Life Got In The Way
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com December 29, 2025
O's Notes: Veteran guitarist Heather McKay mixes contemporary genres with a taste of Latin on Life Got In The Way, Leonardo Luciano (b), Leland Nakamura (d), Campbell Charshee (keyboards), Peter Franzel (sax), and Bruno Luciano (perc) join her in a balanced session. We liked the Latin, fusion vibe on “You Make Me Smile” & “The Playground”, the funky “Boo”, and the syncopated “Eleven Reasons Why” & “Run”. Heather does a fine job injecting solos into the mix and inviting her band mates to do the same.
Return of the Light
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com December 29, 2025
O's Notes: The Wheel of Dharma is pianist, composer Joe Elefante’s quintet with Freddie Hendrix (t), Erena Terakubo (sax), Sameer Shankar (b), and David Heilman (d). Return of the Light is their latest release, and they swing from the opener, “Jazz for Dummies”. There is nice work by Hendrix on “Return of the Light”, “Cromwell”, and “Mudita”. We also enjoyed “Simple Girl”, and the swinging finale “Some Other Blues”.
Liberty Now!
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com December 29, 2025
O's Notes: Drummer, composer Phil Haynes engages his string-jazz band for Liberty Now! The quartet includes Drew Gress (b), Jim Yanda (g), and Hank Roberts (cello). Everyone contributes original compositions and vocals. This is a 26-track effort with Disc 1 containing originals, notably “Corner Store Strut”, “Next of Kin” and “Dawn on the Gladys Marrie”. Disc 2 revisits some American classics like “The Way The West Was Won”, “What a Wonderful World”, “Simple Gifts”, their twist on “Respect”, and “America the Beautiful”.
Return To Electric
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com December 29, 2025
O's Notes: Drummer, composer Phil Haynes leads a trio with guitarist Steve Salerno and bassist Drew Gress for Return To Electric. It is a project born while enduring COVID, reflecting on 1970s fusion. Haynes combines originals with covers of classics by John McLaughlin, Wayne Shorter and Chick Corea. “Spell”, “Some Sick Slick”, and “Paraphernalia” are a few of the best.