Jorge Garcia with Richie Cole - Dedicated To You - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Dedicated To You, from Jorge Garcia with Richie Cole and it really interesting. Opening with Minority, a terrific track with Richie Cole leading the way on sax. His articulation and fluid runs are strong, riding high on the glistening guitar chords of Jorge Garcia, backed by Rick Doll on bass, James Cotmon on drums and Paul Banman on piano. Garcia steps up on solo guitar really laying it out there and a nice solo by Doll makes this a great opener. With a very nice Latin rhythm, With You Always has beautiful lines, led by the clean guitar soloing of Garcia and really nice chromatic harmonica soloing by Hendrick Meurkens and backed by Jamie Ousley on bass. Very nice. A really nice double timed take on S'wonderful is a strong showcase for Garcia's inventive guitar runs with an active bass line by Ousley over a tight drum rhythm by Cotman. Wrapping the release is title track, Dedicated To You, a cleanly played guitar ballad surrounded by electric piano and keys by Paul Banman. This is a simple but very enjoyable closer for a rally nice release. 

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Blue Canoe Records artist: Tritone Asylum - The Hideaway Sessions - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Hideaway Sessions from electro- acoustic collective, Tritone Asylum and it's really interesting. Opening with Grasshopper, a Latin influenced track, the band, made up of Philip Topping on electronic Valve Instrument, Ian Vo on sax and flute, Mitch Forman on keys, Peter Sepsis on bass and Dave Johnstone on drums really get moving. I particularly like lively sax solo by Vo which is a screamer. Off centered, The 54 Blues is one of my favorite tracks on the release with 5/4 time and Topping leading the way on Electronic Valve over a tight drum cadence by Johnstone. Waddell breaks loose with a dynamic guitar solo that speaks nicely and Vo's sax solo is quite soulful. Forman lays in a real nice key solo and precise guitar punctuation really adds a nice touch. Very cool. With a funky bottom thanks to Sepsis and Johnstone Simple is really humming and Topping and Vo carry the melody. I really like Vos' sax work on the solo of this track cutting loos from convention and shining strong. Forman sets up a real nice electric piano phrase and develops it nicely and Waddell steps in with nicely phrased guitar lead of his own giving the track a bit more edge making this another of my favorites on the release. Wrapping the release is light, springy, First Days Of Summer with a radio style melody and interesting yet controlled soloing by the band. 

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Professor Louie & The Crowmatix - Strike Up The Band - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Strike Up The Band, from Professor Louie & The Crowmatix and it swings. Opening with A Thousand Ways to Freedom, an uplifting rocker with power vocals by Professor Louie who also provides keys, backed by Miss Marie on piano, Gary Burke on drums, Frank Campbell on bass and John Plantania on guitars. With a island flavor, Golden Eagle, has terrific percussion and solid lead vocal by Marie. Louie on accordion really adds another dimension and trumpet by Danny Coyle and strong guitar work by Plantania. Tick Tock is set to a cool, 60's style rock beat. Louie on keys and lead vocal really makes this track groove. Plantania lays in a nice little slide solo on guitar for some real spice. Very cool.   Radio oriented, End of the Show is a really nice blend of spiritual and soul. I think that it's my favorite track on the release with a strong melody, super vocals by Louie and solid backing vocals. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Flaming Ray, a calm ballad featuring Louie accompanying himself on keys, blended nicely with acoustic guitar and light snare work. With smooth vocal blending with Marie, and nicely intgrated horn work by Jim Buckley on sax and flute, Coyle on trumpet, Chuck Smith on trombone, and Tony Aiello on sax and flute, a solid closer. 

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Karney - Gonna Be Beautiful - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Gonna Be Beautiful, from Bay Area songwriter Anna Karney and it's interesting. Blending folk, rock and pop, Karney opens with title track, Gonna Be Beautiful, with it's indie guitar rhythm and solid vocal lead. Backed by Kevin White on bass, Jim Bogios on drums,and James DePrato on some pretty tasty slide guitar, this is the best track on the release.  Breaking back to full acoustic, Trust is Anna Karney and her acoustic guitar. A solid melody and voice, Karney is showing her wares nicely. Wrapping the release is Neil Young's Heart of Gold. With fuller instrumental backing including slide guitar, bass, drums and her own keyboard work, and with a slight adjustment to Young's original arrangement, Karney closes her latest endeavor. 

