jazz2love

  Album:  Live at Révéler Artist:  Chris Whiteman / John Toomey Quartet Label: Self-produced Release Date:  October 2, 2026 Website:  www.chriswhitemanmusic.com The hard bop harmonizing of guitarist Chris Whiteman and pianist John Toomey on their new release Live at Révéler gives audiences a taste of fine jazz cuisine, honing a habitat of comfy fluidity and melodic phrasing.  The pair co-lead while being half of a quartet completed by bassist Randall Pharr and drummer Aaron Binder. "Footprints," a classic tune by Wayne Shorter, is an elegant display of jaunty guitar riffs latticed in twinkling piano keys.   Breezy,  smooth and gently arched, their performance is augmented by the steady pulse of Binder's drums and Pharr's bass.  The quartet shifts the mood to a bluesy swagger along "Coming Home Baby,"" a  sweet nugget by Ben Tucker and Bob Dorough, demonstrating Whiteman's nimble playing, snuggled by Toomey's pulsating keys as Binder...

Album:  The Venetian Artist:  Vin Venezia Label:  Innervision Records Website:  www.vincentvenezia.com Guitarist Vin Venezia's latest release, The Venetian , features 13 tracks consisting of vintage jazz standards, contemporary works, and original material by Venezia.  Supporting Venezia are Richie Morales on drums, Harvie S on bass, David Budway on piano, Danny Walsh on tenor saxophone, and special guest Bob Magnuson, who plays tenor sax on Miles Davis's gem "Solar" with a fervor reminiscent of Davis himself. Venezia mesmerizes the audience with his interpretation of Victor Young and Ned Washington's tune "Stella By Starlight," stroking his guitar strings with a tenderness that ignites waves of soothing emanations. Another vintage standard "Alone Together," penned by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz, is treated with a funky flare in Harvie S's grooving bass line as Walsh's tenor sax intersperses twirling toots along the rollicking prog...