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Artist: Pharez Whitted
Title: Transient Journey
Label: Owl Studios
Terry’s Comments: Whitted has channeled Freddie Hubbard perhaps better than anybody. Even more impressive is this total ensemble in an updated form of post-bop that bristles.
Artist: Dave Glasser
Title: Evolution
Label: Here Tiz Music
Terry’s Comments: None of these players is a household jazz name but, wow, do they play. Alto saxist Glasser reveals influences from Hodges to Coltrane. A gem.
Artist: Wycliffe Gordon
Title: Cone and T-Staff
Label: Criss Cross Jazz
Terry’s Comments: Trombonist Gordon, a multi-talented alumnus of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, joins with trumpet star Terell Stafford for a fine straightahead outing.
Artist: Tom Gavornik
Title: Tom Gavornik on the Floor
Label: Light Action Productions
Terry’s Comments: Gavornik is a talented guitarist who has assembled a group and some electronics to produce this quirky set of originals.
Artist: Jim Pearce
Title: I’m in the Twilight of a Mediocre Career
Label: Oak Avenue Publishing
Terry’s Comments: Pearce sings like a pianist, meaning he’s a better pianist than singer. He’s a good lyricist, too, reminding one perhaps of Frishberg. There’s also some good playing by good mainstream sideme.
Artist: Stanton Moore
Title: Groove Alchemy
Label: self
Terry’s Comments: Happy, funky groove music by an organ trio, with all the repetitiveness one expects from a group like this.
Artist: Royce Campbell Trio Plus Phil Woods
Title: Movie Songs Project
Label: Philology
Terry’s Comments: Though somewhat under the radar, Campbell is a fine guitarist. Woods at 79 and with emphysema still has surprising energy and, of course, his taste is very much intact.
Artist: Dave Holland Octet
Title: Pathways
Label: Dare 2
Terry’s Comments: The legendary bassist and Miles Davis alumnus leads this “little big band” of eight outstanding players in an always spirited performance of originals.
Artist: The Rich Greenblatt Group
Title: Hat Trick
Label: Brass Taco
Terry’s Comments: This Boston-area vibist is a player to watch. The sextet plays a modern form of jazz that’s often edgy, sometimes incorporating electronics.
Artist: Junior Mance
Title: Out South
Label: Jun Glo Music
Terry’s Comments: His credentials are stunning: Bird, Lester, Hawk, Stitt, Lockjaw, among others. A modern pianist who swings with the best of them, at heart Mance may just be a soul man, whose music can be downright funky-butt. He’s with a quintet here.
Artist: Geri Allen
Title: Flying Toward the Sound
Label: Motema Music
Terry’s Comments: A Brilliant artist, Allen delivers a solo piano performance, an homage to three of her inspirations: Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner and Cecil Taylor. The music is modern, abstract, edgy and always inspired.
Artist: Jeanie Brandes
Title: Kisses You Awake
Label: self
Terry’s Comments: Fine band, good arrangements, great playlist… the singer? Well, you be the judge.
Artist: Michael Zilber
Title: The Billy Collins Project: eleven on turning ten
Label: OA2
Terry’s Comments: Zilber has assigned himself the challenge of writing music to the free verse of Billy Collins. The result is a highly engaging jazz performance by good players and a vocalist. It’s different!
Artist: Harris Simon
Title: The Mastery of Passion
Label: Resonance
Terry’s Comments: One wonders why this is being released for the first time 30 years after being recorded. Keyboardist Simon is joined by some giants of jazz in a fine outing characteristic of where jazz was moving in the late ’70s.
Artist: Andrew Oliver Sextet
Title: 82% Chance of Rain
Label: OA2
Terry’s Comments: Is it rock? Is it jazz? Depends on which track you listen to. Sometimes it’s one, sometimes the other. Sometimes it’s both—fusion! A spirited outing.
Artist: Dee Dee Bridgewater
Title: Eleanora Fagan—To Billie with Love
Label: DDB Records
Terry’s Comments: Vocalist Bridgewater is joined by some jazz all-stars in this Billie Holliday tribute, in some cases updating the arrangements significantly.
