New Release: Steppin' Out from Mike Davis

-

 

New Release:  Steppin' Out from Mike Davis
Label:  Turtle Bay Records
Release Date:  April 5, 2024
Website: https://mike-davis-jazz.com/

Traditional ragtime transcribed in a modern language for contemporary listeners is cornetist and arranger Mike Davis's forté.  His new disc Steppin' Out has the leisurely lollygagging gait of vintage 1920's jazz and the liberating romps of flapper era kicklines, popularized through the Roaring Twenties.  Davis's music takes audiences back in time to the halls of speakeasies like 21 Club, the Stork Club, and the Cotton Club in New York City.   Recalling of artists like cornetist Bix Beiderbecke and pianist Jelly Roll Morton, the compilation is a blend of New Orleans jazz, Dixieland swing, and Tinpan Alley ragtime.  Davis sprouts a jubilant collection of standards and one original, “Half-Seas Over,” created by the band's pianist, Andy Schumm.  The arrangement nestles flaring horns beside a kickline rhythm and jaunty keys building a chic harmony.   

The sleek verses of alto saxophonist Ricky Alexander and trombonist Josh Holcomb make numbers like "Everybody Loves My Baby" and "My Melancholy Baby" pop, bolstered by the nimble playing of bassist Jay Rattman and drummer Colin Hancock pumping up the merriment and mirth.   Jared Engel's banjo resonates a ukulele crackle through "Cornet Chop Suey," meanwhile Davis and Alexander join voices on “My Gal Sal,” foddering the cheerful mood and Charleston-style flapping.  Closing with the crowd pleasing "My Blue Heaven," Davis wows audiences.  His collection of memorable vintage jazz staples and Schumm's sizzling original tune are made for contemporary listeners.

Social Media Links:
Facebook.com/mikedavisjazz
turtlebayrecords.com
YouTube: @turtlebayrecords9686
IG: @turtlebayrecords 

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: 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

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