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I started a quest to find terrific blues music and incredible musicianship when I was just a little kid. I also have a tremendous appreciation of fine musical instruments and equipment. One of my greatest joys all of my life was sharing my finds with my friends. I'm now publishing my journey. I hope that you come along!


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Showing posts with label Review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Review. Show all posts

Monday, June 13, 2022

AKKU Quintet Manuel Pasquinelli - Live - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live, from AKKU Quintet and it's an exciting compositional piece. Opening with Waves,  featuring Manuel Pasquinelli on drums and Moja Nydegger  on keys the track blooms as it progresses. With the addition of Markus Ischer on guitar, this track ebbs and flows from quiet to explosive. Quite a 28 plus minute ride. Polar has a different approach with the tight underwork of Pasquinelli on drum and more predominant contemporary piano by Nydegger and cool, guitar lead exploration by Ischer. Schneemann has a really interesting time signature with Pasquinelli doing both straight time and a strong accent swat on snare. Again, creative lead by Ischer on guitar holds you in constant anticipation and the bass work of Andi Schnellmann gives the track a pronounced abstract quality. I really like this track. Deep Sleep II is the closer and with it's Frippish jagged rhythm and guitar work the terrific tightness of the key work of Nydegger and the addition of Michael Gilsenan really makes this track an excellent closer. If you have an ear for progressive music... this is a terrific ride.


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Friday, June 10, 2022

DIVA Jazz artist: The Diva Jazz Orchestra - Diva Swings Broadway - New Release Review

 


I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, DIVA Swings Broadway, from the DIVA Jazz Orchestra and it's power horns to the max. Opening with Heart, there's no question that this band is loaded with brass lead by Liesi Whitaker, Jami Dauber, Rachel Therrien and Barbara Laronga on trumpet/flugelhorn and Jennifer Krupa, Sara Jacovino and Leslie Havens (bass) on trombone. Band leader, Sherrie Maricle on drums, Noriko Ueda on bass, Tomoko Ohno on piano hold down the bottom and Alexa Tarantino (also flute), Mercedes Beckman (also flute), Roxy Coss (also clarinet), Laura Dreyer (also clarinet) and Leigh Pilzer (bari, bass clarinet, flute and clarinet) on sax fill out the woodwinds sections. Coss on tenor sax, Dauber on trumpet and Krupa on trombone lay in nice solos making this opener memorable. Ueda is featured on bass solo on The Man I Love with a really nice intro and substantive soloing throughout over the piano counter of Ohno on piano and punchy horns filling out the accents. This is my favorite track on the release featuring this exceptional play.  Nicely balanced horns and woodwinds play the melody on Oh What A Beautiful Morning, over the supple improvisation by Ohno on piano. With a Latin rhythm held tight by Maricle, Therrien on flugelhorn and Dreyer on sax each contribute solid solos of their own making this another of my favorites on the release. Ohno, Laronga and Tarantino get the spotlight on Love Who You Love with a really nice flugelhorn solo by laronga, and extremely tasty soprano sax solo by Tarantino and Ohno's clearly fluid piano work. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Get Me To The Church On Time with a really cool stair stepping of instruments giving the sense of chiming. Maricle really has the drumset on point and Beckman and Tarantino again play alto solos that will lay you back in your chair. Excellent closer for a sneaky great release. 


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Wednesday, June 8, 2022

Vemicious Knid Music artist: The Andy Rothstein Band - Truth Against The World - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Truth Against The World, from The Andy Rothstein Band and it's quite good. Opening with Perfect Storm, a poppy lighter jazz track, Andy Rothstein leads the way on melody with his agile guitar phrasing, along with Tony Senatore on bass, Tom Cottone on drums, D Pappas on keys, Steve Jankowski on trumpet and trombone and Ken Gioffre on sax. An aggressive drum rhythm by Cottone and soaring keys by Pappas cap off this opener. Blues, is a really cool change up with jazzy underpinnings but square on blues guitar attack. Rothstein has nice blues chops on guitar and Cottone anchors the rhythm on solid rock. Gioffre takes a real nice tenor solo with solid support from Pappas. Cranking up the horns a bit with Jankowski on Trumpet, Mystic Mud has a fusion feel giving Rothstein a chance to let it all hang out. Jankowski slips in the mute and plays sweetly on trumpet in strong contrast to Rothstein's ripping blues rock riffs on guitar and tight underpinnings by Senatore and Cottone. Hell Mary is an interesting track built over a Jimi riff fused in a Robert Fripp kind of way. Vocal lead by Audrey Martells adds another dimension and of course Rothstein blends blues, rock and jazz riffs over the regimented bass/drum heaviness demanded of this kind of jam. Cool. Wrapping the release is title track, Truth Against The World, with power horns by Jankowski and sax by Gioffre. Lead melody on guitar by Rothstein develops into a real nice improv and further as the intensity grows. A cool diversion by Pappas on keys keeps up the fever but brings down the pitch over a funky drum beat and with Gioffre and Jankowski on horns this is a solid closer.  


