jazz2love

Album:  Live at the Pump House Celebrating Wayne Shorter Artist: Dan Moretti & Brazilia Label:  Roots Grooves Records Artist Website:   https://danmoretti.com/ Tenor and soprano saxophonist Dan Moretti is joined by jazz quartet Brazilia to celebrate the music of Wayne Shorter on their recording Live at the Pump House Celebrating Wayne Shorter released by Roots Grooves Records.  Their interpretation of an assortment of works penned by Shorter showcase the vibrancy and lively interaction that Shorter's compositions offer musicians. Brazilia's lineup includes: Latin Jazz Grammy winner Oscar Stagnaro from Peru on bass, Maxim Lubarsky from Ukraine on piano, Ernesto Diaz from Columbia on percussion, and Steve Langone from Boston on drums. Together, they tweak Shorter's material with fresh energy and a flare for rhythmic timing. The smoothness of Lubarsky's keys invigorate "Night Dreamer" while Moretti's tenor sears a stream of nimble ripples across "Sp...

Album: Next Gen Artist:  John Stein Label:  Tiger Turn Artist Website:  Johnstein.com A mix of jazz standards and originals, guitarist-composer John Stein's 2025 offering Next Gen features music inspired by his five grandchildren.  Making the tunes personal for him while appealing to listeners on a broad scale, Stein's 19th project displays the flexibility and the sonorous lilt of the guitar, riffing with his band mates Ed Lucie on bass and Mike Connors on drums in splendid synchronicity. Opening with "AJ," a track Stein wrote for one of his granddaughters, the arrangement synchronizes puffy rivulets from Stein's guitar perched on the calming knolls of Lucie's bass.  The track is followed by the lounging grooves of the jazz standard "Lover Man," brandishing a soft simmering ether that jumps into the bouncy rhythm of "Kai," named after Stein's oldest grandson. Another jazz standard, "Star Eyes," is illuminated in pixilated gui...

Album:  Epicycle Artist:  Yuto Mitomi Label:  Self-Released Website:  https://yutomitomi.com   The improvised prose penned by saxophonist-composer Yuto Mitomi gives his new recording Epicycle character and depth, keeping the dynamics of the tracks fluctuating and shapeshifting.  The title of the recording "refers to a geometric model used to explain the variations in speed and direction of the apparent motion of the Moon, Sun, and planets," states Mitomi's electronic press kit, giving the listener a vision of his motivation. The arrangements are created by seaming polyrhythms, harmonic forms and melodic patterns, making tangential musings that wrap around one another then return to a middle ground where all the musicians come together.  Joining Mitomi on this expedition are Takahiro Izumikawa on piano, Moto Fukushima on six-string electric bass, and Keita Ogawa on drums and percussion. The improvised flutter and flare of Mitomi's sax emotes an organic...

Album:  Self-Titled Artist:  Joe Elefante's Wheel of Dharma Label: Self-Released Website: https://www.joeelefantemusic.com SoundCloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/o3mTyKuYxndfss2j7 YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@joeelefantemusic The theme of jazz pianist Joe Elefante's Wheel of Dharma's 2025 recording is personal as well as meaningful on a broad scale that touches families far and wide.  After losing his wife to cancer in 2024, Elefante set out to revive his passion to make music, fueling his drive to create and share his material as never before.  His offering is a tribute to his wife's memory and a celebration of his dedication to his craft. Joining Elefante are old friends, Freddie Hendrix on trumpet and David Heilman on drums.  Their friendship stretches back over 25 years to their college days, when they first met and began their musical journey together.  Rounding out the ensemble are Erena Terakubo on saxophone and Sameer Shankar on bass.  ...

Album:  Try This Artist:  Bill Moio Label: ITI Records Website:  billmoio.com Jazz guitarist Bill Moio’s second album as a leader, Try This , demonstrates his command of the blues/soul milieu as well as his prowess as an eloquent songwriter.  His gift is honing melodic musings into smooth ambiences that incite the mind to drift across pleasing stratospheres.  Featuring a complementing array of musicians that includes George Whitty on keyboards, Wayne Bergeron on trumpet, Andy Martin on trombone, Eric Marienthal on saxophone, Tommy Brechtlein on drums, and Jimmy Haslip and Mel Brown intermittently on bass, Moio proves himself to be a meaningful connoisseur of the blues, jazz, soul fusion.  His arrangements flow seamlessly, radiating sensitivity and grace across the melodic movements, making a likeable impression on the listener. The Latin-tinged swagger in Moio's guitar chords rippling across "Arroz Con Pollo" is heaven to the ears, enhanced by the animated ...

Album:  Safe Travels Artist:  Jerry Kalaf Label:  Self-Released Website: jerrykalaf.com Safe Travels is jazz drummer Jerry Kalaf’s 2025 album.  A soothing collection of original compositions that blend the temporal voices of a piano trio with the airy textures of a string quartet. Comprised of arrangements and orchestrations by Doug Walter, the recording features the Chicago-based string quartet ATLYS, partnering classical influences with jazz sensibilities and improvised strokes. The outcome is a musical saga, laden with sonic impressions and emotive expressions. Recorded at Studio J in Studio City, California, by Jerry Kalaf, and at RAX TRAX in Chicago, Illinois, by Andy Shoemaker, the project is meticulously finessed with structured trimmings augmented by spontaneous wanderings.  Mixed by Jerry Kalaf and Doug Walter at Studio J and mastered by Scott Fraser at Architecture in Pasadena, California, the album delivers a multi-faceted listening experience, bustl...