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…
Kansas City-born singer Kevin Mahogany, who this past summer moved back to his hometown after living in Miami for many years, has passed on Sunday. He was only 59 years old and had to withstand the sudden death of his wife Allene in August. Yes, he was the perfect blues and swing singer, but I…
The wonderful voice of Keely Smith first got me in the mid 80s when I discovered her “I’m In Love Again” album. Back then in 1985, after a 20-year recording break, she was already at a stage in her career where, like other popular singers such as Mel Tormé, Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne, Barbra Streisand,…
Gina knows exactly where she gets her treats in the neighborhood. On a recent walk through Prenzlauer Berg, we stopped at our favorite cheese dealer. Gina ordered a piece of 16-month old Chällerhocker from Switzerland, but of course graciously handed it over to me because she knew that she’s not allowed to eat cheese. We’ve…
I came across an interview in The Vulture magazine, published yesterday, where saxophone giant Sonny Rollins was in a reflective mood with interviewer David Marchese who talked to him on the phone. “…my life has been in a reflective mode for some years now…It’s gotten more that way since I became unable to blow my…