Album Review: Collecting Things from Mike Scott

-

Album:  Collecting Things
Artist:  Mike Scott
Website:  https://www.guitaristmikescott.com

A jazz guitarist with classical training, Mike Scott plays with the expressive quality of his notes, making conversation with his audience.  His latest CD Collecting Things is a collection of melodic patterns that travel at a leisurely pace.

His arrangement on "Jack’s Dilemma" features the whimsical strolls of his guitar as Darek Oles's bass and Jake Reed's drums come up alongside him, buffering the impromptu jaunts.  The track is named after his dog and is an homage to traditional blues.  Following is "Boom Diddle It," a jazz-inspired romp that is cradled by Reed's hi-hat cymbals and produces a lull for pianist Joe Bagg to scroll statements freely.

"On a Clear Day" is a swinging tune that highlights Scott's bowing phrases and Bagg's rustling notes, which turns drowsy and emulsifying along “Dark Bossa" with notes roaming languidly.  “Rondo” is an uptempo number inspired by Brazilian guitarist Guinga, featuring Scott playing finger-style classical guitar and producing tranquilizing tones.  The harmonic structure produces an easy listening experience.

From swing to classical guitar to blues and pop/rock, the compositions on Collecting Things from guitarist/composer Mike Scott is melodically crafted.  Exploring the tones of the instruments, Scott's quartet communicates pleasing conversations with audiences.

Musicians:
Mike Scott - guitar
Joe Bagg - piano and organ
Darek Oles - bass
Jake Reed - drums

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Album Review: Becoming Marlene Dietrich from Myriam Phiro

-
Image
Album:  Becoming Marlene Dietrich Artist:  Myriam Phiro Label:  Self-Released Website:  www.myriamphiro.com Smooth jazz vocalist Myriam Phiro introduces a new generation of music listeners to jazz standards that made Marlene Dietrich famous in her time from the 1920's to 1940's with Phiro's new release Becoming Marlene Dietrich .  Although Phiro immerses herself in melodies that had been Dietrich's trademark tunes, Phiro tailors the songs to her likeness.  Her illustrious mezzo-soprano register is higher on the vocal spectrum than Dietrich's contralto pitch, which stamps the tracks with her own unique nuances and inflections.  Her treatment of the verses is finessed with a distinctly soft, feminine touch and a delightfully, hypnotic resonance, setting her style apart from Dietrich's. Her vocals cradle the lyrics of "Quand L’Amour Meurt," written by Georges Crémieux and Octave Millandy, with a warmth that penetrates the listener's soul as Hyuna Park...
Read more

Album Review: The Ways In from James Zollar

-
Image
Album:  The Ways In Artist:  James Zollar Label:  Label: JZAZ Records Websites:  https://www.rsberkeley.com/james-zollar https://www.discogs.com/artist/954763-James-Zollar https://wyntonmarsalis.org/personnel/detail/james-zollar A straight-ahead jazz oeuvre, The Ways In from bandleader and trumpet player James Zollar resumes a quest where pioneers of the trumpet's sympathetic vibrations like Clifford Brown and Bill Coleman left off.  Zollar shows audiences the delightful, melodious tone of the trumpet, moving in harmony with an array of brass, woodwinds, and rhythm instruments. The robust wails of Zollar's trumpet strutting languidly along "Do Nothing 'till You Hear From Me" emotes an enduring personable trait, unwavering persistence in the face of being dejected.  The recording switches to a joyful atmosphere in "Swing Spring" with jangly beats from percussionist Chembo Corniel, interfacing with the buoyant ripples generated by Michael Rorby's trom...
Read more

Album Review: Globetrotter from Luca di Luzio

-
Image
Album:  Globetrotter Artist:  Luca di Luzio Label:  Self-Released Website:  www.lucadiluzio.it   Guitarist Luca di Luzio's upcoming CD, Globetrotter  is an assortment of contemporary jazz tunes bridging funk, blues, soul, and Latin music.  Comprised of a few jazz standards and a handful of original works written by Luca di Luzio, a prolific guitar player who studied different styles of music, the recording expresses his personal vision of jazz guitar based on melody and groove.  Joining Di Luzio in his vision are bass guitarist Jimmy Haslip, drummer Dave Wecki, keyboardist George Whitty, and saxophonists Max Ionata and Alessandro Fariselli. From dance-funk numbers like "Jazzlife" and "Elisir" to the soft billows and reflective moods projected in "Smile" and " Buena Suerte," Di Luzio's artistry stems from his vision to make music that is aesthetically pleasing.  "Sunshower," a tune written by Kenny Barron, is a pr...
Read more