Reviews

Performance (5/5)
Sound (5/5)


blogimg

Download On
Aslan, Pablo
Piazzolla in Brooklyn
Review Date: 05-13-2012
Category Latin
Label Soundbrush
Producer Aslan, Pablo
Instrumental Guitar
+ Expand Details - Collapse Details

O's Notes: Argentine bassist Pablo Aslan ushers in a taste of Argentina to America. Though Aslan is based in New York, he chose to record this CD in Buenos Aires with his Argentine quintet: Gustavo Bergalli (t), Abel Rogantini (p), Nicolas Enrich (bandoneon) and Daniel Piazzolla (d). The music is Astor Piazzola's failed attempt at jazz-tango originally recorded (Take Me Dancing) in 1959. Pablo rearranged the tunes and today 53 years later, it sounds vibrant, rich and magical!

Performance (5/5)
Sound (4/5)


blogimg

Download On
Porter, Gregory
Be Good
Review Date: 05-13-2012
Category Ballads, Blues
Label Motˇma
Producer Bacchus, Brian
Instrumental Male Vocals
+ Expand Details - Collapse Details

O's Notes: Porter has a silky baritone voice that he uses to express his message. Be Good is a collection of culture, heartfelt joy and pain from his perspective. The message is sincere and a welcomed breadth of fresh air amongst the anger and profanity that laces urban music today. Chip Crawford (p), Aaron James (b), Emanuel Harold (d), Yosuke Sato (as), Keyon Harrold (t) and Tivon Pennicott (ts) are a part of a strong band supporting Porter. Kamau Kenyatta (ss) arranges the brass. Greg closes with a fitting a Capella nightcap "God Bless The Child".

Performance (4/5)
Sound (4/5)


blogimg

Download On
Lark, Bob
Reunion
Review Date: 05-13-2012
Category BigBand
Label Jazzed Media
Producer Lark, Bob
Instrumental Trumpet
+ Expand Details - Collapse Details

O's Notes: Bob Lark is the long time director of the big bands at DePaul University. For Reunion he invited 22 musicians to form his Alumni Big Band and this is their debut. Lark wrote eleven original pieces and includes six songs from his alumni. There's a cool swinging groove that surfaces on "Until You". The band is very dynamic exploding on "First Steps" before soothing us on "Cathy's Song" featuring Bob on flugelhorn. This is a far better outcome than what you may expect from a reunion as Lark channels the enthusiasm and energy into a fine session.

Performance (4/5)
Sound (3/5)


blogimg

Download On
Feather, Lorraine
Tales of The Unusual
Review Date: 05-13-2012
Category Ballads, Blues
Label Jazzed Media
Producer Feather, Lorraine and others
Instrumental Female Vocals
+ Expand Details - Collapse Details

O's Notes: Lorraine Feather is a vocalist with strong support from a core of collaborating musicians including pianist/arranger Russell Ferante, guitarist Grant Grisman, and Michael Valerio (b). Shelly Berg (p) and Charles Bisharat (violin) also make notable appearances. Ferante opens "The Hole in the Map" with a classic piano solo that evolves into an adventurous, Latin-tinged, upbeat ballad. That groove surfaces again on "To Live Another Day", one of our favorites. Lorraine breathes sweet harmonies into "Five" and "Ahh". Her tone is precise and folds into the instrumentation, on "Sweet Miriam" for example. This is a fresh set that combines jovial bouncy songs with memorable ballads.

Performance (4/5)
Sound (3/5)


blogimg

Download On
Post Jazz Mistress
Global Warming
Review Date: 05-13-2012
Category Fusion
Label TRP Music
Producer Post Jazz Mistress & Riccardo Samperi
Instrumental Instrumental
+ Expand Details - Collapse Details

O's Notes: Post Jazz Mistress is a jazz-fusion trio with Osvaldo Di Dio (g), Vincenzo Virgillito (b) and Antonio Fuscon (d). They lean towards the pop/rock side with guitar melodies on top of relaxed rhythms. The program is reflective of the title Global Warming with nine originals written by the band. The first few songs represent nature's beauty in its current state then evolving into a warning and loneliness. Of note are "The Seven Secret Pools", "Dancing On A Lonely Wave" and "Diary of The World" each featuring Di Dio.