03 Feb
All We Are Saying... by Bill Frisell
Friday, 03 February 2012
Published in
Progressive - CD Reviews
Guitar master Bill Frisell's global approach includes progressive-jazz, jazz-rock, chamber-jazz, and Americana as the list goes on. But what separates him from others is his signature voice. Otherwise, a biopic account of his rise to prominence exceeds the boundaries of this article. However, Frisell's visionary propensities hit another high mark on this album, based on John Lennon's discography.
The young HUBRO record label issues LPs and CDs by Norwegian artists, pursuing improvisation that touches upon indigenous folk, jazz, minimalism, electronica and avant-garde metrics. As the second album by the trio 1982 offers a striking audio perspective via its unusual instrumentation. With deep-rooted and slightly disfigured Scandinavian folk, the band casts a vista akin to a solemn winter evening sprawled across farmland-like vistas under a full moon, amid a few highly-charged spikes in the action.
Canadian guitarist Ryan Davidson knew what his mission in life was going to be since grade school. What he has been searching for is the means to make it happen. As he recalls, "I believe I started playing when I was six, and began lessons at eight. Truthfully, I don't have any memories of not playing the guitar. All I can remember is that it was all I ever wanted to do."
Koby Hayon’s debut album, Gemini, features a wide-open style of playing that gives the trio plenty of room to fill space and experiment with the pushing and pulling of time to shape the musical space around them. Featuring drummer Jerome Morris and veteran bassist Kermit Driscoll, Hayon's compositions blend traditional jazz guitar with Middle-Eastern song and pop. Born in Israel, Hayon works to incorporate the indigenous Middle-Eastern sound of his home throughout his compositions and improvisat
11 Feb
Recuerdos de Granada by Brenda Hopkins Miranda
Friday, 11 February 2011
Published in
Folk Jazz - CD Reviews
Every once in a while one comes across a CD of such quality and beauty that restore your faith in music. Brenda Hopkins Miranda’s Memoirs from Granada is that kind of CD. A music jewel from beginning to end, in Memoirs from Granada, Brenda captivates the listener with an exquisite fusion of Jazz, music from Spain and of course, music from her country, Puerto Rico. Brenda Hopkins is a wonderful pianist, with extraordinary technique, equally impressive playing either Jazz, Rock, or Classical music
20 Feb
Jazz in the Stone Age by Jazz Folk
Saturday, 20 February 2010
Published in
Folk Jazz - CD Reviews
CD Review: Jazz Folk - Jazz in the Stone AgeDon't let the Neanderthal pic in the CD cover fool you, Jazz in the Stone Age is a collection of wonderful versions of…
05 Feb
Pretend Its the Eng of the World by Bryan and the Haggards
Friday, 05 February 2010
Published in
Folk Jazz - CD Reviews
There hasn’t been a great deal of "crossover" between the spheres of jazz and country music. Charlie Parker was a fan of country music, and is reputed to have sat in wit…
Even though Vers Le Haut is just Sandra Godoy second album (the first was Essencia on 2003), she is been singing professionally for 30 years now. Sandra c…
Brad Keller has been a professional musician and educator for over seventeen years. His multi-dimensional musical influences range through Jazz and...