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Tuesday, May 31, 2022

Digital Victrola Records artist: Andy Ostwald Trio - Field Guide - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the debut release, Field Guide, by the Andy Ostwald Trio, and it's light and springy but with some tasty meat too. Opening with Sonar with it's bright melody, led by Ostwald on piano joined by Ravi Abcarian on bass and Bryan Bowman on drums. Abcarian and Bowman each get a chance to stretch on this solid opener. Nat Adderley's Sweet Emma is up next with it's soulful feel and great bluesy cadence. I particularly like Abcarian's bass solo on this number. Very nice. Forties pop, I Hear A Rhapsody has become a jazz standard and Ostwald has done a real nice job on interpretation on this one with an excellent bass solo by Abcarian and tight drum highlights by Bowman giving this track sparkle. Van Heusen's Like Someone in Love, is nicely presented with a 3/4 prime tempo driven by Ostwald, over crisp contrast by Bowman on brushes. Abcarian takes a real nice lead solo on bass, followed by Ostwald making this one of my favorite tracks on the release. Wrapping the release is Ibrahim's classic, The Wedding. With classic styling and flawless piano execution, Ostwald closes this strong first effort, solo style, with elegance.


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Thursday, May 26, 2022

Hyperspace Records artist: Star People - Black Tie & Tales - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Black Tie & Tales, from Star People and it's an adventurous project. Opening with I, Starman, William Olland, Paul Gifford and Lorenza Ponce blend soft vocals over a predominantly keyboard backing by Scott Treibitz, creating a progressive kind of mix with solid violin contributions by Ponce, and with Randy Pratt on bass and Phil Weiss on drums. Pretty cool. Funky, "Queen of Space" has the melody and rhythm of a radio track with wide open guitar sound by Robert Dean and a jazzy piano solo by Treibitz. Electronic based. A Trillion Miles To Hollywood changes up the pace with electronic rhythms, synthesizers and vocals. Hot Blue Star rolls further into a rock genre with theatrical vocal presentation, and instrumentation. Hot guitar riffs by Dean and Jesse Berlin. A comprehensive theme running throughout this 2 cd set extends the aggressive soundtrack like nature of the release with solid  drum rhythms by TC Tolliver and spatial keys by Treibitz, and guitar soloing by Dean. Ponce really commands the floor with lead vocals on The Morning Star joined by a tight drum rhythm by Tolliver and some of the hottest guitar riffs on the release by Berlin. Wrapping the release is Exit, Stage Left, opening with a loose, Tom Waits style but quickly reengaging a more futuristic, spatial performance with echoed vocals and sci fi sounds over the funky bass work of Randy Pratt and Tolliver on drums. This release isn't for everyone but it is interesting and different. 



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Thursday, May 19, 2022

Lateralize Records artist: Jo Harrop - The Heart Wants - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Heart Wants, from Jo Harrop, and it's a really nice jazz/blues release. Opening with title track, The Heart Wants What The Heart Wants, British vocalist, Jo Harrop shows incredible poise, as she sings this blues filled track with crystal clarity. Her phrasing is remarkable, teamed up with the piano work of Hannah Vasanth and with cool trumpet highlights by Andy Davies, backed by Tony Kofi on sax, John Spanyol on trombone, Troy Miller on drums and Christian McBride on bass. Very nice. All Too Soon is a cool, easy pop track in jazz and carried only by the bass work of McBride, Harrop shows just how easily her vocals float effortlessly on air. Really nice. Another showcase for Harrop is soulful jazz tune, I Think You'd Better Go with only light acoustic guitar by Jamie McCredie. Brilliant! Jason Rebello on piano joins Harrop on blues number, Red May Janes & A Brand New Hat with Troy Miller on drums, Jihad Darwish on bass, Debs White on violin and Julia Graham on cello. Rebello and Harrop get a great groove on this one making it one of my favorite instrumentally rich pieces on the release. If I Knew is a particularly strong track with rich lyrics. If you've been reading my notes for any period of time, you have probably caught that I'm not particularly lyric conscious but this track caught my attention. Strong lyrics and dramatic music with backing by Rebello on piano, Graham, Hillman and White on strings. Very nice. Wrapping the release is ballad, Weather The Storm, with Nicky Brown on organ, Troy Miller on Drums, McCredie on electric guitar, Vasanth on piano, Dishan Abraham on bass, and a backing vocals. This track has a radio feel and a solid capper for a very strong release. 