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Belly Up Records artist: The Sully Band - Let's Straighten It Out! - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Let's Straighten It Out!, from The Sully Band, and it's solid R&B/soul. Opening with Dr John's When The Battle Is Over, this band is firing on all cylinders with Robert "Sully" Sullivan and Rebecca Jade on lead vocals. With an aggressive chugging rhythm and soulful vocals, backed by Jon Harford on guitar, James East on bass and backing vocal, Mark charles Hattersley on keys, Tres Hodgens on drums and backing vocals,  and Nacho Sobers on percussion, this is a great opener. I really like the band's take on Shuggie Otis' funky Ice Cold Daydream with some screaming guitar work by Harford and great horns by Tripp Sprague on sax, April Leslie on Bari sax, Tomoka Nomura on alto sax and Steve Dillard on trumpet. Excellent! Billy Preston's smash hit, Nothing From Nothing, maintains it's original arrangement but with the addition of some screaming guitar by Harford, Grant Benginger on banjo and some real nice sax work by Sprague, punched up by Leslie, Nomura and Dillard. Little Johnny Taylor's If You Love Me Like You Say, is really drum fueled thanks to Hodgens and with it's ultra funky beat, Anthony Cullins on guitar and tight horn work, this is another top track. Wrapping the release is Jackie Wilson's Higher and Higher highlighting Sully's vocals and the warm backing vocals of East, Hodgens and Jade. This is a really enjoyable release with a lot of solid soul.

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Cleopatra Records artist: Neville Staple - From The Specials & Beyond - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, From The Specials & Beyond from Neville Staple and it's a straight ska pop release. Opening with Right From Wrong, OK Two-Tone Ska legend Neville Staple and his wife Sugar Staple are upfront, joined by Steve Armstrong on bass, Matty bane on drums, Joe Atkinson on keys, Billy Shinbone on guitar, Drew Stansall on sax, and Peter Johnson on trombone. With the addition of Armstrong on vocal, Don't Let Life Pass You By has just a touch of Northwest indie influence making it one of my favorite tracks on the release. A twist of reggae on a DJ mix of Miss Dis n Dat makes this another stand out track with the addition of Clint Eastwood on vocals. World Turned Upside Down has a more sophisticated arrangement with really nice accents by Shinbone on guitar, Armstrong on bass and trombone by Peter Johnson. Wrapping the release is earlier smash hit, Monkey Man. A straight forward ska track, it's energy is perfect to close this release. 

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Miguel Espinoza Flamenco Fusion - Veneta - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Veneta, from Miguel Espinoza Flamenco Fusion and it's really nice. Opening with multicultural influenced, Gnossienne, Miguel Espinosa lays the foundation theme on classical guitar, joined by Dianne Betkowski on cello. The theme is then further developed by the addition of Lynn Baker on saxophone, Randy Hoepker on bass, Andy Skellenger on tabla and Cajon. Very nice. Although this release is heavily Spanish influenced, it is so colorful and full of international flavor. Very nice. Bulerias Barrocas continues the theme opening with a fluid pace and developing immediately into a cello led force. This track is very rich with deeply woven themes and masterful guitar. Very nice. Another cello led track, Sad is rich in tone and has excellent underlying rhythm provided by Espinoza on guitar, Skellenger on Tabla and Cajon, Mario Moreno on percussion, Hoepker on bass and a very nice lead solo by Lynn Baker on sax. Wrapping the release is Happy, with a more contemporary fusion sound. With a cool blend of sax, guitar and cello over bass and percussion, the theme is developed and solos are developed. This is a solid closer for a very strong release. 

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Reverend Nathon - Volume 1 - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the debut release, Volume 1, by Reverend Nathon and it's a rugged blues rocker. Opening with a boogie style rocker, Darker Shade Of Blues, Nathon Dees is upfront on guitar and vocal backed by Gary Delz on drums creating a solid romp. Low slung ballad, A Love Like Yours is a strong radio track with a cool melody and blues firm guitar soloing by Nathon. Very cool. Goin Fishin is another cool track with it's funky drum beat by Delz and fat slide guitar work by Nathon. Another ballad, Autumn Breeze also shows radio promise with a solid melody, sung over arpeggiated guitar chords and a standout guitar solo. Another cool boogie number is Walking On, with lofi under driven slide work. The track has basic fundamentals but it really appeals to me... possibly my favorite on the release. Very cool. If you like Deep Purple, then Deep is likely to appeal to you with it's Space Trucking feel. A solid rocker constructed on blues roots. Wrapping the release is  country style rocker, Golden Keys with a radio style and distinct Hughie Thomasson feel. This is an interesting release that hits solid. 

