Brazilian singer and songwriter Joyce Moreno and pianist Kenny Werner are touring Europe in February in support of their recently released “Poesia” album, an intimate collection of 13 songs from the Brazilian and American songbook plus a traditional and a beautiful original tune which opens the album: “Second Love Song” is as pure and concentrated…
Here we go again – the 2015 edition was reviewed on these pages on February 6th of last year, and the latest Luxury Soul compilation just came in. Another 3-CD box set with the finest quality indie soul, starting with The Sound Principle feat. Richard Anthony Davis and “Heartbreaking” (do I hear a Sharon Redd…
I remember Bill Frisell‘s fantastic performance at last year’s North Sea Jazz Festival – it was actually one of the best concerts I saw during those three days. Part of his repertoire were songs from movies and TV and his latest album is just that: Ennio Morricone, Nino Rota, Henry Mancini and music from “Psycho”…
It is his most ambitious recording project yet, according to the liner notes. And even though he has indeed recorded what feels like a million different things, it seems hard to believe that Nils Landgren will turn 60 next month. So consider this as his birthday present – and he not only has the Bochumer…
New York-born pianist Jon Davis, longtime member of the band of legendary bassist Jaco Pastorius, releases his third album for the Posi-Tone label called “Changes Over Time”. And he opens his set with an ebullient interpretation of the Mal Waldron classic “Soul Eyes” infusing it with panache and ease. His band mates are bassist Ugonna Okegwo,…
The French-born, Brooklyn-based Cyrille Aimée who has won the Montreux Vocal Jazz Competition back in 2007 and the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition in 2012, was also a finalist at the Thelonious Monk International Vocal Jazz Competition in 2010, and now comes up with her new album “Let’s Get Lost” which features four original tunes and numerous…
And here he goes again. At 81, tenor saxophonist Houston Person has recorded another of his typical, elegant and bluesy, mellow and sophisticated albums. Houston, a longtime collaborator with the legendary Etta Jones, has always been a musician who had a deep understanding and knowledge of the lyrics of the songs he recorded. Best heard…
Just a couple of days after this review was published, I’m sitting at my desk on Monday morning and read all the reports that David Bowie has died at 69. “David Bowie died peacefully today surrounded by his family after a courageous 18-month battle with cancer,” according to a statement on Mr. Bowie’s social media accounts….
Amsterdam-based Norbert Kögging is a singer and composer who recorded his first album “Daydreaming” in Canada. Now he comes up with “Sketches Of Ordinary Life”, recorded in Osnabrück in Germany, and featuring the alto saxophone and clarinet of Michael Moore. Norbert, who is also a vocal coach and festival director for the Jazzfest Amsterdam, has a…
Slovakian trumpeter and flugelhornist Lukás Oravec shows his energetic and fiery style on his latest album “Piotrology” which features Vincent Herring on saxophone. The 27-year old Lukás has also written three of the tunes on his album except one song by Vincent which can also be found on the saxophonist’s brilliant last release and two by his bassist…