The Summit Rock Session at Seneca Village
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com December 30, 2022
O's Notes: Tenor Saxophonist Abraham Burton and drummer Eric McPherson lead a hard bop trio with bassist Dezron Douglas for The Summit Rock Session at Seneca Village, a live set. It is our second review of music recorded at this site during the pandemic. Seneca Village was settled in 1825 by free Black Americans before being annexed in 1857 to form Central Park! It grounds the music, seven syncopated, earthy jazz numbers.
The Couch Sessions
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com December 30, 2022
O's Notes: Trumpeter and composer Nicolas Payton continues his push to collaborate with legends on The Couch Sessions. He invites two members from Miles Davis’ rhythm section to join him, bassist Buster Williams and drummer Lenny White. Payton also inserts spoken word from legends like the late Geri Allen on “Feed the Fire” where Nicolas plays piano! We also enjoyed Wayne Shorter reminiscing about Miles leading to “Pinocchio”. The blend of Modern jazz, fusion, hip-hop, and retro excerpts makes this a winner!
The Ostara Project
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com December 30, 2022
O's Notes: The Ostara Project is a super-group of Canadian, female musicians led by bassist Jodi Proznick and pianist Amanda Tosoff. The plan is to have a fluid roster but always first class music. The self-titled debut is a worthy effort that hits the mark. Joanna Majoko provides rich vocal harmonies notably on “Storms and Oceans” and “Little One” along with Allison Au on alto sax. Rachel Therrien (t), Jocelyn Gould (g) and Sanah Kadoura (d) round out a band that is cohesive and polished.
You Hit The Spot
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com December 30, 2022
O's Notes: Chicago-based singer Tracye Eileen shifts to straight-ahead jazz on You Hit The Spot, an ode to her father, who played drums. She’s an entertaining vocalist singing in front of her trio and sextet. She’s up close and personal on “The Very Thought of You”, “Just In Time” and the title track.
Live At Cotton Club
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com December 30, 2022
O's Notes: Halie Loren is the first jazz artist we know from Alaska, now living in Oregon. She breathes warmth into her music on unique arrangements of seventeen classic tunes along with a few originals. She’s performing Live at the Cotton Club in Tokyo, Japan (2015) to a thankful audience. Accompanied by Matt Treder (p), Mark “Mo” Schneider (b), and Sir Brian West (d), Halie lights a fire! They are a strong team leading to many highlights, notably “Hit That Jive Jack”, “Our Love Is Here To Stay”, “I’ve Got To See You Again”, and “Feelin’ Good”.