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Blue Bamboo Music artists: Cortez / Williams Project - Hermanos - New Release review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Hermanos, from Cortez/Williams Project and it's quite enjoyable. Opening with title track, Hermanos, and a Latin rhythm carried by Doug Matthews on bass and, Walt Hubbard on drums. Chris Cortex takes the first melodic solo on guitar with clean, fluid runs over the piano work of Bob Thornton and Dan Jordan on flute. Larry Williams' trumpet is really nice with open bell and thoughtful phrasing, followed by Jordan on flute. Very nice opener. Another Latin based number is Un Pedazo De Tu Sonrisa. With a Samba beat by Jeremy Katalnic and a cool trumpet lead by Williams , reinforced by Cortez on guitar this track is anything but predictable. Thornton's direct piano solo is engaging and tight. Silhouette is an inciteful piece with a convoluted melodic interplay between  Jordan on flute, Williams on trumpet and Thornton on piano and featuring  Marco Bojorquez on bass. Topaz is one of my favorite tracks on the release with a percussive lead by Jeff Sipe and really nice guitar lead by Cortez. Williams' trumpet lead is really nice with strong runs, reinforced by Cortez on rhythm guitar and tight rhythm by Sipe. Excellent! Territorial Imperative is a cool bop track with wide open trumpet lead by Williams over Doug Matthew on bass, Hubbard on drums and Thornton on piano. Jordan really rips on tenor sax on this one creating a strong tension. Wrapping the release is Building On A Dream ... muted trumpet by Williams over clearly articulated guitar work by Cortez. Cortez really gets a nice opportunity to stretch on this one making it an excellent closer for a strong new serious jazz release. 

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Raul E Blanco & Jazz Wires - Brutal Fairytale - New release review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Brutal Fairytale by Raul E Blanco & Jazz Wires and is shows a broad mix of jazz styles and with cool rhythms and a lot of horns. Opening with title track, Brutal Fairytale, a slinky bluesy number, Gabriella Aragon is upfront on lead vocal with strong sax work by Brant Fisher, Blanco on piano, Joseph Ballestrasse on bass and Anthony Channita on drums. Spanish Tale in Arabia is a flowing composition with clear Spanish styling. Noah Austin on trumpet and Fisher on sax really rail out and Channita on drums over Blanco's piano really make this track work nicely. Hermit's Song is a really nice ballad with a captivating melody. A lush sax solo by Fisher and cool horn support from Aragon on trombone and Austin on trumpet give the track real dynamics. Lo-Fi Banger opens with a nice bass lead, underpinned by drums and light horns. Further developing the melody is Blanco with a very thoughtful piano melody and tight drum beat by Channita. Austin has his trumpet singing. Wrapping the release is Ska-Monk is a Ska track with a Monk twist. Fisher doesn't hold back on improvisational freedom and the punch of Austin over the rhythmic playing of Blanco gives the track a continuity, continued by Fisher who joins in. Blanco's solo pulls the track with more classic playing, but the refrains are all but tame. This is a clever track and a cool closer. 

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Blue Heart Records artist: Peter Veteska & Blues Train - So Far So Good - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, So Far So Good, from Peter Veteska & Blues Train and it's a solid mix of blues and rock. Opening with R&B fused rocker, one With Bad Luck, lead vocalist and on guitar Peter Veteska is joined by Alex D'Agnese on drums, Coo Moe Jhee on bass and Jeff Levine on B3. The addition of Gary Neuwirth on harmonica gives the track a cool texture and Veteska's guitar riffs really make the track pop. Shuffle, My One and Only Muse, is a cool track featuring Mikey Junior on harmonica. Veteska rolls out some real nice riffs and I particularly like his tone on the intro. Very cool. Slow blues, Low Down Dirty Blues really gives Veteska a great opportunity to show his soulful best vocals and over the warm B3 tones of Levine, his solid blues guitar chops. Rockin' East Coast Blues shows Slideman Boddy's slide work over a solid rockin rhythm lead by Veteska and punchy drums by D'Agnese. Very cool. Wrapping the release is soul infused, Can't We All Get Along. Nice vocal blending  with D'Agnese and Jhee this track has solid radio appeal making it a solid closer.  

