Tony Adamo | What Is Hip?
Album Review: Tony Adamo | What is Hip?
Listen to song samples from “What Is Hip?”, exclusively from Amazon on our R&B/Soul Page by clicking here!!
albums are the least likely to garner strong, universal critical
support. The artistry of making something classic ‘new’ or matching
the level of the original is often a gargantuan, sometimes impossible
task. Tony Adamo takes on this battle on his 2011 effort, What is Hip?.
Tony Adamo’s What is Hip? consists mostly of covers doctored up with
horns, a taste of soul, and jazz affections. Overall, the album proves
to be enjoyable, though rarely ‘revolutionary’ per say. When Adamo takes
risks and achieves more than a ‘breezy’ vocal performance (achieves
vocal grit and assertive nuances), that is when What is Hip? really
catches fire. While the covers never eclipse the original, Adamo has
some signature moments on What is Hip?. To continue, please click “MORE”!
Monty Alexander | Uplift
Monty Alexander
Listen to “Uplift”, exclusively from Amazon on our Jazz Page by clicking here!
Jackie O Kelley | Forgiven
Jackie O – Forgiven
O, a multi-gifted singer/songwriter, has fully dedicated her life in
leading souls to Christ since the age of seven. The Fresno, California
born musician played piano and sang before her father administered the
sermons at her local church. A few years later, Jackie O taught music
and directed choirs; eventually leading up to an international ministry
throughout the U.S., Europe and Egypt. When not spreading the message of
joy to others with original songs, Jackie O has taught piano and voice
for the past twenty years and served in various minister of music
capacities in central California. To continue, please click “MORE”!
Our Concert Review of The Stanley Clarke Band | Live at The Jazz Alley
The Stanley Clarke Band – Live in Concert at Jazz Alley on April 8, 2011
By Peggy Oliver
of the first and few opportunities to experience a live concert was as a
college student in the mid seventies; having the privilege to see
Return to Forever featuring Chick Corea. The band’s young yet much
heralded bass player Stanley Clarke commanded the stage whether as a
sideman or soloist. His dexterity on the instrument – electric or
acoustic – was breathtaking. It was not always about the speed, but
expanding the harmonics, chords and its possibilities. Clarke had a full
arsenal of basses at his disposal including the tenor and piccolo
basses, which is the norm for his recording and concert repertoire. To continue, please click “MORE”!
Our Concert Review of Junko Onishi @ The Catalina Bar & Grill
Junko Onishi – Catalina Bar & Grill – Tuesday April 5, 2011 Concert Review by A. Scott Galloway Photos: Scott Mitchell Pianist Junko Onishi graced Los Angeles jazz stages many years back as a side woman with the late, great jazz saxophonist Joe Henderson. Though she’s been recording …
Easy Evans | At Ease
Album Review: Easy Evans | At Ease
by Brent Faulkner
Upstart independent R&B singer Easy Evans delivers a solid, though
not necessarily exceptional effort on his debut EP At Ease. Easy has
the tools and the voice to ‘fly high’, as showcased through the
strongest, most cohesive material of the EP, but at times Evans could
stand to push his gentle tenor vocals to the next dimension. Sure, the
effort is entitled ‘At Ease,’ but when the lover man is the slightest
bit more overt is when he ultimately shines. To continue, please click “MORE”!
Airborne: Back In The Dayz – Airborne Anthology
Album Review: Airborne: Back in the Dayz – Airborne Anthology
By Brian Soergel
You’d expect a contemporary jazz that calls itself “musical peacemakers” to have a happy, upbeat sound. You get that with the veteran band, but as this anthology shows, you also get top-quality musicianship with heft and plenty of sway. The New Haven, Conn.-based band’s eighth CD is a collection of new songs and remastered tracks
from its 13-year history.
Airborne is led by Gregory Borino (guitars, vocals), Thomas Sansone (sax, flute, vocals) and Thomas Borino (piano, keyboards, organ, vocals), as well as Dave Ramsey (drums), Donnell Roberts (bass), Asher Delerme (percussion) and Randy Bost (trumpet, flugelhorn). To continue, please click “MORE”!
Rodney Lee | Groove Kid Nation: The Wheels On The Bus
Album Review: Rodney Lee
| Groove Kid Nation: The Wheels on the Bus
By Brian Soergel
If you’re a contemporary jazz fan, Rodney Lee’s name may not immediately come to mind. But you’ve no doubt heard his music or seen him at a show, as he’s performed with Mindi Abair, Marc Antoine, Freddie Hubbard and many others. The keyboardist and record producer has also performed and written for almost 20 years with Chris Standring, and is a big part of the guitarist’s success as a co-collaborator.
Having said that, you have to be in the right demographic to truly appreciate Lee’s latest project, Groove Kid Nation. That demo is probably infant up to up to about 6 years old. And their parents, of course. Lee says he created the project, which feature numerous top session players, because he didn’t hear the kind of music he wanted his son, now 2, to get into. To continue, please click “MORE”!
Anthony Wilson | Campo Belo
Album Review: Anthony Wilson | Campo Belo
by Brent Faulkner
(Advance Review: CD to be released April 5th, 2011)
On Campo Belo, composer/guitarist Anthony Wilson assembles a set of ten
songs that are classifiable as ‘jazz,’ but transcend jazz itself. Filled
with influences from classical music (minimalism most notably), Latin
music, and even tinges of country/folk, Campo Bello is certainly a
‘melting pot’ to say the least. On this, Wilson’s eighth set as a
leader, he assembles a set of capable musicians to carry out incredibly
cerebral compositional ideas. Aside from lending his own compositional
and guitar expertise, Wilson is joined by Chico Pinheiro (guitar), André
Mehmari (piano), Guto Wirtti (bass), and Edu Ribeiro (drums). Overall,
Campo Belo is an enjoyable set that yields some enjoyable listens. To continue, please click “MORE”!
Jump Start 2 | By Various Artists
Album Review: Jump Start 2
| Various ArtistsBy Peggy Oliver
only as a former mix and radio DJ, I have a small bit of envy for
Ginger Tony. And why do I even make mention of this matter? I continue
to this day being a huge fan of soulful, passionate dance music and
actually got to briefly live my dream guest hosting one mix show
installment many years ago from a non-commercial station in my Seattle,
WA. Ginger Tony AKA Tony Farmer not only grew up listening to his
favorite radio DJ’s, he practiced and refined his own skills by
taping mock radio broadcasts. His record collection ranged from Burt
Bacharach to Motown. But Ginger was especially enamored with hip-hop and
the samples drawn from this remarkable art form. To continue, please click “MORE”!