BEATrio
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com June 24, 2025
O's Notes: BEATrio is Bala Fleck (banjo), Edmar Casteñeda (harp), and Antonio Sánchez (d). They made their self-titled debut on May 16, 2025. The trio combination is new the these are polished musicians, and they make hay as a unit! The combination of banjo, harp and drums is unique, especially in jazz, but it comes together nicely in a refreshing fusion. “Hooligan Harbor”, “Archipelago”, “Pellucidar”, and “Kaleidoscopes” are highlights.
Keepers Of The Eastern Door
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com June 24, 2025
O's Notes: Jazz saxophonist Chris Creek leads a quartet with Bill Frisell (g), Tony Scherr (b), and Rudy Royston (d). They play several tunes with relaxed melodies like “Smoke Rings”, “On A Clear Day”, and “From Me To You”. The music is more a story of sadness, reflecting the lost battles by the Iroquois tribe, the Keepers Of The Eastern Door, the East Coast of the USA during colonization. Justice doesn’t always prevail and perhaps we should have learned from the natives how to best live in harmony with the Earth.
The World Is On Fire
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com June 24, 2025
O's Notes: The World Is On Fire is a musical expression of rage reflecting the massive political disarray that riddles our society here and abroad. The music is interlaced with news clips of some of the injustices. We are moving backwards, expanding the hatred, entitlement and bias that stymies progress. The architect is saxophonist Isaiah Collier supported by his band, The Chosen Few that features Julian Davis Reid (p), Jeremiah Hunt (b), and Michael Shekwoaga Ode (d). While this kindles awareness, we are nearing disaster on many fronts under the current national leadership. Listen, and take action to strengthen our nation. Highlights are “We Don’t Even Know Where We Are Headed”, “The Hate You Give Is The Love You Lost”, and the title track. “Amerikkka The Ugly” is just that.
That’s What’s Up!
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com June 24, 2025
O's Notes: Pianist Mike LeDonne and tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander lead the Heavy Hitters featuring some of New York’s finest jazz artists including Jeremy Pelt (t), Vincent Herring (a-sax), Alexander Claffy (b), and Kenny Washington (d). It’s tough to miss with this overdose of talent and That’s What’s Up! “Blues For All”, “Continuum”, “Lord Walton”, and “JB” are highlights in a winning set composed mostly by LeDonne (7) and Alexander (1).