jazz2love

Album:  NOhMAD Artist:  Seulah Noh Jazz Orchestra Label:  Self-Released Website:  seulahnoh.bandcamp.com/album/nohmad A warm blend of soul jazz, straight-ahead jazz, and torchlight jazz, NOhMAD , from the Seulah Noh Jazz Orchestra, is the debut recording led by pianist, composer, arranger and conductor Seulah Noh.  Comprised of six original compositions by Noh and two covers arranged by Noh, the release is an ambitious endeavor that demonstrates her breadth of influences and exposure to material within the jazz spectrum and outside its sphere. Each track resonates a soul, specific personality traits that the listener can recognize.  "Hear the Light" features the ruminating scrolls of the tenor saxophone, communicating a message of comfort and warmth in the listener's ears.  "Heartsong" brandishes a reflective vibe in the swirling strings, radiating a tenderness in the graceful swish of their flight.  The soft flutter of the strings brushing across...

Album:  Gabriella Artist:  Miguel Espinoza Fusion Label: Self-Released Website:  www.miguelespinozafusion.com The core members of Miguel Espinoza Fusion are guitarist and leader Miguel Espinoza, cellist Dianne Betkowski, and bass player Randy Hoepker.  Together, they are joined by a litany of guest musicians that include Dave Hagedorn on vibraphone, Christian Teele on percussion, Priya Hariharan on carnatic violin and vocals, Nabin Shrestha on tabla, Howard Levy on harmonica, David Balakrishnan on violin, and Victor Mestas Pérez on piano, for the group's 2023 release Gabriella .  The group's spicy fusion of Latin flavors, gypsy folk, swing, rootsy blues, and Celtic influences is stimulating, taking the listener along an uplifting, sonic ride. The whirling strings of Betkowski's cello cascade across "Whistlin’ Down The Street," trellised by the tangy wisps of Espinoza's guitar.  The intricate lacework of Balakrishnan's violin add ornamental frills to the mi...

Album:  Aspenrose: Live at the Opera House Artist:  Herb Silverstein Label: Silver Tunes Website:  www.herbsilversteinjazz.com Pianist and composer Herb Silverstein's online biography reveals that "In the early 1980s, one of Herb’s sons introduced him to a recording of Chick Corea, and this began a long love affair with jazz music."  His bond with stride piano, bebop, and improvised music has motivated him to release his 17th recording Aspenrose:  Live at the Opera House , recorded with Michael Ross on bass and produced by Silversten.  Containing twelve original compositions written by Silverstein, the listener immediately becomes aware of Silverstein's ability to create lyrical phrases that are comforting and therapeutic for the aural senses.  His practice as an Otologist (the branch of medicine concerned with the ear) and as an Otolaryngologist (the branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the ears, nose, and thro...

Single:  Shake It Off Artist:  Deborah Silver Label:  Glitter & Grits Records Website:  deborahsilvermusic.com   Treading the line between pop temptress and jazz siren, vocalist Deborah Silver’s latest endeavor is an interpretation of Taylor Swift's popular hit song "Shake It Off," written by Swift, Max Martin, and Shellback. Juxtaposing cabaret swing with dance pop, Silver achieves personalizing the tune to her liking.  Her vocal nuances enliven the track, sparking an infectious joviality banked by big band glitz.  Partnered with a cadre of saxophones, trumpets, and trombones, Silver's vocals shine above the ballyhoo like a leading lady standing out and steering a bustling crowd.  Silver turns the pop tune into a swinging romp, working alongside legendary arranger Charles Calello. The Mississippi born songstress shows a keen understanding of her vocal strengths and she plays them up on the single.  Deborah Silver gives audiences a shot o...

Album:  It Comes In Waves Artist:  Denin Slage-Koch Label: Slage-Koch Records Website:  www.deninkochmusic.com Award-winning guitarist, composer, and educator Denin Slage-Koch demonstrates his zeal and striking melodic sensibilities on her latest recording It Comes In Waves .  His music illustrates the capacity of the human spirit to move forward with an uplifting outlook.  The bubbling mood of "The Road Home" stokes the embers of good cheer, as the serene swells of the title track bask the listener in a reclining climate reflective of David Brubeck. The smooth radiance emanating from Slage-Koch's guitar strings along "One For Honey" has a soft bluesy texture amplified by the rollicking beats of Bobby Wiens's drums and Gavin Allen-Dunn's tricking keys.  "The Cost of Apathy" shifts the recording into a mellow ambience as the horns vibrate at varied temperaments from a sullen stride to soaring brightly, flanked by brushed drums and subdued keyboa...

Album:  Subduing the Silence Artist:  Ruiqi Wang (王睿琪) Label:  Orchard of Pomegranates Website:  https://www.ruiqiwangsings.com/ The debut recording Subduing the Silence from vocalist Ruiqi Wang (王睿琪) fuses ruminating vocals with stride piano, chamber music serenades, and traditional Chinese spirituals.  Wang's delivery is expressive, articulate and introspective as she channels a calm current among the sparse instrumental layers.  Her songs are interspersed with short instrumental interludes, indulging in freeform extemporization while Wang steers the recording into dream-like ambiences, helmed by thought-evoking lyrics and her sensual voicing. Accompanied by Stephanie Urquhart on piano, Summer Kodama on bass, Mili Hong on drums, and members of the Craft Ensemble including Colleen Brannen on violin, Amy Sims on violin, Amelia Hollander Ames on viola, and Velleda Miragias on cello, Wang bridges the ethereal plane with the human soul.  The chanting voi...

Album:  Kind Mind Artist:  Josh Cole Label:  Cassiar Records Website:  https://joshcolebass.com/ Multi-instrumentalist and leader Josh Cole delves listeners into an esoteric realm in his recording Kind Mind from Cassiar Records.  Joined by Karen Ng on alto saxophone, clarinet, and synth, Michael Davidson on vibraphone, marimba, and pedals, and additional electronic effects provided by Sandro Perri, the recording brandishes experimental banter and independent responses between the musicians, creating otherworldly impressions on the listener. The mellow tone in Ng's saxophone driving "The subway" is augmented by the bluesy shimmers of Davidson's vibes, producing a calming, ambient mood.  From there, the recording shifts into irregular metrics through "Talking Makes It Worse" and "Expectations" as chord patterns carve enigmatic shapes and form eccentric improvisations.  Esoteric squeals arc across "Inside" and bellowing chimes echo along ...