07 May
Recuerdos de Granada by Brenda Hopkins Miranda
Thursday, 07 May 2009
Published in
Folk Jazz - CD Reviews
Every once in a while one comes across a CD of such quality and beauty that restore your faith in music. Brenda Hopkins Miranda’s Memoirs from Granada is that kind…
One way to perpetuate an important tradition is to concentrate on the way it was back-when and strive to keep it like it was (an idealized golden age), another is to bui…
Telephone Game by singer, songwriter and guitarist Kate Schutt is a quality recording and a good listening experience. The music crosses over into many different sty…
One of the most pleasant developments of the past decade in jazz is its renewed embrace of ethnic and folk musics of various types. Included in this newly expanded musical …
24 Jan
Terms Of Life by Brandqvist/Bengmark Quartet
Saturday, 24 January 2009
Published in
Folk Jazz - CD Reviews
The Brandqvist/Bengmark Quartet make music that bridges jazz with traditional Swedish-folk, displaying similar features to the melodic textures and harmonic forms of the…
21 Jun
The Legend of Bear Thompson by The Daniel Bennett Group
Saturday, 21 June 2008
Published in
Folk Jazz - CD Reviews
The Daniel Bennett Group consists of saxophonist Daniel Bennett, guitarist Brant Grieshaber and percussionist Sean Jefferson. Together, the three Boston-area musicians perf…
04 May
Say Youll Understand by The Klez Dispensers
Sunday, 04 May 2008
Published in
Folk Jazz - CD Reviews
The Klez Dispensers are a highly entertaining band who play intelligent, exuberant party music that stands at the crossroads between the classic Klezmer sounds of artists s…
Some albums are good to listen to while you go for an evening walk, others are good for a long drive or to hum along to while you are having a drink at your favorite bar…
10 Jun
Folk Songs for Far Out Folk by Fred Katz
Sunday, 10 June 2007
Published in
Folk Jazz - CD Reviews
Fred Katz is best known to jazz fans as the cellist in Chico Hamilton’s late 50s quintets -- some of which featured future stars Jim Hall and Buddy Colette. He was also …
Guitarist Joel Harrison is a jazz musician of the generation(s) for which non-jazz inspirations are not anathema -- or, to put it far more simply, he's no elitist snob. …
28 May
Diana Z - All I Want by Diana Zitmanis
Monday, 28 May 2007
Published in
Folk Jazz - CD Reviews
Diana Z is a delightful folky, and somewhat Celtic influenced (ie: Sinead O’Connor) singer/songwriter/guitarist who this writer has had…
12 May
Mike Taylor Remembered by Mike Taylor
Saturday, 12 May 2007
Published in
Folk Jazz - CD Reviews
Mike Taylor was a British pianist-composer who died as a young man in 1969; in June 1973 Mike Taylor Remembered was recorded in London as a tribute album by a col…
A good time feel pervades this recording, a self-titled solo effort, piano and vocals, Micah Barnes with singing in a style somewhat reminiscent to the hard edged gr…
06 May
Who Knew Charlie Shoe? by Richard Leo Johnson and Gregg Bendian
Sunday, 06 May 2007
Published in
Folk Jazz - CD Reviews
Guitar hero Richard Leo Johnson and Mahavishnu Project drummer/percussionist Greg Bendian create some magic via their use of cheap guitars and junky old instrumen…
26 Feb
Unified Folk Theory by The Giving Tree Band
Monday, 26 February 2007
Published in
Folk Jazz - CD Reviews
Containing 33 original songs, Unified Folk Theory is a double disc set manufactured in the most environmentally friendly manner at the wind-powered studios of Eartho…
ALO (Animal Liberation Orchestra) is a 4-piece band from the San Francisco/Oakland area with equal parts of folk, jazz, pop, soul, funk, and roots music. They received m…
05 Jan
Brand New By Tomorrow by Money Mark
Friday, 05 January 2007
Published in
Folk Jazz - CD Reviews
Money Mark (born Mark Ramos-Nishita) started his music profession performing with rap artists The Beastie Boys and folk-pop artists like Yoko Ono and Beck. In his second…
02 Aug
Early American: The Melodies of Stephen Foster by Andy Biskin
Wednesday, 02 August 2006
Published in
Folk Jazz - CD Reviews
There is a timeless beauty within the melodies of Stephen Foster. Unfortunately, with the exception of "Old Folks At Home," contemporary jazz musicians have virtually ig…
15 Jun
Bill Frisell, Ron Carter, Paul Motian by Bill Frisell
Thursday, 15 June 2006
Published in
Folk Jazz - CD Reviews
The old saying you can’t judge a book by its cover certainly applies to the latest release by eclectic guitarist Bill Frisell on the Nonesuch label. The untitled …
