The 27-year old singer, songwriter and pianist Sarah McKenzie‘s new album was produced by Brian Bacchus in New York. 11 songs, partly American Songbook, partly originals plus Abbey Lincoln and Betty Carter frame her new album. Brian gave her a lot to listen to, according to a Skype interview I was able to make with…
Here is an album for the upcoming fall/winter season: the Lithuanian pianist Egidijus Buozis has recorded a beautiful, almost engrossed album of three Lithuanian folksongs, one Danish folksong, and originals by producers Caecilie Norby and Lars Danielsson. “I Went Out on A Summer Day” starts off in a somber and melancholic mood as a piano…
Omnipresent bassist Christian McBride brought his trio to the legendary Village Vanguard in New York last December and the sessions were recorded live during the three days of December 12th to 14th. The album starts impressively with Wes Montgomery‘s 1963 classic “Fried Pies” from his Boss Guitar LP. Both Christian Sands on piano and the…
Singer Amy London has not only assembled a group of new vocalese singers, but also invited five of the legendary artists of that genre, probably the last five still alive. What Lambert, Hendricks & Ross started in the 50s, is what Amy London, Darmon Meader (of the New York Voices), Dylan Pramuk, and Holli Ross…
Lizz Wright originally wanted to do an album of covers only. In the end, she decided not to do so and so on her new record, there are (thankfully) only two covers: Nick Drake‘s “River Man” and “To Love Somebody” by The Bee Gees. Produced by Joni Mitchell producer Larry Klein, Lizz returns after five…
Three years ago, Jamison Ross won the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition as best drummer. The Florida native now released his debut album and not only shows his drum chops, but also his talent as singer, producer, and composer. With “Deep Down In Florida”, he starts out on a bluesy note with a song…
The Detroit Jazz Festival is the world’s largest free Jazz Festival and takes place each year over the Labor Day weekend. Four stages, hundreds of artists, the Homecoming Series and the annual artist in residence (this year: Pat Metheny) all guarantee a knockout holiday weekend. I’ve already heard some great reports and stories from this…
Fourplay are celebrating their 25th anniversary with the new album “Silver”. It is the third album which features guitarist Chuck Loeb in addition to the original members Bob James, Nathan East, and Harvey Mason. Chuck wrote the very Pat Metheny-like opener “Quicksilver” with its light and breezy vocals. Many of the tracks have a silver…
Coming straight out of the Dave Frishberg/Mark Murphy school if you want any comparison, but with his own inimitable and highly original style, singer and lyricist Mark Winkler releases his 14th album to date. This comes a couple of years after his successful duet album with Manhattan Transfer singer Cheryl Bentyne (“West Coast Cool”) and…
Finnish pianist Iiro Rantala refers in the notes to his John Lennon tribute album to Lennon’s honesty in his songwriting and that he really believed the things he sings about. Iiro has tackled different topics and collaborations in the past; the most intriguing probably his “Lost Heroes” album. His new solo project opens with the…