Michael Vincent - Sky Blue - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Sky Blue, from Michael Vincent and it's a cool, edgy, rocker. Opening with C'mon C'mon, Michael Vincent isn't reinventing the wheel but he does have a solid grasp of the sound that permeated the early 2000's. Chord driven rhythm and lead vocals by Vincent with lead guitar by Scott Warren, Dave Mendoza on bass and Anthony Fulgar on drums makes for a cool opener. Pop track, Rain Downtown is a solid radio track with solid vocal blending from Vincent and Mendoza. Nightlights is solid ballad featuring Vincent up front on vocal and Fulgar pushing the track with a solid foot drum and Jeff Jacoby on keys. Wrapping the release is another solid rocker, The Longest Time with a straight up rock beat  and a super melody featuring Vincent and Mendoza on vocals.

 

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OA2 Records artist: Steve Kovalcheck - Buckshot Blues - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (April 3, 2026), Buckshot Blues, from Steve Kovalcheck and it's a lively set. Opening with Happy Train, Steve Kovalcheck on guitar outlines the melody with chords and runs the fretboard with confident phrasing. Backed by Jon Hamar and Jeff Hamilton on drums (with exceptional foot work), this is a spring opener. I particularly like the remake of Haggart's, What's New, with it's low slung swing, anchored by Hamar's bass line and excellent guitar lead by Kovalcheck. Check out that funky back beat on Donald's Juke Joint. With snappy cymbal work by Hamilton, bluesy lead by Kovalcheck with an occasional stinger and rich bass lead by Hamar, a definite standout. Latin rhythm on Daydance gives Kovalcheck a great showcase for his guitar work and another exceptional bass lead by Hamar driven by Hamilton on cymbal and rimshots. Laid back. Fast Eddie is one of my favorites o the release with clean, tight guitar lead by Kovalcheck. Hamilton on ride cymbal and an understated by steady bass lead by Hamar makes this my favorite on the release. Another standout is Crab Lantern Blues with Kovalcheck really rocking the blues. Hamar on bass pushes it over the top making this another of my favorites on the release. Wrapping the release is a updated take on Hank Snow's (Geoff Mack's) I've Been Everywhere with Kovalcheck taking the high lead and Hamilton really splashing the cymbals over Hamar's bass line. Hot closer. 

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Origin Records artist: Carl Schultz - The Road To Trantor - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Road To Trantor, by Carl Schultz and it's described as the soundtrack to a science fiction movie that only exists in his head. Opening with Journey, Carl Schultz on sax lays out the theme with Adam Benjamin on keys creating an environment. With light cymbal text and a tight snare rhythm by Alwyn Robinson, Zack Teran on bass, Tim Wendel on guitar creates rhythmic dialog joined back by Schultz to conclude. Interesting opener. Uneven time signature on the intro of Caves of Steel gives Schultz a wide land for his sax work and super tight drum work by Robinson a strong passage to Benjamin on keys. A cool guitar improvisational passage by Wendel is some  of my favorite work on the release. Gladia is a strong composition with Schultz on flute paired with his own sax work in call and response on melody over a super guitar rhythm by Wendel. Extending further on sax with Benjamin on piano, and Schultz again on flute... very nice. Wrapping the release is upbeat, The Spirit of Adventure, with a poppy sax lead by Schultz. The definite radio work of the release, Teran's bass work shines nicely with Benjamin's rhythmic piano work throughout and exceptional drum work by Robinson. 

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7 dmedia artist: Trey Gunn & David Forlano - Select Habits of Invertebrates - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Select Habits of Invertebrates, by Trey Gunn & David Forlano and it's mind expanding. Opening with title track, Select Habits of Invertebrates the duo creates a flexible electronic soundscape anchored by percussive lead and intriguing sonic phrases. With the addition of electronic expressions and glitches. This is really a strong opener. Litigation of the Monkey features Forlano on alto sax forging the primary theme and Gunn's unworldly guitar explorations. This is really quite interesting and spatial. Wrapping the release is The Wind That Ended History with an interesting rhythmic tonal vamp, overlaid by flowing soundscape. Cavernous electronics, looped rhythms and abstruse themes give this track a confident footing. This is a complex recording and one that is best listened to in entirety for best possible digestion. 

