Looking Back
O's Notes: Dr. Silverstein teams up with bassist Michael Ross for this collection of 21 original jazz selections. Looking Back, Play It Again is a duo take on Two For The Road, which was originally recorded as a quartet. “Happy Daze” and “Love In My Heart” are highlights in a very relaxing session.
The Call Within
O's Notes: The Call Within is an introspective effort, the fourth recording from jazz pianist and composer, Tigran Hamasyan. He joins forces with bassist Evan Marien and drummer Arthur Hnatek forming a core trio. Tigran’s interest in maps, Armenian folklore, and astrology inspired these ten new compositions. Highlights are “Our Film” featuring guest artists Areni Agbabian (vocals) and Artyom Manukyan (cello), “Ara Resurrected”, “At a Post-Historic Seashore” and our favorite, “New Maps”. The music is fresh, unique and worth digesting.
In Flight
O's Notes: Violinist Gabe Terracciano takes the lead composing, producing and assembling a quartet with Adam Rogers (g), Matt Pavolka (b) and Mark Ferber (d). Dave Pietro adds alto sax on four selections and Mike Rodriguez plays trumpet on two songs, notably the bouncy “Alfie’s Lullaby” featuring all six musicians. The vibe is generally a light jazz-fusion with Terracciano leading the melodies in a mix of relaxed, mid-tempo and racy selections. The pace accelerates on “Way Off” and hits full stride on “Pundit”, both hot, jazz-fusion tracks before they simmer on “When I’m In Your Arms Once More” featuring Terracciano, Rogers and Pavolka.
Human Rites Trio
O's Notes: This is a free fusion set featuring master violinist, composer and leader Jason Kao Hwang. Bassist Ken Filiano and drummer Andrew Drury round out the trio. Filiano’s generous use of the bow brings the strings together on the nearly chaotic “Words Asleep Spoken Awake: Part I & II”. We preferred the introspective “Conscious Concave Concrete”, “2 AM” and the adventurous “Defiance”. This recording was created during the pandemic and is dedicated to the heroic medical personnel who saved many lives, and in memory of the million+ lives that were tragically lost on this disease.