Jessamine
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com June 24, 2025
O's Notes: Tony Davis is a guitarist, vocalist, composer, and producer based in New York City. He assembles a fine band for Jessamine. The music emanates from Davis’s internal reflections of growing up on Jessamine Street in Hartford, CT. He’s burning on “Secret Love”, serving us a taste of Latin with “Cumbia De Dos Caras” featuring Venezuelan drummer/percussionist Daniel Prim, and relaxing on “There You Are”. We also enjoyed “Viridian” and “Trinkets From Mars” featuring saxophonist Matt Knoegel.
Zito’s Jump
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com June 24, 2025
O's Notes: 28-year-old, New York-based, guitarist, composer is making waves on Zito’s Jump! his current release, an entertains collection. We liked the mellow “Island Girl “featuring Chris Lewis (fl), and “The Nearness of You” featuring vocalist Georgia Heers. The lazy mood on “After You’ve Gone”, “Minor Lies”, the swinging “The End of A Love Affair”, a touch of Latin on “Pense Nisso”, and jumping on the title track, all are examples of the variety.
On Fire
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com June 24, 2025
O's Notes: On Fire captures the legendary trumpeter Freddie Hubbard Live From The Blue Morocco in the Bronx, NY 1967. His accompaniment was pianist Kenny Bryan, bassist Herbie Lewis, saxophonist Benny Maupin, and drummer Freddie Waits. There are seven selections across two discs, with lengthy expressions including each musician during the performance. On this occasion, Freddie was blazing through the notes with abandon while doing justice to the melodies, most notably on “Bye Bye Blackbird”. They even find ways to infuse intensity into “Summertime”!
Dragonfly
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com June 24, 2025
O's Notes: Canadian pianist Brent Jarvis is inspired by the music of Cuba, the foundation for Dragonfly, his latest release. Miguelito Valdés has rich tones on flugelhorn and trumpet, notably on “Ebb and Flow”. Bassist Steve MacDonald weighs in on “Island Universe”. But it’s percussionist José Sanchez, Monik Nordine (a-sax, s-sax), Ben Henriques (t-sax), and Valdés who bring the contemporary, Cuban vibe into focus. “Tomorrow The World” is also notable.
Urban Tracks
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com June 24, 2025
O's Notes: Pianist, composer Cliff Korman is a New York native who now resides in Rio de Janeiro. He recorded Urban Tracks in New York with a trio including Harvie S (b) and Rafael Barata (d). The program is mostly fresh arrangements of traditional and lesser-known Brazilian songs. Our favorites are the bright, spirited “Francisca”, “Whisper Not”, and “Saudade Do Paulo”.
Proof of Life
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com June 24, 2025
O's Notes: British Nigerian vocalist, keyboardist Ola Onabulé leads a quintet with Nicholas Meier (g, glissentar), Jakob Cywinski (b), Chris Nickolis (d) and Will Fry (perc). Onabulé and Meier composed all ten selections. The music is fresh and easy to embrace. We liked the Latin spirits of “Rio de Janeiro”, and the spirituality of “Eternally Yours”, as well as “Agean Blue”, “Sorry In The Morning”.
Here’s To Now
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com June 24, 2025
O's Notes: Trumpeter Connor Young combines classical and jazz genres with strings and a solid rhythm section featuring Michael Hartigan (p), Geza Carr (d), and John Rivers (b). They begin with the 4-part Solas Suite, a peaceful depiction of light over 24 hours. “Mantra” and “Winter Waltz” are more dynamic, but the set is dominated by ballads showcasing Young’s warm tone. We also enjoyed the mysterious “Inner Voices”.