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Urban Jazz, Page 11

Alphonse Mouzon | Angel Face

Alphonse Mouzon - Angel Face
 
Angel Face
Alphonse Mouzon
(Tenacious)
 
by A. Scott Galloway
 
In a musical universe obsessed with guitars and saxes, it’s sometimes a challenge for a drummer to get a little respect. Alphonse Mouzon has gotten his as much for his playing as for his acumen as a renegade independent record label owner (Tenacious Records), the original drummer of fusion pioneers Weather Report and for a four decade string of eclectic jazz recordings as a leader that swing from inside to outside and all the spaces in between (not to mention his colorful fashion sense).

Boney James | Contact

Boney James - Contact
 
Boney James | Contact
By Brian Soergel
 
Saxophonist Boney James, one of the most consistently appealing players in contemporary jazz, returns with his first CD of all-new music since 2006’s Shine. That was his debut with Concord, and he also released a Christmas CD and covers project with four original songs. James is now with a new record label, Verve-Forecast.

Sharon Musgrave | Outflow

Sharon Musgrave - Outflow
 
Sharon Musgrave | Outflow
By Peggy Oliver
 
“Fascinating Rhythm,” not to be mistaken with the George Gershwin jazz standard from the twenties, was a funky diet of soul, jazz and reggae flavors provided by dance producer extraordinaire William Orbit. The voice who graced the U.K. top ten dance hit from 1990 was Sharon Musgrave. After touring to support the Orbit’s Bass-O-Matic project, Set the Controls for the Heart of the Bass and the hit single “Fascinating Rhythm,” the England born, Canadian native found another outlet to demonstrate her earthy vocal tones to the jazz world with Julian Joseph.

Gretchen Parlato | The Lost And Found

Gretchen Parlato - Lost and Found
 
Gretchen Parlato | The Lost And Found
by Brent Faulkner
 
Gretchen Parlato is an exceptional young jazz vocal talent. On her third effort, The Lost And Found, the theme of the album is experimentation. Throughout the cerebral, enjoyable effort Parlato uses her voice in a number of capacities, making The Lost and Found one of the more innovative vocal jazz efforts in sometime. Parlato not only serves as the album’s muse, but also composes a number of the tracks.

Ambrose Akinmusire | When The Heart Emerges Glistening

Ambrose Akinmusire - When The Heart Emerges Glistening
 
Ambrose Akinmusire | When The Heart Emerges Glistening
by Brent Faulkner
 
Free-jazz’s appearance in the 1960s went right alongside the ‘sentiment’ of the times historically; – the idea of liberation from conformity and the conservative tides of the 1950s was ‘what was in.’ Free-jazz never faded away dramatically like some earlier jazz styles (namely dixieland, swing, etc.), but it’s popularity certainly peaked in the 1960s.

The Yellowjackets | Timeline

The Yellowjackets - Timeline
 
The Yellowjackets | Timeline
by Brent Faulkner
 
Veteran fusion jazz group Yellowjackets return with their newest effort, Timeline. On Timeline, Yellowjackets sound as if they have not missed a beat, adding yet another gem to their discography. A set of eleven cuts, there are no misses to mention, with each of the tracks exhibiting some special ‘magic.’ While Timeline may not be coined as being the group’s best effort – that would be their breakthrough and classic recordings – it certainly shows ‘the old guys’ still have their ‘mojo.’
Jazz enthusiasts shan’t be disappointed in the least by this effort.

Paul Hardcastle | Desire

Paul Hardcastle - Desire
 
Paul Hardcastle | Desire (Trippin ‘n’ Rhythm)
By Brian Soergel
 
Although British synth wiz Paul Hardcastle landed on worldwide music charts 25-plus years ago with “19” and with his Zero One alter ego, he of course has made a nice second career with smooth-as-silk smooth jazz songs. They really are his forte. Hardcastle has slipped just a bit with recent releases and, with ideas possibly thin, has lately offered a greatest hits collection, DVD set to old songs and even a relaxed, smoothed out version of “19.”

Elan Trotman | Love and Sax

Elan Trotman - Love and Sax
 
Elan Trotman | Love and Sax (E.T. Muzik Production)
By Brian Soergel
 
Saxophonist Elan Trotman is a new star on the smooth jazz world. Although inspired by masters likeGrover Washington, Jr. and Kirk Whalum, his compelling tone and R&B touches mark him as a new force a la Boney James or Euge Groove. Trotman, which the New England Urban Music Awards named best male jazz performer, is a Barbados native educated at Boston’s esteemed Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Marcus Miller | A Night In Monte-Carlo

Marcus Miller - A Night in Monte-Carlo
 
Marcus Miller | A Night in Monte-Carlo
By Peggy Oliver
 
Marcus Miller has worn many musical hats through his established career. Besides being one of the most in-demand studio musicians, especially for Luther Vandross, David Sanborn and Miles Davis, Miller is one of the master bass guitar technicians. From the slap style to gorgeous melodic washes, Miller has furthered the cause for contemporary urban bass players; certainly through the inspirations of other bass greats Stanley Clarke and Jaco Pastorius.

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