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Origin Records artist: Michael Dease with the MSU Jazz Trombones - Spartan Strong - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Spartan Strong, from Michael Dease (with the MSU Jazz Trombones) and it's super. Opening with Huesos Con Clave this set is off to a hot start. This track features over the top trombone solos by Aidan Clark, Dan Parrish, Altin Sencalar, Drew Kilpela, a strong bass trombone solo by Chris Glassman, and a hot piano solo by Xavier Davis and well as hot rhythm by Keith Hall on drums. Excellent opener. Randy Brecker's Some Skunk Funk provides a great platform for some outrageous trombone work by  Sencalar, Kilpela, Glassman and Parrish with Davis on piano and Hall on drums. A Latin spin on Carmichael's The Nearness of You has a light and aiery feel. Nanami Haruta blows an exceptional trombone solo on this one with full trombone backing. Really nice. Sharel Cassity original Composition, Song of Those Who Seek, features a strong trombone solos by Eli Howell and Charles Scanlon, alto sax solo by Cassity and with Ethan Frank on piano, Reuben Stump on bass and Brian Allen really tight on drums. Steve Turre's Groove Blues really lays in the slot with Pablo Muller-Santiago, Hannah Davies and Michael Dease really grooving on trombone with Frank's perfect phrasing on piano. Their trio lead really does sound great. Benny Golson's Blues After Dark, follows an easy shuffle and showcases (in order) Daniel Bear on trombone, Charles Grace Jr. and Gina Benalcazar-Lopez on bass trombone, Davis on piano, Andrew Kim on trombone, Kyle Quick on bass trombone, Keith Hall on drums and Ken Tompkins on trombone. Wrapping the release is Pettiford's spirited, Blues In The Closet with Bridgette Setters, Kilppela, Parrish, and Sencalar, on trombone and Glassman on on bass trombone followed by Dease. Excellent closer. 

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The Outernet - The Light & The Fury - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Light & The Fury, from The Outernet and it's electrifying. Opening with The Fury, Phil Turcio on keys and Emilio Kormanic on guitars lead a high paced fusion track with an excellent presentation. Romping bass lines by Pete Mollica and tight drum work by Pete Drummond leave you breathless. Excellent opener. The Crossing is a super composition with an aggressive bottom. Mollica and Drummond are anything but subdued with excellent rhythm work and Turcio splashes in a bright piano solo to cap this one off. Menacing Images has a driving bottom and Drummond plays intense drum lead paired closely with Mollica and Turcio, Kormanic rips on guitar again and takes things down in tempo but without losing the enthusiasm with thought provoking piano work. Another strong track. Running From The Aliens (Pt I) has a great lead guitar rhythm melody synched with Turcio on keys and  Mollica and Drummond reinforcing the rhythm. An energetic, clean bass lead by Mollica is exceptional making this one of my favorites on the release.  Wrapping the release is beautiful, The Light, led elegantly by Kormanic on guitar caressed by Turcio on keys . This is an excellent release and a great fusion performance.

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The Scott Silbert Quartet - Dream Dancing, Celebrating Zoot Sims at 100 - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release,  Dream Dancing, Celebrating Zoot Sims at 100, and it's a solid tribute. Opening with Porter's Dream Dancing, Scott Silbert on tenor sax sets a warm and supple melody over a crisp Bossa beat by Chuck Redd on drums, with Amy Shook creating a super lead bass solo and Robert Redd adding super depth on piano. Van Heusen's Deep In A Dream is paced by Robert on piano and Silbert has strong rich tone on tenor sax, driven by Shook, who also lays down some mighty chops on bass. Fred Coots' You Go To My Head is actually a favorite melody of mine and Silbert really nails it on tenor. Robert's bright piano phrasing sets the melody off nicely making this one of my favorites on the release. Johnny Mandel's Low Life has a great swing with Silbert really getting in the groove, punctuated by Robert on piano. Wrapping the release is killer track, JJ Johnson's Wee Dot. Silbert gets on the tenor and rides it hard. Super piano work by Robert, and another super bass lead by Shook, all tied together by Chuck makes this an excellent closer. 