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Thursday, May 12, 2022

Westmont Records artist: Liz Terrell - It's All Right With Me - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, It's All Right With Me, from Liz Terrell and it's solid and enjoyable. Opening with the Stylistics' People Make The World Go Round, vocalist Liz Terrell makes it her own with a certain richness. Breaking to a cool, Latin rhythm by Emre Kartari on drums and Chris Brydge on bass, this track sails. Eddie Williams on sax adds beautiful riffs over the piano work of Daniel Clarke on piano and Alan Parker on guitar. Very nice. The radiance of Terrell's voice is evident on Cole Porter's standard, Night and Day starting out in relative a capella style but breaking into a club style swing. Parker takes the lead and lays in really nice, fluid riffs on guitar over the tight drum work of Kartari before Terrell bursts back with powerful but understated vocal. Very cool. Monk's classic, Blue Monk is an excellent choice for this band with inventive soloing by Brydge, Parker, Williams, Clarke and of course lush scatting by Terrell. Excellent! Ellington's Don't Get Around Much Anymore is a really nice take on this classic with solid vocal styling and really strong piano work by Clarke. Great! Wrapping the release is Burt Bacharach's What The World Needs Now, and I think it's an excellent choice for a closer. I personally don't think that Bacharach gets nearly the credit that he deserves as one of the best pop composers of our time. This is a beautiful arrangement of a beautiful track really showing just how pure Terrell's voice is and with just the right amount of adornment by Clarke, Williams and Parker. Excellent choice and excellent job. 


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Monday, May 9, 2022

BEL Records artist: Brent Laidler - Wouldn't Be Here Without You - New Release Review

 


I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Wouldn't Be Here Without You, from Bret Laidler and it's a cool eclectic mix of tunes with different yet interesting approaches. Opening with Keeping It Simple, a bossa soaked track, Brent Laidler on guitar is joined by Mark Buselli on trumpet, Ned Boyd on sax and flute, Jaime Newman on organ, Scott Pazera on bass and Richard Floyd on drums. Sunday Mood is a really cool boogie with a walking bass line and outstanding solos by Boyd on sax and Buselli on trumpet as well as a cool swinging guitar solo by Laidler. Very nice. Another Latin flavored track, City By The Bay, gives Boyd a nice opportunity to play a lush flute solo, followed by a lush organ solo by Newman and a nicely styled trumpet solo by Buselli before turning the mic over to Laidler who's warm, clear guitar tone and fluid runs ties back to the melody. Very cool. Laidler has the melody on Wouldn't Be Here Without You with Buselli on trumpet setting solid highlights before the Laidler doubles down on guitar with an excellent up tempo solo joined by nice work by Newman on organ and an excellent bass solo by Scott Pazera on bass and excellent Spanish style drum and percussion by Floyd. Wrapping the release is Pretty Little Bossa with it's compact rhythm pattern and giving Newman plenty of highway for exploration, leading to nice, relaxed contributions by Buselli and wrap up by Laidler and Boyd. This is a really solid release with strong tracks and and instrumentation. 


