Origin Records artist: Nanami Haruta - The Vibe - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Vibe, from Nanami Haruta and it covers a broad spectrum of colors. Opening with Renee Rosnes' Girlie's World, Band leader and trombonist Nanami Haruta and Xavier Davis on piano setup the framework for this waltz tempo track. With Michael Dease on bari sax adding significant warmth to the track and Rodney Whitaker on bass and Ulysses Owens Jr on drums, this is a cool opener. Original track, Toshi features a really nice trombone solo by Haruta with great tone and phrasing with excellent piano accent by Davis and firm underpinnings by Whitaker and Owens. I like the hot drum rhythm under Christian McBride's Sister Rosa with solid piano counterpoint under the trombone harmonizing by Haruta and Dease. Haruta shows her stuff with smart articulation on her solo and Dease adds a great swinging solo of his own (also on trombone) leading into a rich bass solo by Whitaker making this one of my favorites on the release. Beautiful ballad, Heartstrings gives Haruta a wide open lane to allow her trombone sing and that's exactly what she does. Davis works a real nice off tempo piano interlude of his own adding a crisp counterpoint prior to Haruta taking control once again with unwavering richness. Very nice. Woodpecker is a definite bopper with excellent solos by Haruta, Davis, and Dease. Really nice! Wrapping the release is Alex North's movie track classic, Unchained Melody, carried lightly by the guitar work of Chris Minami on guitar and allowing plenty of bandwidth for Haruta to really work the melody on trombone. This track has been played by maybe 500 bands, but possibly none as nicely as this. Excellent closer. 

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Origin Records artist: Michael Dease - Found In Space: The Music of Gregg Hill - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Found In Space: The Music of Gregg Hill, by Michael Dease and it's an interesting exploration of the music of composer, Gregg Hill. Opening with The Last Pop Tune, Bill Cunliffe plays the intro on piano quickly joined by Virginia Macdonald on clarinet, Matt White on trumpet, Katie Thiroux on bass and Colleen Clark on drums. Rudresh Mahanthappa on alto and Jason Hainsworth on tenor saxs up the ante and Cunliffe develops the melody nicely on piano. Sharel Cassity really flies on flute and Nanami Haruta and Michael Dease on trombone really add strength. One For Rodney shows off the powerful horn section but it's Thiroux's bass solo that really shines. Hainsworth on tenor sax pared with Sharel Cassity on alto really rips and Clark's drum work is stellar. One of my favorite tracks on the release is The Stray Moonduck with a great intro by Dease on trombone and strong flute work by Cassity. A meaty solo by Dease, really gives this track the flavor seasoned by Cunliffe on piano and Hainsworth's tenor work really adds the juice. Bluesy, Anthem, is my favorite track on the release sets up with Cassity on flute and tight rhythm by Thiroux, Clark and Gwendolyn Dease on percussion, The horn section is always tight with excellent tenor work by Hainsworth, and aggressive alto work by Mahanthappa. Wrapping the release is New Orleans funky A Wrinkle In Time with Cunliffe mixing it up with Michael Dease. Macdonald on clarinet steps forward joined by Cassity on flute , then Mahanthappa, White, Harunta, Thiroux and Clark. Dease wails on trombone over strong rhythm by Thiroux and Clark. Solid closer. 

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

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“Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE For your convenience, you can click the title of this post above to be taken to a site where this cd can be purchased - Happy Listening