Grunge To Grace
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com January 1, 2025
O's Notes: Seattle-based vocalist, composer Courtney Cutchins has a strong voice with passionate inflections. Her pallet ranges from progressive rock to folk to straight-ahead jazz. So, there’s something to peak everyone’s attention from Grunge to Grace. “Passenger”, “Boot Camp”, “Star On The Sea”, and “The Day I Tried to Live” are among the best in a 9-song set.
Windmills
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com January 1, 2025
O's Notes: British vocalist Jacqui Dankworth presents her interpretations of many popular classics on Windmills, her latest release. She has strong accompaniment from The BBC Big Band, The Carducci String Quartet, and The Bedazzle Strings. Arranger Charlie Wood (p), Oli Hayhurst (b), and Ralph Salmins (d) are a solid rhythm section. Jacqui shines on “Windmills Of Your Mind”, “Love Dance”, “Baubles, Bangles & Beads”, and “Send In the Clowns”, all classics done with her signature in a delightful performance.
Loft Glow
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com January 1, 2025
O's Notes: Nashville based drummer John Alvey makes his debut paying homage to the late Benny Golson. He assembles a fine band with warm horns from Joel Frahm (t-sax), Roland Barber (tb), and Jovan Quallo (a-sax), anchored by bassist Jacobs Jezioro and pianist Matt Endahl. “Terminal 1” and “Blues For D. P.”, dedicated to Ron Carter are prime examples of the fine music on Loft Glow. We also enjoyed “Winslow Nocturne”, a ballad composed by Barber, and “Azure”.
Sweet Caress
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com January 1, 2025
O's Notes: Veteran trumpeter Franco Ambrosetti has decades of experience and maintains a soothing tone at 82, preferring his flugelhorn on Sweetleaf Caress. He collaborates with arranger/conductor, pianist Alan Broadbent performing eight selections including four originals that are true to the title. The band is a large ensemble centered around John Scofield (g), Scott Colley (b), Peter Erskine (d), and a 29-piece orchestra including strings. Sara Caswell is the featured violinist on the title track. The music is relaxing and sets the mood as such, notably on “Nightfall”, “Ode to George Floydd”, and “Go Down Moses”. We also enjoyed the upbeat “Keep It Movin’” and “Blues For The Cage”.
Dotze Temps
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com January 1, 2025
O's Notes: Spanish banjo player Lluis Gomez leads a quartet with French violinist Raphaël Maillet-violin (6 vocals), Czech guitarist, violinist Ondra Kozák, vocals and violin (10) and Spanish bassist, vocalist Maribel Rivero. This is a combination of flamenco and gypsy jazz complete with banjo and fiddle on T’ho Vaughn Dir!”. Carol Duran adds violí and vocals on “Tardes de Julio” and sing on two other selections. We liked “Walk On Boy”, “Zrádny Banjo” (Polka On A Banjo), and “Dora” featuring special guest Nat Torkington (5-string banjo). While this is not what we typically review, we enjoyed this session and encourage you to sample it.