Vertical by Sandro Albert Quartet
Vertical starts out with "Some Days," a light-hearted fast samba featuring fluffy flute and romantic guitar. Not a big surprise; guitarist Sandro Albert was born in Brazil and singer Milton Nascimento...
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High Society by Peter Evans and Nate Wooley Duo
Electronic whiiiiiiiine! Clatter! Softer whiiine. Clopping of an uncoordinated, seven-legged pony. Screeech! Scrunch. Electronic drone. Yada, yada, yada. If that's your idea of either fun or how to...
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Hand Luggage Only by Excess Luggage
The prospects weren't promising—a rare combo mix, mostly original tunes, relatively unknown musicians, and a Scandinavian recording label. Shudder. The last group of young Northern Europeans I'd heard...
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Three Equals One
At fgitst, this sounds like John Moulder's session. He carries the melody and rides the slalom-like harmonic changes with unusual sureness and grace. But no, Larry Gray's the leader, wrote the tunes,...
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WOW!It happens more often lately that I have a "WOW" reaction to a release by someone I've never heard before. The unknowns come in two sizes--a young player trained by one of the increasing number of...
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Sacred Ground by the International Troubadours
Hendrix meets Bill Frisell and the Dalai LamaA strange mix—the electric guitar rides from smooth jazz to Hendrix while virtuoso bass and percussion are active, sympathetic supporters, whether the vibe...
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Sounds of Brazil
Brilliant Brazilian jazz!What's a Russian bass player doing making an album called Sounds of Brazil? Is it just another example of a shrinking musical world, or is Moscow the new Rio? Well, leader Ark...
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Sweet by Barbara Jean
Barbara Jean started her professional music career as a country-rock bass player, and she used to kick "butt six nights a week in Phoenix trucker bars." Now in Buffalo, she has morphed into a song...
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Right Way Down by Ethan Winogrand Trio
Piano dominates most piano trios. (Maybe that's why they don't call it a drum or bass trio, eh?) Thing is, this group is just called "a trio." Although the piano does carry most of the melody line, the...
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Bridges by Tin / Bag
This is ethereal, contemplative music played beautifully by the unusual combination of trumpet and guitar. Kris Tiner's tone is warm and full, and unusually gentle for a young brass player. He takes...
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