jazz2love

  New Release:  Waking Dream from Randy Napoleon Label:  OA2 Records Release Date:  August 15, 2025 Website:  www.RandyNapoleon.com An amalgam of modern bebop, meditative blues, and straight-ahead jazz, composer, guitarist, and leader Randy Napoleon teamed up with four additional guitarists, who are all former students of his:  Luke Sittard, Chris Minami, Jocelyn Gould, and Ben Turner for his recording Waking Dream .  Consisting of original tracks written by Napoleon and Gregg Hill, the recording explores diversity in syncopation, melodic phrasing, and harmonic forms.  The atmospheric serenity shrouding the title track exudes a tenderness, which is contrasted by the complex intricacies of "The Speckled Frog," as each instrument moves to a different beat between Quincy Davis' syncopated drumming to the streaking flare of Anthony Stanco's trumpet and the curt bopping pulse of Rodney Whitaker's bass.  "The Singer" displays a Latin accent in the ...

Album:  The Door is Open: The Music of Gregg Hill Artist:  Randy Napoleon Label:  OA2 Records Label Website:  originarts.com/oa2 Artist Website:  randynapoleon.com A fusion of minds, The Door Is Open:  The Music of Gregg Hill from guitarist and leader Randy Napoleon is his second record with the core band of pianist Rick Roe, bassist Rodney Whitaker, drummer Quincey Davis, and vocalist Aubrey Johnson.  Adding to the mix are Lucas LaFave on bass, Anthony Stanco on trumpet, Walter Blanding on tenor saxophone, and Andrew Kim on trombone. Integrating blues, bebop, and soul, Napoleon's arrangements have an organic fluidity, culminating into animated passages.  Johnson's scatting and vivacious vocalese have tracks like "Spa-Teneity" and "Motel Blues" ensnare the listener, struck by Napoleon's piercing strings and Davis's rippling drumbeats.  The cool jazz vibe of the tracks imbue a contemporary peal. The bluesy tint of Napoleon's guitar chords and...

Album: Puppets, The Music Of Gregg Hill Artist: Randy Napoleon Label: Origin Arts/OA2 Website: randynapoleon.com A musical depiction of imaginary figures coursing along a continuous journey is expressed in Greg Hill's assortment of hot-bop, country folk and sonic pop fusions presented by guitarist Randy Napoleon on his 2022 release Puppets, The Music of Gregg Hill .  Accompanied by the stirring vocals of Aubrey Johnson and woodwind player Seth Ebersole, the recording has a rhythm section consisting of Rick Roe on piano, Rodney Whitake and Brandon Rose on bass, and drummers Quincey Davis and Will Crandell.  The outcome is a joyful ride, overflowing with uplifting sensations. Opening with “Andy’s Lament,” Johnson's soft vocal tones enhance the cheery mood created by the playful ringlets of Napoleon's guitar strings in conjunction with the bowing lines of Whitaker's bass.  “Fan-O-Gram” boasts a hot-bop frenzy that enlivens the recording with Aubrey's scatting, then rec...