Blues
Artist: Matthew Stubbs
Title: Medford & Main
Label: Bella Blues
Artist: Rafter
Title:Animal Feelings
Label :: Ashmatickitty
Style:: pop/electronic
Artist: Night Driving In Small Towns
Title:Serial Killers
Label: Lower 40
Style:: Indie/rock
Artist:Tallest man On Earth
Title:The Wild Hunt
Label: Dead Ocean
Riyl:: Bob Dylan
Artist: Freelance Wheels
Title:Weathervane
Label: French kiss
Riyl:: Death Cab For Cutie
Artist: Roky Erickson
Title:True Love Cast Out All Evil w/Okkervil River
Label: Anti
Riyl :: The 13th Floor Elevators
Artist: Cary Brothers
Title:Under Control
Label: Pumpkin Man
Riyl:; Bryan Adams
Artist:; Raul Midon
Title:Synthesis
Label :: Decca
Style:: Rock/roots/reggae
Artist: David Byrne & Fatboy Slim
Title: Here Lies Love
Label: Nonesuch
Artist: Communist Daughter
Title: Soundtrack to The End
Label: Grain Belt
Artist: Mainly Lanes
Title: Oomami
Label: Self Release
Artist: Elliot Smith
Title: Roman Candle
Label: Kill Rock Stars
Artist: Elliot Smith
Title: Basement on the Hill
Label: Kill Rock Stars
Artist: Disco Biscuits
Title: Planet Anthem
Label: Diamond Riggs
Artist: Voodoo Dolls
Title: Voodoo Dolls
Label: Self Release
Artist: Doug Wood
Title: Dreamcatcher
Label: Self Release
Artist: Nathaniel Rateliff
Title: In Memory Of Loss
Label: Rounder
Artist: Jill King
Title: Rain on Fire
Label: Foundher Records
Genre: Folk, Americana
Comments: Great Female Americana, sounds like Indigo Girls, Lucinda Williams, Sara Watkins
Bjorn’s Comments: Great for Women Plus show, Folk Shows
Artist: Shaun Ruyman
Title: Luckiest Man Alive
Label: Self
Genre: Pop Folk
Bjorn’s Comments:Sounds like Jack Johnson
Artist: Laura Marling
Title: I Speak Because I can
Label: Astralwerks
Bjorn’s Comments: Melancoly Folk, with some great voice and instruments. Mood setting, sounds like Audrey Ryan. Great for Women Plus show, Folk Shows
Artist: Marion Grace
Title: Lying Down Looking Up
Label: Self Release
Artist: Electric Mummy
Title: Electric Mummy
Label; Electric Mummy
Riyl: Ramones/Iron Maiden
Artist: Sheila MacDonald
Title: This Way
Label: Sheila MacDonald
Artist: Olivier Manchon
Title: Orchestre de Chambre Miniature, Vol. 1
Label: ObliqSound
Terry’s Comments: A classical string quartet with guest soloists added (sax, harmonica, piano). Beautifully lyrical music, wonderful.
Artist: New York Art Quartet
Title: Old Stuff
Label: Cuneiform
Terry’s Comments: This is early (1965) free jazz. From the promoter: “The New York Art Quartet was a band that left the scene too soon. Active for barely a year and a half, the group made just two records—both prized by generations of listeners ever since. Co-leaders John Tchicai (alto sax) and Roswell Rudd (trombone), considered to be the first free-jazz trombonist, had met a year or so earlier, working with Bill Dixon and others to expand the reaches of jazz.” …
Artist: Ahmad Jamal
Title: A Quiet Time
Label: Dreyfus
Terry’s Comments: He’s back! During a 60-year career, Jamal has influenced Miles Davis, scores of pianists, and many other jazz musicians. And just listen—he’s still exploring and growing!
Artist: Marc Pompe
Title: Hi-Fly
Label: Self-produced
Terry’s Comments: Pompe is a fine jazz vocalist in the Jon Hendricks tradition. And the band gives him great support on this set of jazz standards.
Artist: VW Brothers
Title: Muziek
Label: Patois
Terry’s Comments: Two talented players take full advantage of the electronics without sacrificing their taste or creativity. Jazz for the 21st century.
Artist: John Blake, Jr.
Title: Motherless Child
Label: ARC
Terry’s Comments: Modern vocal arrangements of African-American spirituals featuring the Howard University Choir, violinist Blake, pianist Mulgrew Miller and more. An exciting recording.
Artist: Orrin Evans
Title: Faith in Action
Label: Positone
Terry’s Comments: One hears yesterday, today and tomorrow in this music—most of it composed by Bobby Watson—played by a contemporary, hard-swinging piano trio
Artist: Sherman Irby Quartet
Title: Live at the Otto Club
Label: BWR
Terry’s Comments: Irby is a fine alto saxophonist with strong credentials. This live performance in Naples, Italy, connects him and drummer Darrell Green with two very good Italian players for a varied and always hard-swinging set.