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Dorron Music artist: Yaron Gershovsky - Transitions - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Transitions, by Yaron Gershovsky and it's really nice. Opening with fast moving, Northern Lights, accomplished pianist, Gershovsky drives this train backed on a basic piano riff. Boris Koslov sets up a super bass line and Gershovsky really runs the keyboard end to end with tasty chops. Add in the tight drum riffs by Cliff Almond and you've got a great opener. Yaron, who  spent the past number of decades with Mathattan Transfer as Musical Director and pianist as well as working with Pharoah Sanders and Wayne Shorter (among others) has been busy. Simon and Garfunkel's Scarborough Fair is really nicely arranged and the vocal work by Aubrey Johnson is beautiful. I really like  Show Me The Way with Alex Sipiagin on trumpet, Kozlov on bass and Ross Pedersen on drums. With it's melancholy melody, Sipiagin's trumpet tone and strong reinforcement by Yaron on piano, this track really hits.  Every contemporary jazz release needs a Samba and where better to look that to Jobim  and So Danco Samba and again Johnson on vocal. Yaron's shows his ability to get out of classical styling and really gets this track moving with great bass lines by Kozlov and Almond on drums. Very nice. Another relaxed track, in 3/4 time is A Song For Mia. Opening with a more formal structure, Mia really starts to swing as the song develops. Yaron sets the pace, reinforced by Kozlov's dexterous bass lines and Pedersen is always spot on. I really like the interplay between Yaron and Kozlov on Kozlov's bass solo giving the piece a real nice balance. Wrapping the release is Gershwin's I Got Plenty O' Nuttin' again featuring multiple layers of Johnson' vocal harmonies. This band really swings and Johnson's voice is quite pure giving the track a real sparkle. 

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Blue Canoe Records artist: Thomas Heflin - Morning Star - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Morning Star, from Thomas Heflin and it's a smooth, pop jazz effort led by trumpet player Thomas Heflin. Opening with title track, Morning Star, the Slavic translation of Heflin's wife's name. Heflin on trumpet, is backed by Gregory Tardy on sax, Dan Hitchcock on tenor sax, Peter Stoltzman on keys, Aaron Matson on guitar, Steve Haines on bass, Xavier Ware on drums and Jorge Luis Torres on percussion. With a step up solo by Heflin and a fluid sax solo by Tardy, this is a solid opener. Interlude is one of my favorite tracks on the release with it's jagged rhythm pattern and adventurous trumpet lead by Heflin. Haiku has a really cool intro ... just Heflin on trumpet derived from a jazz favorite, Stablemates by Benny Golson. As the track progresses, Tardy lays in some really adventurous sax lines, nice trumpet improvisation by Heflin and a strong bass lead by Haines. The Moon Singer is inspired by a book by Clyde Robert Bulla and is an adventurous instrumental with some nice guitar work by Aaron Matson and with strong backing vocal work by Ariel Pocock. Anna Breschine, named after Heflin's daughter is a quiet ballad with lead trumpet and Stoltzman on keys laying the groundwork for Tardy on sax and a melodic solo by Heflin. Very nice. A Radio Outro wraps the release with a hip hop beat and Heflin and tardy trading riffs with Stoltzman. Solid closer. 

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Kristen R. Bromley Quintet: Bluish Tide - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Bluish Tide, from the Kristen R. Bromley Quintet, and it's cool and versatile. Opening with swinging, Pillar of Fire, band leader and guitarist, Kristen Bromley shows her chops with fluid lead runs and cool rhythm lead, joined by Ray Smith who lays down a solid solo of his own on sax, Steve Erickson who really does a nice job Matt Larson on bass and Jay Lawrence on drums. Tandem lead guitar and sax and a cool off time rhythm really gives Faith Preceded My Miracle a real leg up making it a firm platform for potent soloing from Bromley, Erickson and Smith. Title track, Bluish Tide is a soft swinger with dual sax/guitar melodic lead. Opening into a bop solo stage, set by Larson and Lawrence, Bromley sets up some of her tastiest lead work on the release. Smith lays in a nice sax solo and Erickson's piano work really grooves.  Bromley's rich chord work on the intro of Latin influenced, Paint Me a Picture My Love is as lush as it gets and her duet lead with Smith on alto flute is really nice. Erickson has a really delicate hand on his piano solo delivery melding very nicely into this 10 minute exploration. Very nice. Smith over Bromley on sax and guitar is really nice on Just Walkin' a super shuffle. Erickson again lays in a strong piano lead and Bromley's feel on guitar may be her best on the release. It's also nice to hear Larson and Lawrence step out a few bars on this track making it one of favorites on the release. Wrapping the release is ballad, Through the Veil with pure guitar lead and nicely blended sax by Smith. Erickson's classic piano styling really works nicely on this track and the tight underpinnings of Larson and Lawrence really hold the track together nicely. Solid closer. 