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OA2 Records artist: Gil Livni - All In - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, All In , by Gil Livni and it's terrific! Opening with Wonder Woman, Gil Livni is hot out of the gate with scorching hot guitar riffs with Amit Friedman on sax sharing the floor. Yonatan Riklis on organ and Yonatan Rosen on drums round out the band for one of the hottest openers I've heard in a long time. Excellent! Bluesy shuffle, All In is led by Friedman on sax and Rosen on drums. Holds it tight. Friedman really gets this track rolling with incredible phrasing warmed by Rikles on organ. I love Livni's jazz blues fusion soloing  with great contrast by Riklis who lines up his own organ attack. Really stellar. A Latin fusion twist on Lennon/ McCarthy composition, I Want You, is so cool. With it's spot on rhythm by Rosen, interesting rework, excellent guitar lead by Livni, and earthy exploration by Friedman and deep organ tension by Rikles... wow! Granted has that R&B funk sound powered by the flaming fingers of Livni on Riklis on organ and Rosen on drums. Breaking back is Friedman who sails with sax adding the power horn that you'd expect on this sound but without approaching cliche. Rikles gets his turn leading on organ with Livni picking up rhythm. This track will keep you moving. Buddy Johnson's classic, Since I Fell For You, is framed by Friedman on sax with light guitar and organ under the melody. Livni, really digs in with a blues feel, dashed with excellent jazz phrasing giving this track legs. Riklis owns  this track with his bluesy organ taking it to the streets. Very very nice. Wrapping the release is bluesy shuffle, Gentleman's Blues giving Livni a great chance to really stretch on guitar. His hands are great and his chops are fat. Friedman slides into a sax super groove with his hard bop phrasing and Riklis knows just what to do to keep the fire hot. His lead work is strong and supple yet full throated when he steps on the gas. This is a strong closer for an really hot release. 

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JGB Music artist: The Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective - Cortadito - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Cortadito, by The Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective, and it's lively. Opening with Orchard Downs and extremely rhythmic track, Victor Garcia on trumpet, Brian Stark on tenor sax and Ben Carrasquillo o trombone lays down the melody with excellent rhythm by Michael Rodriguez on bongos and bell, Victor Gonzalez on timbales, Andrey Goncalvez on bass, Jose Guzman on guitar and Jose Natal on barril. Hot opener. A Sunday Kind Of Day features a cha cha rhythm and soft trumpet/sax/trombone mix over Javier Quintana on congas. Really nice trumpet improv by Garcia gives the track a nice edge and Guzman's guitar chops add nicely to the feel. Bembe style, Witches Dance really moves with excellent percussion by  Quintana, Gonzalez, Rodriguez,  and Natal. Brassy lead by Garcia and a rolling bass line by Goncalvez really sets this track off. Wrapping the release is Brian Stark's El Volcan  with shifting time signatures and paces. A smokin sax solo by Stark, and hot percussion, chased by a warm trombone solo by Carrasquillo, tight brass by Garcia and Guzman on guitar, this is an excellent closer. 

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OA2 Records artist: Anna Kolchina - Reach For Tomorrow - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Reach For Tomorrow, by Anna Kolchina and it's hauntingly elegant. Opening with Schwartz and Dietz song, Dancing In The Dark, Soviet born, Anna Kolchina quietly controls your breath with her easy music gait. Accompanied by Ilya Lushtak, a beautiful opener. Peter Bernstein lends his cultured electric guitar work to Kolchina's vocals on Anthony Newley's Who Can I Turn To?. Sure footed and smooth, a very nice track. Jazz classic, All or Nothing At All, sung in understated poise, again backed by Bernstein on electric guitar is a solid addition. Romero Lubamo really adds flavor with his excellent Spanish guitar styling on Gilbert Becaud's french classic What Now My Love?. Holding to the standard, nicely done. Harry Barris' Wrap Your Trouble In Dreams is smoothly handled by Kolchina and really nice electric guitar soloing by Paul Bollenback really shines. Another elegant track is Johnny Mercer's Whistling Away The Dark with lush vocals by Kolchina and rich guitar work by Bollenback. Wrapping the release is Ella's Reach For Tomorrow. Paced down to simple tune, it has a simple luxury which well suits Kolchina's voice and Yotam Silberstein's fluid electric guitar soloing really dresses it nicely. Strong closer. 

