By: Edward Blanco Platinum-award-winning vocalist/lyricist Mark Winkler presents his tenth album as leader and follow up to his critically-acclaimed 2009 release, Till I Get It Right, with the sugar-coated twelve-piece Sweet Spot. Winkler surely “Gets it right” with this new album, where he offers a host of new material and …
By Bill Donaldson Make no mistake about it: The musicians on Larry Vuckovich’s most recent CD, Somethin’ Special, are jazz professionals with years, well decades, of experience shaping their techniques into means of expression that effortlessly emerge as the music flows. Vuckovich himself started in the late fifties as a …
By John Stevenson On Kaiso, his third recording as a leader, Trinbagonian trumpet maestro, Etienne Charles, cooks up an ambrosial bouillabaisse of New World music genres, with the jazz and calypso genres standing out as piquant flavours. In the Efik-Ibibio language and culture of the Nigerian delta region, the term …
By Bill Donaldson Sheryl Bailey has a big heart, that much is known. With the wisdom gained from loss and concern for survivors, Bailey has found an outlet for her empathy through music. Though Bailey has developed a reputation for blazing guitar work, she tones down the strength of her …
Mordy Ferber, “Reflection” By: Bill Donaldson Though Mordy Ferber remains relatively unknown to the general public, his work doesn’t remain unheard. Those fortunate enough to catch Ferber in a club may be entranced by his haunting compositions and inspired delivery, but anyone who watches television may have heard his themes …
Eddie Gip Noble, “In The Lite Of Things” By: Edward Blanco Pianist and keyboardist Eddie Gip Noble blends Pop, R&B and jazz music styles with elements of jazz-fusion to produce his second solo album, In The Lite Of Things. Harking back to the seventies, Noble draws on influences from Teddy …
Wendell Harrison, “It’s About Damn Time” By: Edward Blanco Detroit jazz legend, saxophonist Wendell Harrison releases his first album in seven years with the very dynamic “It’s About Damn Time” presenting variations of straight jazz, hard funk and soulful rhythms. The founder of the 1970’s Tribe records Detroit jazz collective …
By: Edward Blanco Mexican-born producer Jose Rizo has been the Musical Director at KKJZ 88.1 FM (Kjazz) in Long Beach, California for quite some time now. In addition, Rizo has also been the producer and leader of the Jazz on the Latin Side All Stars big band for ten years …
By: Edward Blanco Veteran drummer Steve Johns has performed with some of the greats of jazz from Dr. Billy Taylor, Sonny Fortune to Jimmy Heath and Randy Brecker, while Peter Brainin is one of the most recognizable and brilliant saxophonist in the jazz world today. Along with bass virtuoso Marcus …
Glenn Astarita This is not a revivalist depiction of the good old days based upon a setting where Dr. Smith’s miracle elixir was the fodder for tent-shows across the western regions of the United States. On the contrary, these musicians morph a slice of Americana into a surreal Dali-esque sequence …
