Steve Khan, Patchwork Review It is Latin GRAMMY season, and the best of Latin releases seem to be recirculating on contributors’ minds. A Latin Jazz album that comes to mind for me is Patchwork subtitled in Spanish, “Medio Mezclado” by guitarist Steve Khan. The album represents the fourth in a series where Khan enhances the guitar’s … Read more
Alexa Tarantino, Clarity Review Alexa Tarantino is an American jazz saxophonist, woodwind doubler, composer, and educator. Tarantino has been gaining recognition as a player focusing on the soprano and alto saxophone and flute and alto flute. Tarantino’s performance highlights include prestigious venues such as Jazz in Marciac Festival (with Wynton Marsalis and the Young Stars … Read more
Nancy Ruth, Turn the Lights Back Down Review Nancy Ruth is a Canadian-born singer, songwriter, composer, and recording artist with a flair for jazz, Latin, and flamenco. Ruth’s professional career began with singing in bands booked by the Feldman Agency, touring Canada with Axess, Renaissance, and Aces High. She released her first self-penned album, Nancy Ruth, in 1998. Ruth comes alive … Read more
Shawn Purcell, Symmetricity Review The pandemic set the world upside down, which inevitably means great recordings fell through the cracks as we navigated through this unprecedented modern time. One of those recordings is from guitarist Shawn Purcell, his album Symmetricity might not be hot off its pressing, but it is still smoking hot and relevant. Purcell has … Read more
Troy Roberts, Stuff I Heard Review In November of 2019, we had the pleasure of reviewing Troy Roberts album Days Like These, and it was evident Roberts was amassing a versatile discography. With the release of his 12th album Stuff I Heard, Roberts steps forward with a cinematic theme, paired with elements of his Nu-Jive … Read more
Anson Wright, Only Love Review Guitarist Anson Wright has lived a varied life, all centered around the pursuit of study and excellence. A graduate of Princeton, Wright left his post-graduate studies at Columbia to pursue his creative endeavors. A published novelist (Jericho) Wright has always pushed his abilities to a depth of inclination. Studying under … Read more
Chris Rand, The Gathering: Rebound Review Chris Rand is a UK saxophonist, composer, and bandleader. Rand has performed with the Rolling Stones Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood, and as a guest artist with George Porter Jr (The Meters) and Guitarists Mick Taylor and Chris Jagger. He has also performed with guitarist Elliot Randall (Steely Dan, … Read more
Larry Willis, I Fall in Love Too Easily (The Final Session at Rudy Van Gelder’s) Review Larry Willis is a jazz pianist and composer that has performed with many legendary names in the genre. He has played and recorded with Paul Murphy, Dizzy Gillespie, Lee Morgan, Woody Shaw, Hugh Masekela, Cannonball and Nat Adderley, Stan … Read more
Wanderlust, When in Rome Review Wanderlust is an Australian contemporary jazz band led by trumpeter Miroslav Bukovsky that formed in 1991. Bukovsky is a distinguished jazz trumpeter that was one of the founders of the renowned Jazz ensemble, the Ten Part Invention (TPI), along with Roger Frampton and John Pochee. He has performed with the … Read more
Jenny Davis, Rearranged Review So many times, in the jazz genre, female composers are overlooked if they are also singers. There is merit to a crafted, well-honed lyric, something the general populous can connect with conveying the story within the melody and easing a suffering heart or adding an accent to a joyous occasion. Going … Read more