Little Black Book
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com June 30, 2026
O's Notes: Minneapolis based singer songwriter Leslie Vincent’s Little Black Book explores all the nuances of romance including dating, marriage, and heartaches. Guest vocalist Jeremy Messersmith joins her on “What Humans Do” including fine accompaniment from Mitch Van Laar (t), Blake Foster (g), and Ben Ehrlich (perc). Bassist Matt McIntyre and pianist Patrick Adkins round out the rhythm section. Leslie’s voice is inviting and the love songs spark memories (both good and bad) for many. “You & I”, the bluesy “Swinging Tattooed Queen”, “Harriet the Spy”, and “Till They Do” are highlights. We reviewed vinyl and CD formats, both had good audio quality with the red vinyl displaying more depth vs the convenient, clean (no pops) CD.
Little Black Book
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com June 30, 2026
O's Notes: Minneapolis based singer songwriter Leslie Vincent’s Little Black Book explores all the nuances of romance including dating, marriage, and heartaches. Guest vocalist Jeremy Messersmith joins her on “What Humans Do” including fine accompaniment from Mitch Van Laar (t), Blake Foster (g), and Ben Ehrlich (perc). Bassist Matt McIntyre and pianist Patrick Adkins round out the rhythm section. Leslie’s voice is inviting and the love songs spark memories (both good and bad) for many. “You & I”, the bluesy “Swinging Tattooed Queen”, “Harriet the Spy”, and “Till They Do” are highlights. We reviewed vinyl and CD formats, both had good audio quality with the red vinyl displaying more depth vs the convenient, clean (no pops) CD.
The Longest Way round
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com June 30, 2026
O's Notes: Pianist, accordionist and composer Ben Rosenblum defies classification as his music spans across genres and is accessible to many audiences. We liked his work on the accordion for the opener and the mysterious “Circulo” that had the feel of a tango. “Sheridan’s Reel” sounds more like a polka and out of place in this set before they get back in sync on “Scene Frozen In Time”. We particularly enjoyed “Berlin” featuring Wayne Ticker (t), and “Onslaught” featuring Rafael Rosa (g). We also enjoyed “Albatross” featuring Jasper Dutz (reeds).
Duos
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com June 30, 2026
O's Notes: Canadian pianist Bernie Senensky performs a session of Duos with eight different saxophonists over ten songs. Pat LaBarbera and Kirk MacDonald play two songs each notably “The Mover” and “Silver Trane” respectively. We liked the soft approach of “In My Life” featuring Campbell Ryga, and Corey Weeds on “ My One & Only Love”, as well as “Lolita” with Eric Alexander.
October Songs
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com June 30, 2026
O's Notes: Canadian pianist Brian Dickinson teams up with the Ontario-based Penderecki String Quartet for October Songs, his latest release. Saxophonist Kelly Jefferson and bassist Jim Vivian round out the drummer-less band. It is a successful jazz recording illustrating the warmth of the Fall season. Highlights are ”October Songs Pt. 1-3“, and “Spring Sprung In”.
Thank You Notes
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com June 30, 2026
O's Notes: The 15-piece PKO is based in Michigan, but they travel, bringing large, orchestral sound to many appreciative audiences. Bassist, composer, Professor Paul Keller is the leader. There’s a lot to enjoy among the fifteen Thank You Notes, compositions by Gregg Hill. Paul’s orchestra plays with a precision that goes well beyond most large ensembles. “Cadillac Club”, “Summer Nights”, and the title track are among the many fine selections.