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Friday, April 29, 2022

7D Media artist: Alex Anthony Faide - Particles of the Infinite - New Release Review


 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Particles of the Infinite, by Alex Anthony Faide and I really like it. Faide, originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, has for decades been the go to session guitarist in Europe and South America. Now moved to Seattle and previously under the tutelage of Robert Fripp, founder of King Crimson this is his first solo effort.  Particles Of the Infinite is a 9 part composition, formatted much like a King Crimson suite of movements with distinct passages and eccentric time signatures. Faide, on guitar and bass, is joined by Matt Chamberlain  (David Bowie), Pat Mastelotto (King Crimson) and Alessandro Inolti (Echotest). If you know any of Fripp's work, you know that it's difficult to articulate anything descriptive that is meaningful about his compositions and in the case of Faide, the work defies being nailed down. Let's just say if you heard this composition at random, and truely knew Fripp's work, you would see the similarities to King Crimson and Fripp styling but understanding that it wasn't a Fripp composition. Excellent release!


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Wednesday, April 27, 2022

Delmark Records artist: Bob Stroger & the Headcutters - That's My Name - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, That's My Name, by Bob Stroger & The Headcutters and it's a full house of Chicago blues. Opening with What Goes On In The Dark, Bob Stroger on lead vocal and bass shows no wear for his 90 year tenure. With Ricardo Maca on lead guitar, Joe Marhofer lays in some real  nice harmonica riffs over the support of Arturo Garcia on bass, Leandro Barbeta on drums, Luciano Leaes on Hammond and Braion Johnny on sax. Solid opener. On slow blues, I'm A Busy Man, Stroger's composition is strong and his vocals firm. I really like Marhofer's approach on harmonica, Maca lays in some soulful soloing of his own on guitar and Leaes' piano riffs are essential. Boogie track, Something Strange has a cool walking bass line and melody by Marhofer. Stroger's vocals are light and nimble. My favorite track on the release is Jr Parker's Stranded In St. Louis with quite a bit of solid slide work by Maca and some of Stroger's best vocals on the release, complimented nicely by Leaes on Hammond and Marhofer's solid harmonica work. Very nice. Uptempo blues, Talk To Me Mama could be right out of Morganfield's songbook with strong vocals, tight drums and dominant harmonica by Marhofer. Wrapping the release is title track, That's My Name with it's buoyant rhythm, Stroger's vocal strength and solid jams from Leaes, Harhofer and Maca. Solid closer for a another solid release from Stroger. 


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Thursday, April 21, 2022

Moondo Music artist: Juan Carlos Quintero - Table For Five - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Table For Five, from Juan Carlos Quintero and it's really tasty. Opening with Arthur Schwartz's Alone Together, Juan Carlos Quintero opens the gate and lets it flow. This is a masterful display of melodic guitar lead, over a tight Latin rhythm by Eddie Resto on bass, Aaron Serfaty on drums and Joey DeLeon on percussion and with excellent piano work by Joe Rotondi adding melodic rhythm on piano. Excellent! Luiz Bonfa's Manha De Carnaval is slowed down from it's traditional presentation to more of a Bolero feel with beautiful guitar lead by Quintero, teamed with Rotondi's piano accent. Very nice. Original composition and title track, Table For Five... at The Cumbia Inn has a cool, Columbian rhythm with a steady cymbal and tight rhythm guitar leaving plenty of space for melodic guitar lead soloing by Quintero and really nice percussion by DeLeon and Serfaty who also play an extended  solo on Horace Silver's Song For My Father along with the masterful work of  Rotondi and Quintero. Henry Mancini's Days Of Wine And Roses gets a Latin redo and features a beautiful bass solo by Resto, along with Quintero and Rotondi. Wrapping the release is Victor Young's standard, Beautiful Love which is as perfect a closer as I could imagine for this terrific release. Quintero's guitar lead is full of emotion, and floating lightly on the rhythms of Resto and Serfaty. Another stand out solo by Resto on bass nicely compliments the solitude and pristine beauty. Excellent closer for an excellent release. 