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Noisy Records artists: Cross and Keeling - October is Marigold - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, October is Marigold, by David Cross and Andrew Keeling. This is a very interesting release spanning classical, rock, progressive and even eurojazz. Cross, who has played violin with King Crimson and Keeling who has collaborated with Robert Fripp are together for their second composition as a follow up to their earlier 2009 release, English Sun. This is largely improvised music so more difficult to describe in a traditional way, but it is mind expanding and enjoyable and should be viewed as a singular piece of music with many interwoven movements... so here goes. Opening with Marigold 1, Keeling on piano presents a simple piano structure composed of two chords and Cross plays a beautiful melody on Violectra. Very nice. On title track, October is Marigold, Kelling again constructs a structure on keyboard but then interweaves layers of flute.  As the theme progresses, Cross adds electric violin to the weave for a complex yet stimulating composition. On Strong as a Mountain Lion, Keeling plays a loose melody on flute, almost nature like, with Cross interjecting complimentary electric violin lines, making for an almost obtuse yet congruous environment of music. Returning again to a Marigold theme (Marigold 2) Cross' cello like playing is rich and welcoming with only the least amount of piano structure. Another section of "call and response" with Ever Nearer and Marigold 3 reinforces the earlier theme and gets progressively more rich as the music develops. The Spiking Darts That Were Trees is the most aggressive of the movements with abstract concepts and distorted looping creating even more interest. Wrapping the composition is The Dark Edge of Desire and Marigold 4 with a bottom of Cross' violin created texture and Keeling on guitar arpeggiating in a staggered stair stepping manner. The intensity continues to grow as Keeling adds piano structure and Cross adds firm Violectra strokes for a powerful, loosely constructed melody... ultimately winding down with another Marigold 4 movement and rich cello like melody. This is an adventurous piece and one that I thoroughly enjoyed. 

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Schoolkids Records artist: Sam Moss - blues approved - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (January 28, 2022), blues approved, from Sam Moss and it's jam packed with soulful, Muscle Shoals/Stax influenced blues. Opening with Rooster Blood, a blues rocker featuring Moss on lead vocal, bass and guitar, and backed by Mitch Easter on drums is a great start to this release. On King of My Hill, Moss shows how soulful his vocals can be with a strong similarity to Gregg Allman and horn backing by Crispin Cioe. A strong R&B style track with that pure, country soul feel really makes you think it's right out of Alabama. Vida Blanche is one of my favorite tracks on the release with it's Keith Richards/Stones attack, solid slide playing and strong sax work by Cioe. Very cool! Mike Bloomfield's, If You See My Baby really swings right in there giving moss an opportunity to show a bit more diversity both vocally and on guitar. Joining on bass is Henry Heidtmann and Ted Lyons on drums with Wezo Wesolowski adding some real nice harmonica riffs to some of Moss' best guitar work on the release. Nightflight Over Berlin is a cool allowing Moss to just light it up over a firm rock rhythm. With plenty of sustain and soaring bends. Very nice.  Wrapping the release is a fairly obscure Stones blues track, Who's Driving Your Plane? The track actually had that rag tag sound that the Stones had on early releases with solid piano work by Ted Lyon and cool guitar riffs by Moss. Cool closer for a really interesting release. 

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Brandon Tesky - Screaming Into the Void - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Screaming Into The Void, by Brandon Tesky and it's quite enjoyable. Opening with title track, Screaming Into The Void, band leader and guitarist lays down a cool rock blues rock riff backed by Chris Tex on drums and Jon Nadel on bass. Establishing this solid instrumental, Tesky opens up with a cool onslaught of blues lead making this a solid opening jam. Blues progression, Vertigo on the heights of Desire is a cool, blues ballad with Tesky again at the lead on melodic guitar lead, backed by Will Kyriazis on keys and Tex on drums. With it's beautiful melody, this is a very cool track. King shuffle, Side Tracked, has a distinctive Freddie King vibe showing Tesky's blues knowledge and solid dexterity. Dance of the Fiddler's Bitch is a cool blues rocker blending SRV style swagger with more contemporary guitar riffs, Changing keys as Tesky rolls from phrase to phrase, I can definitely see Frank Marino influences. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Latin influenced, Equinox featuring Danny Markovitch on sax. The walking bass line by Nadel provides a real nice contrast with jazz runs by Tesky making this one on my favorites on the release and a solid closer. 

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