderin (drums). This music swings and has a modern and enjoyable flavor. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.   

Sam Dillon – Out In The Open (Cellar Live): Tenor saxophonist Sam Dillon can certainly lay down some wonderful riffs! This appears to be his first release as a leader and he is in great form whether soloing or supporting his companions. The group includes Peter Zak (piano), Yoshi Waki (bass) and Billy Drummond (drums). Dillon certain turns loose on his two compositions and he allows ample room for his cohorts to shine as well. The program covers a range of tunes stretching from Jobim’s “Triste” and Horace Silver’s “Peace” to Cole Porter’s “Night And Day” and Jimi Hendrix’s “Third Stone From The Sun”. This is a solid set throughout and Dillon is clearly someone to keep your ears on. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.   

Maurice Frank – Mad Romance And Love (Self-produced): Singer Maurice Frank sounds like a mix of Tony Bennett with dashes of Sinatra and Torme. He was and is great fan of their performances from the fifties and sixties. His performances range from Cole Porter, Strayhorn and Ellington, and Kern to show tunes and even a slice of Lennon and McCartney. He also adds some Latin touches to his performances. If you listened to this style when you were younger and enjoy club style performances, especially the styles of the above named singers, you’ll find this disc quite entertaining. Click here to listen to samples fo the songs on this disc.   

Jimmy Haislip / Scott Kinsey / Gergo Bortai – ARC Trio (Blue Canoe): Multi-rhythmic trio featuring Jimmy Haislip (electric bass), Scott Kinsey (keys, piano) and Gergo Bortai (drums) present eight original songs somewhat reminiscent of the early 70s but less “far out” than Weather Report and similar groups. It’s all rhythmic, fairly funky and flowing. Haislip was formerly a member of The Yellowjackets and Kinsey was a protege of Joe Zawinul. The trio has a few guests, including Vinnie Colaiuta and Gary Novak (drums on two songs each), Steve Tavaglione (soprano sax, flute, EWI on four songs) and Judd Miller (EVI on one song). Especially for fans of electronic jazz. Click here to listen to samples of songs on this disc.  

Jennifer Lee – My Shining Hour (SBE): “I always wrote a little bit,” says Lee, “but I certainly never thought of myself as a songwriter. Then a shift happened and all this music started channeling in. It’s like some crazy, overactive muse attached itself to me.” (https://www.prweb.com/releases/2018/06/prweb15582739.htm) Her range of styles includes ballads, catchy vocalese numbers and some delightful twists of lyrics and music as well. She composed eleven of the thirteen songs on this disc. Her band, the Ever-Expanding Universe, includes Carey Williams (vocals), Tripp Sprague (sax on 3 songs), Steve Dillard (trumpet on 2 songs), Peter Sprague (guitar on all but 2 songs), Adam Shulman (piano, organ, Rhodes), Gunnar Biggs and Buca (Bootza) Necak (sharing bass duties), Justin Grinnell (electric bass on 2 songs), Duncan Moore (drums), Murray Lowe (piano on 1 song),  along with special guests including trumpeter Randy Brecker (flugelhorn on one song), bassist Bob Magnusson (2 songs), Grammy Award-winning violinist Mads Tolling (1 song), and percussion maestro John Santos. There is also string backing on 2 songs. The disc definitely grows on the listener with each listening as the variety of styles and settings are unique. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.   

Chris Lightcap – Superette (RPF): Bass player Chris Lightcap is apparently the leader of Superette and he contributed six of the songs on this disc. Curtis Hasselbring (guitar, on the left) composed two. The remaining members of the group are Jonathan Goldberger (guitar on the right) and Dan Rieser (drums) and they are supported by Nels Cline (electric guitar and lap steel on 4 songs) and John Medeski (Hammond B-3 and Wurlitzer organ on 4). The latter two add quite a bit of variety even though they are both on two of the same songs, but play separately from each other on two of the others. The songs that the band covers are Link Wray’s “Ace Of Spades”, Skip Spence’s “All Come To Meet Her” and Neil Young’s “Birds”. Fans of the familiar names should bright on this. Click here to listen to a song from this disc that features all players.   

Mike Spinrad w/ Guido Fazio – Horns (Self-produced): Drummer/percussionist/composer Mike Spinrad offers a full set of original compositions (three co-written). Tenor sax and flute player Guido Fazio is given special billing and his interaction is truly wonderful and important to the group performance. The other players are Don Turney (piano, organ) and Richard Conway (trumpet, flugelhorn), with Larry Stewart adding bari sax on six songs and a constantly shifting set of bass players: Eric Lyons, John Hettel, Daniel Parenti and David Enos. Spinrad describes this set as “…funky era bop with three horns and exciting arrangements in the style of the Jazz Messengers. It’s all about the jazz groove, improvisation, and the blues.” Fine performances. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.   

Roseanna Vitro – Tell Me The Truth (Skyline Productions): Roseanna Vitro is a 20-year vocal jazz  instructor at New Jersey City University, who has retired and is seeking to revitalize a number of songs that  she has admired for many years, including Allen Toussaint’s “On Your Way Down” and the Everly Brothers’ “When Will I Be Loved” reimagined from the jazz side. Some of these transformations work especially well: “I’ll Fly Away” is a magnificent example of that; “Respect Yourself” is jazzy and jumpy, but has lost the gravity and depth of the original version by the Staple Singers. Vitro’s backing players are Mark Soskin (piano, horn arrangements), Dean Johnson (bass), Rudy Royster (drums), Mitch Stein (guitar), Tim Ries (sax) and Nathan Eklund (trumpet) with special guests Al Chestnut (duet vocalist), Sara Caswell (violin) and Kate McGarry and Cindy Scott (vocals). Click here to listen to samples of all of the songs on this disc.   

Robert Walter’s 20th Congress – Spacesuit (Self-produced): “A founding member of the seminal groove band The Greyboy Allstars, organ, keyboard and synth sharp-shooter Robert Walter splits his time between his own 20th Congress, Greyboy, and a robust film soundtrack career in Los Angeles.” (https://www.robertwalter.com/bio) As you might expect, this journey heads to the stars and the outer space can be pretty funky. In addition to Walter’s keyboards, the Congress includes Simon Lott (drums, percussion), Victor Little (bass) and Chris Alford (guitar) and guest percussionist Mike Dillion. Space is a groove, so get your space boots placed and laced and your hip in a funky dip. Click here for the sound of “Current Futures”.   

Kopasetically,

Professor Bebop