Bman's Blues Report

ALBUM REVIEW Clay Giberson - Moment's Notice Label: Origin Records Released: October 23, 2026 DR: TBD C lay Giberson is a jazz pianist and composer based in Portland, Oregon, with a style that blends thoughtful songwriting, adventurous improvisation, and a strong sense of melody. Growing up in Washington, with a piano teacher for a mother, music was part of his life from an early age. After studying jazz at the University of Miami and earning a master's degree in music technology in New York, he went on to develop his own voice as a performer, bandleader, and recording artist. Giberson has worked with an impressive range of musicians and explored everything from intimate solo piano to lively, modern jazz with his groups Upper Left Trio and Go By Train. His recordings reflect a curiosity about sound and a willingness to follow an idea wherever it leads, without losing sight of the melody. Now part of Portland's vibr...

               Label : Origin Records                                                                              Released : September 14, 2026 The Mike Dana Jazz Orchestra is a powerhouse big band project cooked up by veteran jazz guitarist, composer, and long-time educator Mike Dana. Far from a rigid academic ensemble, this group functions as an elite collective, regularly pulling in world-class heavyweights like Bob Mintzer , Eric Marienthal , and Wayne Bergeron to breathe life into Dana's rich orchestrations. On their 2026 album Farther (still) , released through Origin Records , the band is a powerhouse in modern big band music. Backed by the clean production and stellar tru...

Bob Nell draws deep inspiration from his roots in Montana , a vast landscape that mirrors the wide, open spaces and unhurried pacing found inside his compositions. This geographic isolation allowed him to develop an intensely individual piano voice, blending rural folk elements and traditional country blues directly into a sophisticated modern jazz framework. Conversely, Michael Bisio ’s sound is forged in the high-energy crucible of the New York avant-garde scene , a fast-paced environment that demands sharp improvisational reflexes and intense structural experimentation. When these two worlds collide, the contrast creates a beautiful sonic tension that defines their collaborative identity. Bisio brings an aggressive, street-smart energy from the East Coast that pushes Nell’s rural, spacious compositions right to the creative edge. This synthesis allows their trios to float effortlessly between rustic American folklore and gritty urban abstraction , proving that their distinct envir...