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Monday, April 11, 2022

Sedajazz Records artist: Sergio Pereira - Finesse - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Finesse, from Sergio Pereira and it's really quite nice. Opening with White Lion, Sergio Pereira on guitar and vocal is joined by Reza Khan on rhythm guitar, Rodrigo Ursaia on flute, Helio Alves on piano, Mark Egan on bass, Mauricio Zottarelli on drums and Emelio Martins on percussion. A relatively smooth track a cool radio opener.  Morning Mist is an uptempo Brazillian Samba with melodic acoustic guitar and vocal by Pereira and marcus Teixeira on electric guitar, Paulo Paulelli on bass and Zottarelli on drums. Very nice. Ralph Moore on alto sax adds in on the intro on Quase 9 and really nice vocal by Pereira makes this a really strong tune. Helio Alves on piano lays in the first line of solo, followed by Moore, joined by Andre Vasconcellos on bass, and Emilio Martins on percussion. A nice breeze of cool air.  Desfilandoa Vitoria is very lively with a punctuated rhythm with the addition of Rodrigo Ursaia on sax and flute, Rubinho Ahtunes on trumpet, Jorinho Neto on trombone and with the addition of Milene Corso and Camilla Pereira on backing vocals. One of my favorites on the release. Wrapping the release is Dreamsville featuring Pereira on acoustic lead guitar over Paulelli (who also slides in a tasty solo) on bass and Zottarelli on the lightest of drum rhythm. This release is consistently smooth and rhythmic with tasty riffs, cool vocals and nice melodies.  


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Friday, April 8, 2022

Wise Cat Records artist: Kenny Shanker - Vortex - New Release Review

 


I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Vortex, by Kenny Shanker and it's a cool bop filled ride. Opening with the title track, Vortex, Mike Eckroth sets the tone with a piano intro and progressive melody, dashed up with Yoshi Waki on bass and Brian Fishler on drums. Kenny Shanker takes the lead on sax with aggressive style taking the track quite a bit higher and then hands off to guitar man Daisuke Abe who crafts a really nice fluid lead line of his own, resolving with Bill Mobley on trumpet for a solid close. Lulu's Back In Town has a laid back feel with Shanker setting up the tune, and Abe and Eckroth each adding very nice solo blocks for a really nice track.  Hunter steps up the feel a bit with an aggressive rhythm and the over the top attack that I'm coming to expect from Shanker. Abe and Eckroth both stretch nicely before returning to Shanker for a solid conclusion. Dave Brubeck's classic, The Duke is in line and Shanker and Eckroth lay down the intro before Shanker really starts to groove over the solid bottom of Waki and Fishler. Accepting the challenge and continuing the feel, Eckroth and Abe each lay down really nice alt melody lines. This is a really super take on a terrific track. Abe really shines on Midnight Snack with a vibrant attack and clean fluid lines. Shanker on soprano rides the wave with intention and fierce riffs of his own before passing to Eckroth who finds a solid groove of his own. Strong. Wrapping the releases is Johnny Mercer's Autumn Leaves. Shanker sets a firm pace, establishing the traditional melody. Abe solos the first leg masterfully with a strong bass line by Waki. When Shanker rejoins, he starts the abstraction and propels the track to another level  with Abe holding the melody line tight. This is really a solid closer for a really nice release. 


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Thursday, April 7, 2022

Aaron Bazzell - Aesthetic - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (April 22, 2022), Aesthetic, by Aaron Bazzell and it's a smooth debut effort. Opening with Tomorrow Today, Boston born, Atlanta raised, Bazzell leads the way of this instrumental journey on alto sax, joined by Keith Brown on piano, Jonathan Michael on bass and Brandon Donald on drums. Given a percussive piano structure, Donald really lays down a creative rhythm and Bazzell's alto work is straight up melodic. Brown breaks loose with a solid piano interlude adding another dimension. Solid opener. Unrequited is a soulful ballad with Bazzell leading the melody, cradled nicely in the piano counterpoint. Again, Brown's sensitive piano aesthetic adds to the track nicely. Latin rhythm by Michael and Donald on Purpose sets a nice oath for the melodic lead work of Bazzell and Brown. This is the most aggressive track on the release with Bazzell pushing the conventional envelope of the release and also being my favorite track on the release. Eventually is easily the radio track on the release featuring vocalist, Rachel Robinson upfront and Bazzell on counterpoint with solid bass lines by Michael. Another particularly strong track is Maktub with it's Brazilian rhythm and super interwork between Bazzell and Brown and shows some of my favorite drum work on the release. Very nice. Hard driving, Increase and Persist shows Bazzell in top form really pushed along nicely by Michael and again an excellent piano lead line by Brown over tight drum rhythms by Donald. Excellent closer. 