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ClayTone Music artist: John Clay - About Time - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, About Time, from John Clay and it's a cool slice of classic jazz. Opening with Fred Hersch's A Lark, Shunzo Ohno on trumpet and Matt Garrison on sax set the intro feeding to a playful melody by Enrique Haneine on piano. Sean Conly on bass really delivers on acoustic bass accompanied by Haneine and John Clay on drums. Very cool opener. Ruby Pucillo shows strong vocal work on Bob Hilliard's Alice In Wonderland. Set in 3/4 with Haneine, Conly and Clay anchoring, this really is a great showcase for Pucillo. Haneine takes a super stretch on piano and Conly's bass work is superb. Billy Drummond's Dubai is my favorite track on the release with dramatic lead work by Ohno and Garrison. Clay has just the right hand on drums giving Garrison a solid platform for his coolest sax solo on the release, Ohno's muted trumpet solo pressed by Haneine and Clay is really strong and Haneine hits gold on his piano solo. Very nice. Victor Young's (and Miles) Stella By Starlight is a terrific showcase for Ohno on trumpet with an excellent bass line by Conly and tight rhythm by Clay. I can't describe how important the accents by Haneine contribute to the track, under both Ohno and Garrison. Wrapping the release is Alan Pasqua's, My New Friend Old Friend, led of course by Haneine on piano. Another rich bass solo by Conly with crisp drum work by Clay makes for a strong closer. 

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Origin Records Artist: Mattias Svensson - Embrace - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Embrace, from Mattias Svensson and it's quiet and lush. Opening with My Toots Toots (For Toots), Bill Mays on piano frames the melody with light brush work by Morten Lund on drums, leading to an extended fluid bass solo by Mattias Svensson. Emphasizing the 3/4 timing on by Svensson and Lund, Mays mines the track with strong instincts with nicely placed accents by Lund. Solid opener. With it's contemplative feel, Erik Satir really gives Svensson a wide lane and his strong sense really plays out nicely on bass. Mays' piano punctuation comes more in the way of phrases expanding the track nicely interweaving with Svensson's  continued lead. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Steps (Ahead) with it's contemporary melody, outlined by Mays on piano. Another solid lead by Svensson, with light cymbal work by Lund and framing by Mays helps to really spotlight this track. Mays rolls behind Svensson with a more bluesy exploration of the melody and with concise riffs by Lund caps off the track. Fast paced, Cheddar, pushed by Svensson and Lund gives the floor to Mays and he really runs with it. I particularly like the way Svensson drives the rhythm with his bass line, reinforced by Lund. Strong track. T'ai The Chi(T) Together, is a cool track with a great drum line by Lund. Svensson creates a flowing bass line that outlines just under the melody and Mays elaborates that melody on piano. Very cool track. Wrapping the release is cool, bluesy, Fredriksson 3 with a boppy bass line and Lund on tom toms. Svensson plucks some high register bass notes adding real contrast to this already cool track. Strong closer. 

