German-born pianist Anke Helfrich comes up with a new album that features Tim Hagans on trumpet and flugelhorn. Anke has studied with Kenny Barron and Larry Goldings and has played with Roy Hargrove, Johnny Griffin, and Manu Katché, among many others. On the new record, she not only plays piano, but also uses Fender Rhodes,…
It was during “Cheating On Me”, one of the slower numbers from singer Kwabs and his debut LP “Love + War” (see review on these pages), that the full capacity of the London-based singer shone through. Dressed in black, with a black cap, a lot of his singing abilities were unfortunately buried in a wall…
The debut recording by New York-based singer Laurie Dapice is a fine example of a) convincingly getting a story across to the listener and b) choosing enthralling repertoire. Even with classic standards like Cole Porter‘s “You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To” and “What Is This Thing Called Love”, Laurie’s approach and her warm soprano…
20 years after their debut album “Cool & Steady & Easy”, which was voted “best r&b album” by Billboard magazine, the Brooklyn Funk Essentials return with their latest, “Funk Ain’t Ova”, seven years after their last release. The gritty funk of their past albums continues here right on with the opener “Blast It!” and a…
UK soul singer-songwriter Tony Momrelle, probably best known for his longstanding work with Incognito since 2002, has released his new album “Keep Pushing”. And the similarity to Stevie Wonder and Donny Hathaway is, once again, striking, as witnessed by the opening title track. Well maybe except for the rap part. With “Pick Me Up”, he goes…
The 34th Cully Jazz Festival has announced its first artists for the 2016 edition. The festival, which runs April 8th to 16th, will feature Dianne Reeves in a concert at the Chapiteau on April 10th. Also on the lineup: the Erik Truffaz Quartet and the Mark Giuliana Jazz Quartet on April 13th. The full programme…
Even though alto saxophonist Vincent Herring tours Europe a lot, it was in early 2014 in New York when I last saw him. He was accompanying the brilliant vocalist Paulette McWilliams. Ever since his stints with Nat Adderley (for six years) and Cedar Walton (for over 20 years), he has clearly found a sound of…
London-based soul singer Kwabs is actually from Ghana and his real name is Kwabena Sarkodee Adjepong. He studied Jazz at the Royal Academy of Music in London and was part of a reality TV show. And then a few years ago he uploaded a video on youtube with his version of Corinne Bailey Rae‘s hit song…
The last time the prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute Competition focused on vocals was back in 2010. The three winners were Cécile McLorin Salvant, Charnée Wade, and Cyrille Aimée. All three of them are now having an international career, with Cécile just recently playing the Berlin Jazzfest. Among the judges five years ago were Patti Austin,…
About a year after I moved to Berlin, in 1992, an intoxicating and haunting record made the rounds which was played in the derelict, fucked-up clubs of the changing and explosive Berlin. I soon added it to my DJ set as well of course. Up to this day, this particular song hasn’t lost any of…