Artist: Claudio Roditi
Title: Simpatico
Label: Resonance
Terry’s Comments: Roditi brings his beautiful tone and fluid phrasing on trumpets and flugelhorn to this set of very appealing originals—mostly but not all Latin jazz.
Artist: Joey DeFrancesco
Title: Snapshot
Label: High Note
Terry’s Comments: A live performance by the organist with his original trio, a modern version of the classic organ trio, yet soulful and funky as ever.
Artist: Various Artists
Title: Generation Django
Label: Dreyful
Terry’s Comments: Music in the manner of the great Gypsy guitarist Django Reinhart by players of today (e.g. Birelli Lagrene) and yesterday (e.g. Stephane Grapelli). A real treat!
Artist: John Ellis & Double-Wide
Title: Puppet Mischief
Label: ObliqSound
Terry’s Comments: Fun, updated New Orleans-style jazz. The instrumentation alone makes this one worth hearing. (Sousaphone???)
Artist: Charles Apicella & Iron City
Title: Sparks
Label: CArlo Records
Terry’s Comments: Organ/guitar trio with add-ons—still funky. A good listen.
Artist: Jeffrey Leppart & the Hip Notists
Title: They Still Live in the Music of My Thoughts
Label: self
Terry’s Comments: Good singing group and instrumentalists celebrating jazz and its giants. A nice experience.
Artist: Queen Esther
Title: What Is Love
Label: EL Recordings
Terry’s Comments: This singer is intense (not to mention her intonation problem). Mostly originals, some standards.
Artist: Dave LeMieux and House of Soul
Title: Jazz Shaped/Live at the Soiled Dove
Label: Jazz, funk, soul, vocals, spiritual—it’s quite a mix. And LeMieux (tenor sax) can play!
Terry’s Comments:
Artist: Kristine Mills
Title: Bossanovafied
Label: self
Terry’s Comments: Pretty good singer doing her own songs in the Brazilian style with good players.
Artist: EEA
Title: The Dark
Label: Origin
Terry’s Comments: The trio composition is piano/sax/trumpet, the music abstract and explorative.
Artist: George Cotsirilos Trio
Title: Past Present
Label: OA2
Terry’s Comments: Good, capable guitar trio with a mixed repertoire of standards and originals.
Artist: Liam Sillery
Title: Phenomenology
Label: OA2
Terry’s Comments: Trumpeter Sillery leads a classic quintet configuration in a contemporary, exploratory foray.
Artist: Bob Sneider & Paul Hoffman
Title: Serve and Volley
Label: A piano (Hoffman)/guitar(Sneider) duo performance with engaging interplay and lyricism.
Terry’s Comments:
Artist: Scenes
Title: Rinnova
Label: Origin
Terry’s Comments: A simple instrumentation (guitar trio) playing an original repertoire well.
Artist: Razia
Title: Zebu Nation
Label: Cumbanca
Artist: Various
Title: Classic Appalachian Blues
Label: Smithsonian Folkways
Artist: John Scofield
Title: Piety Street
Label: Emarcy
Comments: Jazz guitarist John Scofield joins Meters Bassist George Porter, Jr and other great New Orleans musicians in a lively Blues Gospel session that features both standards and original numbers
Artist: Galatic
Title: Ya-Ka-May
Label: Anti
Artist: Groove Armada
Title: Black Light
Label: Om Records
Artist: Watershed
Title: The World Needs You
Label: EMI
Artist: Matthew Good
Title: Vancouver
Label: Get Music
Artist: Andy Elwell
Title: No One You will ever Know
Label: Self
Artist: Mark Growden
Title: Saint Judas
Label: Porto Franco
Artist: The Ruby Suns
Title: Fight Softly
Label: Sub Pop
Artist: David Byrne
Title Grown Backwards
Label: Nonesuch
Artist: Twin Tigers
Title: Gray Waves
Label: Old Flame
Artist: Anjulie
Title: Boom EP
Label: Hear Music
Artist: Dinosaur Feathers
Title: Fantasy Memorial
Label: Self Release
Artist: Univers Zero
Title: Clivages
Label: Cuneiform
Artist: Algernon
Title: Ghost Surveillance
Label: Cuneiform