Brandon Woody Announces Blue Note Debut. Branford Marsalis too.

Brandon Woody Announces Blue Note Debut. Branford Marsalis too.

Trumpeter Brandon Woody is set to release his Blue Note debut “For The Love Of It All” on May 9th. The Baltimore-based artist’s six original tracks will be available on colored vinyl, black vinyl, CD, and all digital platforms. The first single off the album, “Real Love, Pt.1”, out since yesterday, sounds exceptionally promising. Brandon…

Sachal Vasandani – “Best Life Now”
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Sachal Vasandani – “Best Life Now”

After two brilliant albums on Edition Records, “Midnight Shelter” (2021) and “Still Life” (2022), both with pianist Romain Collin (who also just released his five-paw reviewed “Dust” LP), singer and songwriter Sachal Vasandani has moved on to Patron Saint International for “Best Life Now”, his seventh album. Produced by the great drummer Nate Smith (we…

Bobby Oroza in Berlin
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Bobby Oroza in Berlin

Finnish soul singer, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and producer Bobby Oroza was in town yesterday. On a pretty cold Sunday night, Bobby played music from his two albums “This Love” (2019) and “Get On The Otherside” (2022), both released on Big Crown Records, the Brooklyn-based label which was started back in 2016 by Leon Michels of El…

ASHRR – “Please Don’t Stop The Rain”
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ASHRR – “Please Don’t Stop The Rain”

LA-based ASHRR, consisting of Ethan Allen, Josh Charles, and Steven Davis, released their second album “Sunshine Low” on 20:20 Vision last September. Their not easily describable sound, a mix of Electronic, Alternative Soul, 80s New Wave, and Indie dance, was a pretty mixed affair on those 14 tracks. Enter Ron Trent, the now almost legendary…

Kelly Finnigan & The Atonements in Berlin

Kelly Finnigan & The Atonements in Berlin

Singer, songwriter, musician, producer, and arranger Kelly Finnigan, originally from California, is currently on tour in Europe with his group the Atonements, which consists of musicians from various groups on the Colemine Rercords label, like The Monophonics, Orgone, The Dap Kings, and The True Loves. The raw sound of his retro soul albums “The Tales…

Rondi Charleston/Fred Hersch – “Suspended In Time – A Song Cycle”
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Rondi Charleston/Fred Hersch – “Suspended In Time – A Song Cycle”

We’ve reviewed singer Rondi Charleston‘s album “Resilience” back in October 2017, a brave and vulnerable work of art which came out on her own label, Resilience Music Alliance, which is also the home of her new album “Suspended In Time – A Song Cycle” with music of the great Fred Hersch. Since Rondi now has…

Madeleine Peyroux in Berlin

Madeleine Peyroux in Berlin

Singer and songwriter Madeleine Peyroux is currently on tour in Europe, supporting her latest album “Let’s Walk” which came out last summer. Accompanied by two superb collaborators, Jon Herington on guitar and Barak Mori on bass, Madeleine also included several songs from previous albums, dating back to her debut in 1996 with “(Getting Some) Fun…