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Wednesday, April 6, 2022

Henri Elkan Music artist: Wayne Alpern - Secular Rituals - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Secular Rituals, by Wayne Alpern and it's expansive and thought provoking. I want to start out by saying that the cover for this release has a unique, quiet beauty with hints of a landscape obscured by fog and cleanly designed title and artist notation surrounding a red diamond. Brilliant work by Darline Braz and Kasa Objects. Because the release to me is more a cohesive composition with movements than separate "songs" I will try to describe what I am experiencing aurally rather than isolate specific segments of the passages and note participants. The release opens with Utopia with a varying digital rhythm pattern and notes that seem to hang in the ether. This layering of different digital loops and patterns creates a soothing intro to this release. Victims of Venom is really a cool track with an underlying world music influence. Digital tom tom sounds, jungle sounds and a digital small keyboard create quite an interesting experience. Gomoa Fettah is another interesting cultural trip with African based rhythms and horn/keyboard soloing seeming to be from northern Africa or Asia. Again, a really interesting passage. Sista Re has a more grounded bottom bringing to mind an early Herbie Hancock composition but with a very loose jazz structure and more straight forward keyboards. Afterglow seems to be a quiet exploration in melody with no pronounced rhythm The digital, organ like sound seems suspend on the air. Wrapping the release is Vishvakarma which uses digital sitar, tabla and rhythms to create a pretty convincing journey through India to closure. This is an intellectual adventure in sound and quite entertaining. 


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Monday, April 4, 2022

Micah Graves - Pawns - New Release Review

 


I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Pawns, from Micah Graves and it's terrific! Opening with title track, Pawns, Micah Graves leads a group of excellent musicians on a creative path. Based over a central piano/keys vamp by Graves is reinforced by Robby Cruz on trumpet, Dick Oats on alto sax, Yesseh Ali on tenor sax, Zach Guise on bass and Julian Miltenberger on drums. Ali is the first to break loose with a creative solo line with incredibly tight drum rhythms by Miltenberger. Zach Fischer is next in line with warm guitar lead over a subdued, drum/piano rhythm, breaking back to Miltenberger and Graves tight rhythm interaction and horns. Very nice. Adding vocals by Danielle Dougherty and Shafiq Hicks on Lost In Time In Central Square, this track is much more straightforward and radio forward with a carload of instrumental excellence. Ali is first up on solo this time and his tones are fat and rich, followed by a funky keyboard solo by Graves and nicely complimented by Guise and again with over the top tasty percussive work of Miltenberger. Excellent! Dick Oats lays in some really nice alto sax work on this track feeding into Graves with his excellent keyboard lead. Solid head food. Odd Times is one of my favorite tracks on the release with it's driving keyboard lead, relentless bass line by Guise and especially the terrific drumming of Miltenberger. Excellent! Wrapping the release is The Hague with it's pop jazzy feel. A warm bass groove gives Graves a broad road to solo over on keys and Miltenberger holds a tight rhythm. Ali lets it all hang out on Tenor for a wild ride of a closer.




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Wednesday, March 30, 2022

Provogue Records artist: Beth Hart - A Tribute To Led Zeppelin - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, A Tribute To Led Zeppelin, by Beth Hart and I really like it. Opening with Whole Lotta Love, Hart shows that Robert Plant has nothing on her belting out the most classic of rock anthems like it's her own. Backed by Dorian Crozier on drums, Chris Chaney on bass, Tim Pierce on guitar, Rob Cavallo on guitar and Jamie Muhoberac on keys, this band is tight. I'm particularly happy with Crozier's handling of Bonham's drum work which is the key to getting this band. Another drum heavy track, "later phase" Led Zep's Kashmir, sounds really strong and Hart fills Plant's shoes better than anyone might expect.  The Crunge, from Houses is a great track with tight little guitar riffs and hot drum rhythms. Anyone passing a shop with this playing would likely do a double take on whether it's Led Zep... the keys are the tale with different intonation but still a really nice job! One of the best rock tracks by anyone is of course Black Dog and Hart and company does a great job. Once again I have to salute Crozier. As a long time Zep fan, it's all about the drums. Covers of Pages guitar solos are really quite accurate and still exciting.  Digging back into early Zep again Good Times Bad Times is still a great rocker. Hart makes a small gender adjustment to the lyrics but her vocals are questionably better than Plants and covers of Pages guitar solos sound great. (Did I mention... great work by Crozier). Wrapping the release is gloomy and moody, The Rain Song with "strings" by Muhobeac and Hart's final chance to showcase her bluesy voice. This really is a strong release of Zep covers and a cool listen.


View Bman Blueswriter's profile on LinkedIn

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