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Origin Records artist: Paul Ricci - The Path - New release review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Path, by Paul Ricci and it's an interesting blend of contemporary and world jazz. Opening with Major Look, Steve Jordan on drums, Manolo Badrena on percussion and Anthony Jackson on contrabass guitar, set a funky rhythm and Paul Ricci lays down a smooth melody, contrasted by Michael Wolff on electric piano. Electrifying opener. Lobo is particularly enticing, featuring  Malian singer, Abdoulaye Diabate and tight African rhythms by Jojo Kuo on drums, Ramon Echegeray, Arturo Prendez, Hugo Fattoruso on percussion, Jackson on contrabass, Hugo Fattoruso on clavinet, wild guitar lead by Ricci and super soprano sax by Jay Rodriguez. Excellent track. More contemporary in nature, Around The Block finds Ricci leading the way with fluid electric guitar lines, anchored by Jurim Moreira on drums and Fattorusso on piano and backed by aggressive bass lines by Anthony and Badrena and Valtinho Anastacio on percussion. Very cool. Wrapping the release is Down On 6th Street is a laid back track with rich guitar chords and lead by Ricci, and Boccato on drums. This release has a lot of variety with plenty of texture. 

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Levantine Music artist: Wanees Zarour - Silwan- New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Silwan, by Wanees Zarour and it's intriguing. Opening with title track, Silwan, Wanees Zarour on buzug crafts the melody with support of Andrew Lawrance on piano. Adding light drums and percussion are Nick Kabat and Tareq Rantisi. The track snaps into a contemporary western form with the addition of Byron Pardo on clarinet and Vinny Kabat on bass. The track gets a euro eastern twist on the solo by Pardo handing back to Zarour on buzuq and a lively modern eastern flavored melody. Strong opener. Autumn has a lush melody with a slight Spanish flavor. Zarour on oud crafts the melody with excellent harmonies by Pardo on sax and Catie Hickey on trombone. My favorite track on the release. Fig Tree has a warm, almost waltz like cadence with a warming trombone solo by Kickey and a really nice guitar solo by Samuel Mosching, contrasted with eastern notes by Pardo on clarinet and featuring a solid oud solo by Zarour. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Anthem with an almost classical intro, morphing into a funk poppy track with a strong spirit. Pardo on sax and Hickey on trombone exchange lead over an up tempo rhythm by Kabat and Mosching steps up with an excellent guitar lead that really shines. Lawrance on piano duels with Kabat on drums to a solid climax breaking back to a basal rudiment with Kabat, Rantisi and Zarour on oud creating a frenzied conclusion. Very nice set. 

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Francesca Prihasti - Beneath the Sun - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Beneath The Sun, by Francesca Prihasti and it's clean and flowing. Opening with In Between, Francesca Prihasti on piano sets the framework and melody for the track. With light drums by Mark Ferber the track has an interesting structure and Nic Vardanega's contribution on guitar stretches the track nicely underpinned by Drew Gress on bass. Solid opener. Reason and Will allows Prihasti space to outline the concept without firm boundaries with Gress and Ferber but melds into a more concrete rhythm statement piano lyrics and glistening guitar tones by Vardanega and excellent drum statements by Ferber. Till We Have Faces features Nick Brust on alto sax leading the way with excellent rhythms by Ferber. With a lightly funky rhythm by Gress and Ferber, Prihasti and Brust trade sympathetic solos. Wrapping the release is Fortitude, led off by a melodic statement by Brust on soprano sax and aggressive drum cadence by Ferber. Prihasti takes the lead with seamless piano lines, trading back to Brust who fades into a solid rhythm by Gress and Ferber. Solid closer. 

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Bijan Taghavi - Cactus Sessions - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Cactus Sessions, by Bijan Taghavi and it's very straight forward and articulate. Opening with Jobim's, Wave, Bijan Taghavi shows poise and sense of space taking this Brazilian super hit, and restructuring it maintaining it's Bossa Nova skeleton but giving it a more classical jazz approach. Very nice. DePaul's, I'll Remember April, on the other hand gets a more aggressive rework with a up tempo rhythm and vibrant lead piano runs. Richard Rogers', Have You Met Miss Jones, gets a solid bop job and Taghavi really knows how to work the melody. His sense of time and rhythm really rock this track. Wrapping the release is another Jobim track, Desafinado, and Taghavi runs the gamut on this track. Opening with a Bossa style over ice, his direction is clear and concise. Warming into the track his approach loosens with a touch of boogie. Returning to a more classical closing, this is a cool journey. Solid release. 

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