In The Stars
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com April 2, 2023
O's Notes: Pianist Skip Wilkins has a wealth of international experience and now lives in the Poconos where he recorded In The Stars at the Deer Head Inn. Skip’s quartet includes his son Dan on tenor sax, bassist Tony Marino and Bill Goodwin on drums. They play an upbeat, jovial session of nine classic tunes. It’s the music you’d expect from a resort band enhancing leading to memorable experiences.
Unjust
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com April 2, 2023
O's Notes: Bassist Ben Wolfe assembles a fine team for Unjust, a collection of mixed tempo modern jazz that is high on the feel-good quotient. They cook on “The Heckler” featuring trumpeter Nicholas Payton. We liked the cool swagger of “Sideways” with saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins and vibraphonist Joel Ross doing their own thing yet remaining in total harmony. Pianist Addison Frei contrasts with Ross on “Eventually”. We also enjoyed “Bob French” featuring pianist Orrin Evans, The trio format with Wolfe, Ross and drummer Aaron Kimmel on “The Corridor”, and the warmth of “Lullaby in D” featuring Nicole Glover on sax.
Smile
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com April 2, 2023
O's Notes: She has warm, deep, alto vocal tones, rhythmic scatting, and well-articulated phrasing. She is a new voice on the jazz scene from. She is Tawanda Suessbrich-Joaquim. She combines English and Brazilian lyrics on “Bridges”. We also enjoyed “Sister Moon”, “I’m Okay”, and “You And The Night And The Music”. Smile is her debut, a 12-song set that is impressive. Gary Meek (sax), Kevin Axt (b), Anthony Wilson (g), drummers Gene Coye & Ray Brinker, and pianists Josh Nelson & Tamir Hendelman provide a solid foundation for her in what we hope will be a lengthy career!
The Voice of Jazz
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com April 2, 2023
O's Notes: TC has a resounding baritone voice that commands your presence on these eight classics. It is an entertaining session that includes strong solos from Josh Evans (t), JD Allen (t-sax), Curtis Lundy (b), Rodney Kendrick (p), and Marcus Persiani (p) with Byron Landham (d) keeping fine time. Highlights are “Juice”, “Solar Sign”, the swinging “No More Fears, No More Tears”, “Bright As The Sun” and “The Music”.