All content by G Daniels
Steve Heckman – Legacy: A Coltrane Tribute
August 26, 2016 / No Comments / Tags: Eric Markowitz, Grant Levin, Smith Dobson V, Steve Heckman, thejazzpage.com(Jazzed Media) A longtime devotee of John Coltrane’s musical contributions, saxophonist Steve Heckman’s latest is a superb homage. Primarily recorded during a 2013 live performance, Legacy: A Coltrane Tribute, is centered around compositions from Coltrane’s early and middle ...
Alison Lewis – Seven
August 23, 2016 / No Comments / Tags: Adam Schulman, Alison Lewis, Andrew Synowiec, Anne King, Eddie Reyes, Jude Gold, Kevin Axt, Mitchell Forman, Paul Eastburn, Ray Brinker, Ricky Carter, thejazzpage.com(Shamayim Music) Seven is the debut recording of singer Alison Lewis, a truly a magnificent singer. Lewis’s soulful and soaring vocal range joined with beautifully sculpted arrangements makes for an outstanding production. The effort is comprised mostly of standards re-imagined to fit the ...
NYT: Toots Thielemans, Harmonica, Dies at 94
August 23, 2016 / No CommentsToots Thielemans, one of the only musicians to have a successful career as a jazz harmonica player, died on Monday in Brussels. He was 94. The death was confirmed by Mr. Thielemans’s agency, which did not specify a cause. Mr. Thielemans, who retired in 2014 for health reasons, had been ...
Manu Katché – Unstatic
August 5, 2016 / No Comments / Tags: Ellen Andrea Wang, Luca Aquino, Manu Katché, Nils Landgren, thejazzpage.com, Tore Brunborg(Anteprima Productions) Manu Katché weaves together hypnotic rhythms and transportive melodies to produce his latest, superb effort, Unstatic. The music, all of which was composed by the drummer, has a contemporary feel and very much fits the album’s title, and the same can be said of the ...
Anthony E. Nelson, Jr. – Swift To Hear, Slow To Speak
August 2, 2016 / No Comments / Tags: Anthony E. Nelson Jr, Brandon McCune, Bruce Williams, Chris Beck, josh evans, Kenny Davis, thejazzpage.com(MusicStand Records) Swift To Hear, Slow To Speak by saxophonist Anthony E. Nelson Jr. is a fantastic artistic statement. The project is also an effort built around the artist’s faith and gratitude. Nelson, Jr. has a tone that is powerful and engaging, which accentuates the fine quality ...
Roberta Piket – One for Marian: Celebrating Marian McPartland
July 29, 2016 / No Comments / Tags: Bill Mobley, Billy Mintz, Harvie S, karrin allyson, Roberta Picket, steve wilson, thejazzpage.com, Virginia Mayhew(Thirteenth Note Records) Pianist-composer Roberta Piket turns in one of our favorites of the year with this recording. One for Marian: Celebrating Marian McPartland is indeed a colorful celebration of the late musician and radio show host. The production is primarily based around ...
Mimi Jones – Feet In The Mud
July 8, 2016 / No Comments / Tags: jon cowherd, Jonathan Barber, Luis Perdomo, Mimi Jones, Samir Zarif, thejazzpage.com(Hot Tone Music) Bassist Mimi Jones’ latest is a beautifully contemplative work. With melodic compositions and solid musicianship, Feet In The Mud is an engaging sonic tapestry. The music is at times straight-ahead swing, and at others, a blend of haunting vocal and mood that changes the ...
Mark Murphy – Live in Athens, Greece
July 5, 2016 / No Comments / Tags: Alex Drakos, George Georgiadis, Mark Murphy, Spiros Exaras, thejazzpage.com, Thomas Rueckert(Harbinger Records) Live in Athens, Greece is a fantastic documentation of the late, great singer Mark Murphy recorded at the Gazarte Club, one of the city’s hottest night clubs in 2008. Once things gets rolling, Murphy clearly demonstrates why he is revered by so many singers who ...
Joe Policastro Trio – Pops
July 1, 2016 / No Comments / Tags: Andy Brown, Andy Pratt, Dave Miller, Joe Policastro, Mikel Avery, thejazzpage.com(JeruJazz Records) Pops, the second recording from Joe Policastro and his trio, takes its name from the Chicago-based Pops for Champagne venue where the band has performed since 2011. The project’s name also references the pop standards which are the centerpiece of this production. With ...
Branford Marsalis Quartet with Kurt Elling – Upward Spiral
June 28, 2016 / No Comments / Tags: Branford Marsalis, Eric Revis, Joey Calderazzo, Justin Faulkner, kurt elling, thejazzpage.com, Upward Spiral(OKeh) A collaboration between an established bandleader and band with an established singer is something that harkens back to a bygone musical age. The teaming of the Branford Marsalis Quartet and singer Kurt Elling is one of those rare and special instances. Upward Spiral is the fantastic ...
