jazz2love

Album:  Serenata Artist:  Gregg Karukas Label:  Nightowl Records Website:  www.karukas.com Pianist Gregg Karukas presents romantic impressions of classic songs from iconic Brazilian artists Milton Nascimento and Dori Caymmi as well as new and reimagined originals penned by him on his 13th CD Serenata .  His elegant musings on the keys are dreamy, twining introspective meanderings, flowing in an eloquent phrasing.  Deeply emotional, Karukas's playing is penetrative, luring the listener with a passionate voicing resonating from the keys.  Track after track, Karukas's thoughts and feelings are palpable.  The lift in his keys along "Tudo O Que Você Podia Ser" puts a spring in his doodles that injects a sense of urgency with a stream of rumbling notes that loosens to a ruminating glide through "Better Days."  The reflective mood of "Clube da Esquina No. 2" traverses through picturesque vignettes like a storybook or a photo album relaying a monumen...

Album:  At Blue Note Tokyo Artist:  Steve Gadd Band Label:  BFM Jazz Website:  https://www.drstevegadd.com https://www.bfmjazz.com A prolific and legendary drummer, Steve Gadd got his start playing in a military band when he joined the US Army in the late 1960's.  After serving a 3-year term of duty, he returned to the States to pursue his livelihood as a professional drummer.  He has worked with Chick Corea, James Taylor, Paul Simon, Eric Clapton, Steely Dan, Joe Cocker, and numerous other leading recording artists.  He grabbed hold of the reins, leading the Steve Gadd Band whose debut release is their live outing At Blue Note Tokyo , featuring a crossover breed of modern jazz, adult pop, funky bluesy, and easy listening rock. Joining Gadd are Jimmy Johnson on bass guitar, Walt Fowler on trumpet, Kevin Hays on keyboards, and David Spinozza on guitar.  The jazz quintet express an open mind about the fusion of jazz, pop/rock, and blues, forming son...

Album:  American Highway Artist:  Marty Brown Label:  Plowboy Records Websites:  https://music.apple.com/us/album/american-highway/1453761002 https://www.amazon.com/American-Highway-MARTY-BROWN/dp/B07PGX7KYK/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=marty+brown&qid=1614824878&sr=8-1 A mixture of Heartland roots rock, country western blues, prairieland folk, rockabilly, and gospel, singer-songwriter Marty Brown has all the ingredients to make music that listeners will take with them on the go.  He does so on his latest release American Highway , which is aptly titled describing the music folks hear while driving along the highways through America.    After experiencing a stint as a songwriter and producer for the likes of Tracy Byrd, Trace Adkins, and Brooks & Dunn, Brown worked with a co-pilot, Jon Tiven, who contributed to nine of the 10 tracks on the recording.  Brown revives country western soul in a way that music connoisseurs can embrace....

Album:  Out On The Coast Artist:  David Angel Label:  Basset Hound Music Website:  http://www.bassethoundmusic.com Saxophonist David Angel leads a 13-piece jazz ensemble on the 3-disc set Out on the Coast, containing 15 of his original compositions alongside 7 jazz standards.  The recording is a window into West Coast cool jazz infused with factions of swing, big band, Latin jazz, and ballroom waltz. The title track opener is an early Angel composition with a ballroom swing component that exudes harmonic sophistication.  The band transitions into the rhumba-esque sway of "Wig," mounted in layers of chiffon-like silhouettes from the assortment of reeds and brass instruments, waving and undulating in a graceful fluidity.  The slow burn wafting from the toots of the horns through "L'ilo Vasche" displays the ensemble's fluency in smooth swing, culminating into the band's remake of Duke Ellington's silky ballad "Prelude To A Kiss" pervading a dr...

Album:  For the Record Artist:  Vinnie Riccitelli Octet Label:  Self-Released Websites:  https://www.discogs.com/artist/2295583-Vinnie-Riccitelli http://home.nestor.minsk.by/jazz/news/2021/02/0202.html https://karionpresskits.com/reviews/exclusive-magazine-reviews-vinnie-riccitelli-octet-with-his-new-album-for-the-record/ Straight-ahead jazz through the ages is portrayed on For the Record from the Vinnie Riccitelli Octet.  From the swinging grooves of the 1950's to the big band influenced-harmonies of the 1970's and the personalized solos descriptive of jazz in the new millennium, Riccitelli's acuity to remain connected to modern jazz is strong even at the tender age of 94 years old.  A handful of original scores by Riccitelli are interspersed with an assortment of jazz standards, moving seamlessly through the recording. Heady saxophone solos, improvised drum rolls, and bopping bass vamps are signature themes throughout the recording, shedding light on cha...

Album:  Death of Expertise Artist:  Bruce Brown Label:  Self-Released Website:  www.brucebrownmusic.com Vocalist Bruce Brown taps into his prowess as a blues singer, delving into an repertoire heaped in swinging melodies and bossa nova serenades on his latest release Death of Expertise . The 14 song disc features Brown's casual swagger reminiscent of Tony Bennett's easy-going manner, accompanied by an ensemble of Australian and American musicians, whom he has played with for several years.  The effect is a symbiotic relationship between Brown's nuanced vocals and the glistening harmonies that nestle up against his smooth versing. Glen Berger's rippling saxophone solo on "Love Always Wins" injects a burst of excitement into the leisurely flow of the melody as Brown's vocals exalt, "One thing's for sure / love will endure / love always wins / when we open our hearts / we always win."  Thrusting forward, the catchy swinging rhythm towing "T...