It seems as if Nightmares On Wax, headed by George Evelyn, have been like a steady accompaniment to us over the years. Five years after “Feelin’ Good” and 27 (!) years after “A Word Of Science” which broke new ground with its typical mix of hip hop beats, downbeat and trip hop, the story continues…
This is the second album of UK-based group Snowpoet. Irish vocalist Lauren Kinsella who won the Jazz FM Vocalist of the Year Award in 2016, and multi-instrumentalist Chris Hyson, who plays piano, electric bass, double bass, and synths on the album, have come up with a beautiful 10-piece collection full of warmth, depth, and contemplation….
Midway through “Here Today”, mezzo-soprano singer Alicia Hall Moran‘s new album, I can’t help but think about a well matured Italian Taleggio cheese with sun-dried tomatoes and herbs. “Two Wings”, the almost 8-minute centerpiece track on her superb disc, sums up this genre-defying project which is both enchanting and revelatory. With the edgy guitar of…
So, anyone brave enough to cover Evelyn “Champagne” King‘s 1981 gem “I’m In Love”, written and arranged by Kashif, gets my attention. Husband and wife team Erika and Dee Rhodes come up with a pretty solid and very 80s sounding version that comes even close in all kinds of different keyboard sounds that were used…
Both Peggy Lee and Julie London had their biggest chart success in the 50s and 60s. Lee’s “Songs From Pete Kelly’s Blues” went to Number 7 in the Billboard Pop charts in 1955 and London’s “Julie Is Her Name” went to Number 2 in 1956. Both were not really jazz singers, but girl singers with…
Drummer Brian Blade‘s band celebrated its 20th anniversary last year and released their fifth album, “Body And Shadow”, towards the end of 2017 amid the rush of dozens of new recordings slated before the holiday season. So it was one of those albums which was somehow overlooked. But I’m glad I checked it out finally…
It was just a matter of time before this was about to take shape: Stacey Kent recording with a full orchestra. The arrangements are by Tommy Laurence, the sessions took place in London up until May of this year and Jim Tomlinson produced the album which really suits her fine. There are a lot of…
The beauty of this music is its sweet melancholy and gloomy atmosphere that is able to lure you deeper into the mix. Scottish pianist and producer Ricky Reid has assembled jazz and classical musicians in a remote place in the Scottish highlands and came up with this über-cinematic collection of songs. The vibrant drums on…
Run N’ Fly is a new music collective under the direction of guitarist Sandro Albert. Helping out with the lyrics is Brazilian artist Manu Lafer and for all those out there studying the liner notes and personnel on all of your records, the group consists of session musicians and singers who have appeared on thousands…
I bought Will Downing‘s first LP in May, 1988. His version of “A Love Supreme” with Stanley Turrentine on sax still resonates. Other cuts like “In My Dreams” or the cover of the Deniece Williams classic “Free” have become soul standards. 20 albums and almost 30 years later, you really can call him a soul…