This is only the third album this year that receives a five-paw rating from Gina. It finds exactly the right balance between Jazz and Soul or, as drummer, producer, arranger, and composer Terri Lyne Carrington says in her liner notes, highlights the Soul in Jazz and vice versa. The album is the latest with her all-women…
It is really hard to believe that Incognito already celebrated their 35th anniversary last year. But then again, if you think about it, they have accompanied me musically ever since the early 80s so there you go… Founder and band leader Bluey assembled his group plus a few guest vocalists for a party-like concert on…
Only a few of the so-called Smooth Jazz artists have survived over the years. Most certainly those who take chances to spread out a bit or try some edgier sounds. Saxophonist Boney James comes up with a new album and even though he is among those artists whose records from 10 or 15 years ago…
Guitarist Lee Ritenour has assembled an impressive cast of musicians for his latest album “A Twist Of Rit”, which is bascially a collection of re-works of some of his older compositions. Four tracks alone are from his debut album “First Course”, recorded in 1975. “Wild Rice” gets a Funk-Rock treatment here with a cool Fender…
From Philadelphia comes a great singer and songwriter who comes very close to the great Donny Hathaway. The opening “Bleed Me Dry” from Aaron Parnell Brown‘s new album “The Tin Man” reminds me of early 70s Donny records, complete with cute, gospelly background vocals by Shayna Steele and a bluesy sax solo by Andy Snitzer….
It’s been ten years already since the release of singer Tracy Hamlin‘s first solo album “Seasons”. Before her solo debut, she was lead vocalist for Pieces Of A Dream and recorded a couple of albums with them. Now comes album number five for the Baltimore-born songstress who has a striking similarity to the great Stephanie…
How nice it is to hear new material from Jill Scott after four long years. With “Woman”, she delivers her most intimate and exposing set yet and with “Prepared”, produced by Andre “Dre” Harris, sets the pace for this varied and mixed new album. Because prepared you can’t be for this surprising journey even though…
This all-star collective first came together last year as the Larry Willis All-Stars at New York’s Smoke Jazz Club celebrating the music of McCoy Tyner. The audience reaction and the vibe among each other was so good that they decided to stay together and record an album. All four members of this Jazz supergroup have…
While Gina is enjoying the various pools of our neighbors during this summer (like in this short video clip we took), we can’t get enough of a wonderful indie Soul collection which just came out. “Soul Shine – 16 Contemporary Summer Soul Vibes” is a brilliant collection of intoxicating groovers and shakers with a few…
This is a sweet tribute to Kenny Drew Jr. who passed away much too early at only 56 years old last year. Saxophonist Steve Slagle and Kenny had played in the Mingus Big Band (both can also be heard on the “Live In Time” album by the group, released in 1996). On the day of…