The first thing you notice about the new Paul Berner CD Running Outside is how closely the packaging resembles a Pat Metheny project. A quick trip to his websit…
The first thing you notice about the new Paul Berner CD Running Outside is how closely the packaging resembles a Pat Metheny project. A quick trip to his websit…
Anjani Thomas along with the renowned Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen, have compiled a listening experience that will surely appeal to fans of Norah Jones or Di…
09 Apr
Whats Mine Is Yours by Eliot Morris
Sunday, 09 April 2006
Published in
Folk Jazz - CD Reviews
Eliot Morris takes folk-jazz and pop to a level of flight and inspiration that is acoustically comely with adornments of blues, folk, rock, and country in a tranquil gra…
01 Feb
The Little Willies by The Little Willies
Wednesday, 01 February 2006
Published in
Folk Jazz - CD Reviews
Happiness is an emotion that doesn’t need questions. Life answers this for us, and the simple pleasures answer this for us; or rather there is no question.... no answer.…
25 Jan
The Legend of Vernon McAlister by Richard Leo Johnson
Wednesday, 25 January 2006
Published in
Folk Jazz - CD Reviews
Perhaps not quite as exasperating or lucrative as finding an original Picasso in your attic, nonetheless; surprises in various shapes, forms or flavors can be a good thi…
20 Sep
44 Minutes Of Love by Chuck Perrin
Tuesday, 20 September 2005
Published in
Folk Jazz - CD Reviews
Guitarist/singer/composer Chuck Perrin’s latest self-released recorded project, 44 Minutes of Love - a reference to the length of the CD, finds the quasi-folk sin…
The Shawangunk is a lovely mountain in New York, where the crystal clear streams sparkle in the sunlight and cobalt skies are endless. You can stand at the edge o…
Shortly before Hurricane Katrina swept through New Orleans, Mary Flower traveled to the city to work with some of the area’s top musicians. The result is Bywater Dan…
Gateway is the second major release by the Kevin Dorsey Collective, a central New York based jazz group that's making waves and maybe an impression or two on th…
If ever there was a push-n-play worthy of a candlelit soul searching sunset with a glass of wine and memories set to moods, "Some Lessons" is that signature spin. Coated…
Banjo player extraordinaire Alison Brown’s latest album, Stolen Moments, is a fine recording, full of great songs and displaying some masterfully executed …
30 Jul
The Songwriters Notebook by Denhert KJ and Falcon Adam
Friday, 30 July 2004
Published in
Folk Jazz - CD Reviews
The audience that KJ Denhert and Adam Falcon had in mind when they wonder twinned it for their album The Songwriter’s Notebook, did not have me in it. Se…
Afenginn is a Danish band exhibiting excitement, flair, and an overall sense of emotional diversity. Retrograd contains pieces with influences ranging from gypsy music a…
Over the past few years, a new genre has emerged bringing artist such as India Arie, Erykah Badu, and D'Angelo into the spotlight. "NeoSoul’ is what it is called, a sound w…
The Four Bags’ Offshore CD is a mixed bag, throwing about jazz sensibilities, sleepy town Americana, an interesting interpretation of XTC‘s "Humble Daisy," and a cou…
This is the debut CD from Tricycle, a four piece band from Toronto. The music they make falls somewhere between folk, jazz and bluegrass. The bluegrass feel is mostly becau…
British guitarist Jon Wood’s first solo CD is a unique venture because of the combination of different types of musics he blends into his vision. Taking a little bit of wha…
21 Mar
Consistent Variation by Rob Eberhard Young
Sunday, 21 March 2004
Published in
Folk Jazz - CD Reviews
Back in the early ‘90s Rob Eberhard Young made the transition from being a rock n’ roller to an acoustic guitarist. On this reissue of the original 4-track tapes, the artis…
17 Dec
Surrender To The Wind by Willie August Project The
Wednesday, 17 December 2003
Published in
Folk Jazz - CD Reviews
At last, a "youthful" jazz guitarist who doesn’t break his neck trying to capture/channel the styles of Jim Hall, Pat Metheny, Bill Frisell, or Wes Montgomery! Not that …
American-raised Paul Berner has worked with not only jazz luminaries as Monty Alexander and the Lionel Hampton Orchestra, but with many northern European jazz artists. Bern…
20 Nov
Not Going Anywhere by Keren Ann
Thursday, 20 November 2003
Published in
Folk Jazz - CD Reviews
It’s funny how you can often tell a foreign musician from an American, even when they don’t sing with an accent. Astrud Gilberto, Stina, Bjork - they all sing with in a hyp…