jazz2love

Album:  Electric Fantastic Artist:  The Moore-McColl Jazz Society Label:  Self-Released Website:  www.mooremccolljazz.com Based out of Atlanta, Georgia, The Moore-McColl Jazz Society is comprised of Beth Moore (vocals, piano, Rhodes, organ) and Chance McColl (electric guitar, vocals).  The Moore-McColl Jazz Society integrate soul, blues, calypso, jazz, and a tinge of country folk into an elevating mixture.  Their latest independent release Electric Fantastic is a compilation of originals and cover tunes, featuring a selection of guest musicians and vocalists. McColl's vocals move in time with the rhythmic grooves rolling along "If You Really Loved Me," bearing a smooth strut reflective of soul/pop's The Doobie Brothers, coated in smoky blues ethers reminiscent of blues guitarist/vocalist Albert Collins.  The flavoring of blues, soul, and country folk, featuring Ben Holst on steel guitar, bring out a prismatic luster resonating through "I Remember Dann...

Album:  Scarab Artist:  Wayne Alpern Label:  Henri Elkan Music Website:  https://www.waynealpern.com                 https://www.billytest.com Arranger/composer Wayne Alpern reimagines a selection of Beatles tunes with pianist Billy Test on his latest release Scarab from Henri Elkan Music.  The emotion Test puts into melodies like "Eleanor Rigby" and "Hide Your Love Away" allows audiences to hear something new, something more intriguing about the compositions.  His inherent sense of melodic versing is magical, choreographing seamless dances with the piano keys.  His improvised twists and imaginative tweaks enhance the natural lyricism in the melodies, emphasizing poignant moments along the chord progressions that make the listener stop and take notice. Alpern's interpretation of "Yesterday" projects passion laden with a fiery urgency that's comparable to one of Beethoven's momen...

Album:  The Brite Side Artist:  Horizons Jazz Orchestra Label:  Pineapple Arts Management Website:  https://horizonsjazzorchestra.com Merriment galore, Horizons Jazz Orchestra's latest release The Brite Side is a celebration of the works of Lee Harris,  a revered baritone saxophonist, composer, arranger, and bandleader.  The orchestra's re-imagination of five originals by Harris and his arrangements of five jazz standards give audiences insight into the magnificence Harris brought out in musicians using the big band format.   Brimming with bright, flashy horns, the recording embraces swing and ballroom jazz in a way that is both nostalgic and contemporary. From the first track, the recording puts listeners in an upbeat mood with the flashing horns blazing through 'Red Apple Sweet" to the shuffling drumbeats coruscating "After You've Gone, Finally."  The musicians show a love of life that is palpable.  The creamy texture of the horns spla...

Album:  In a Big City Artist:  Igor Kogan Label: Self-Released Website:  https://www.koganigormusic.com In a Big City is the debut release from bassist/bandleader Igor Kogan, featuring all original compositions.  Accompanied by Jeremy Lappitt on tenor saxophone, Joshua Aguiar on trumpet and flugelhorn, Marco Apicella on piano, Matthew Baker on drums, and special guest jazz vocalist Tierney Sutton, the recording shuffles between soothing ballads and  traditional jazz motifs, sprinkled in pinches of improvised anecdotes and dashes of whirling horns with a bop-inspired palette. Kogan's bass solo on "Bass Introduction" travels in frenzied patterns that are strangely calming on the listener.  His urgent movements produce a frothy gurgle that projects a softness and easiness through the track.  The recording segues into "New York Blues" showcasing the smooth stylizing of Lappitt's saxophone, Aguiar's trumpet, and Apicella's piano, tethered to a reclining ...

Album:  Christmas in 3D Artist:  3D Jazz Trio Label:  DIVA Jazz Website:  www.3divasjazztrio.com The 3D Jazz Trio swing, samba, shimmy, scoot, and sprint through a selection of holiday favorites on their new recording Christmas in 3D .  Comprised of Jackie Warren on piano, Sherrie Maricle on drums, and Amy Shook on bass and fiddle, 3D Jazz Trio's kinetic rapport brings the party to their listeners with Maricle's signature drum splashing, Warren's nimble fingers articulating each curve in the tracks, and Shook's melodic sensibilities for fun-loving bop. The 3 Divas Jazz Trio show a luster in their playing that enlivens the holiday spirit.  Their smooth shuffling coasting along "Silent Night"  infuses a cool jazz swagger with a bourbon-brewed cheerfulness.  The soft tone of Warren's doodles on the piano articulate a clarion shimmer across "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," as Shook's subtle bass notes finesse the track to a buttery sheen...

Album:  Florida Rays Artist:  The Flying Horse Big Band Label:  The Flying Horse Records Website:  https://flyinghorserecords.com The University of Central Florida has a world-renown jazz studies program.  Born from that program is a big band styled group called The Flying Horse Big Band.  The band has recorded several albums, many of which are theme based including their latest release Florida Rays.   This one celebrates the music of Ray Charles, songs that he wrote and covered through his youth and early career living in Florida, hence its title Florida Rays .  Comprised of 13 covers of jazz standards, the recording is directed by tenor saxophonist Jeff Rupert, who is the Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Central Florida.  Rupert is also the founder of the Flying Horse Records label, which not only promotes the students of the university's jazz studies program but it's faculty as well. The band begins their tribute to Ray Charle...