Jazz /Blues Adds: March 19,2014
By Ann Porotti
Feature image photographed by Martin Phillips
Jazz
Eric Vloeiman. Oliver’s Cinema. northstar. Our man in Holland, Eric Vloeiman, has gone a wandering and found himself some new co-stars: German cellist, Jorg Brunkman, and Belgian accordionist , Tuur Florizoone. Is there anyone who knows how to play soft, better than Vloeiman? so, no surprise that he found a subtle squeezebox player. all the while “agile & pert”–e.v. and I am, shamelessly, persuaded that a playlist with movie themes is la creme of listening.
Ambrose Akinmusire. The Imagined Savior is Far Easier to Paint. blue note. Title(s) aside, wade into young trumpeter Akinmusire’s second cd, featuring regular bandmates: Walter Smith, tenor; Harish Raghaven, bass; Justin Brown, drums. new members–pianist Sam Harris and vocalists– Becca Stevens, cold specks, Theo Bleckmann–jump the originals playlist out of the ordinary.
Lisa Hilton. Kaleidoscope. self. LA classically trained jazz pianist Hilton with a great quartet– tenor J.D. Allen; Larry Grenadier, bass; Marcus Gilmore, drums– working a spirited playlist, many originals. Gorgeous playing, highly impressionistic–every instrumental voice sharing the spotlight.
Da Lata. Fabiola. agogo. Strings, kora & trombones, bound together by Bahian samba drums that would make Olodum proud, Londoners Chris Franck & Patrick Forge first recorded Da Lata in 1994–as Afro-Brazilian house/dance/jam band. 10 years later, from the studio, their dedication continues. International guest vocalists: Cape Verdean Mayra Andrade; Jandira Silva, Dennis Rollins, Luisa Maita; steaming arrangements. stop, look and LISTEN.
Fareed Haque. Trance Hypothesis. delmark. Chicago fusion guitarist (via Chile & Pakistan) Fareed Haque working with his Fat Earth ensemble brings the tabla (Shivalik Ghoshal) , oud (Essam Rafea) & sitar (Indrajit Banerjee) into a large jazz group that also includes the B-3 (Tony Monaco). Indian cues shine: hymn of the ancients, saba, sristi, and title track.
Billy Hart quartet. one is the other. ecm. Seventy-three year old drummer Billy Hart brings multi-genre-ed jazz experience to his young bloods quartet: elegant pianist Ethan Iverson and resourceful tenor mark turner share the lyrical moments as Ben Street on bass, and leader/composer Hart keep time, energy and line.
Ian Carey + Ben Stolorow. Duocracy. kabocha. Trumpet/piano duo take on the American songbook looking for simplicity and sophistication. loved playlist selections, especially two for the road.
Barbara Martin + Vince Lewis. Fresh Air. vinbara. Locals– vocalist (Martin), guitar (Lewis), bassist (Paul Langosch)–settle into an acoustic playlist of originals and freshly interpreted standards. recorded at the packing shed, Lovingston, VA.
Adam Rongo. Tell Your Story. d:clef. Debut cd from Michigan-native, alto/tenor player Rongo Draws on favorite classics and originals; core band includes Michael Dease (Rongo’s mentor) on trombone; Ulysses Owens jr, drums; Rodney Whitaker, bass; Emmet Cohen, piano + Etienne Charles, Behn Gillece, Randy Napoleon.
Mr. Confuse. Do You Realize. legere. Hanover, Germany dj and music producer generates funk & message in 2012 release. dance tracks, mixed with political anthems, lots of guest vocalists– Dan Salem, Lady Emz, Elaine Thomas. a curious window into the universe of European music trends where America’s groove past provides the engine.
The Pepper Pots. We Must Fight. double back. Old school soul from Girona, Catalonia (near Barcelona), Spain; 8 guys, 2 women, 10 years, , 6 cds, 400 shows. not exactly the supremes‘ vocal complexity, or motown‘s song writing chops, but positive politics for the young is a philosophical +. please visit here.
legere sampler. various. legere. more to tempt you from the gang that gets out the funk. sampler includes artists, new to us; bridget cooper, the impellers, kerbside collection, pitch & scratch.
Blues
Terry Quiett. Taking Sides. lucky bag. Coming out of Witchita, Kansas, TQB consists of singer/songwriter/guitarist terry quiet; bass player Nathan Johnson, Rodney Baker on drums plus guests: Mississippi Hal Reed, blues harp; Brad Turgeon + Jordan Northerns, horns; Scott Williams, keyboards.
Terry Davidson & the Gears. Sonic Soul Sessions. bangshift. The Gears, out of Ohio, have been blues-ing for almost 3 decades: Terry Davidson– guitar, mandolin, vocals; Bill Geist–guitar, percussion; Bob Hanners–drums; Mike Gilliland, harmonica, guitar. guests, original playlist.
Tess Barr. Do What You Want. barbarian. All originals playlist from Pacific Northwest-based exuberant blues singer/songwriter; the core band includes Barr on vocals/guitar; Patrik Barr, slide guitar; Paul Viemeister, bass guitar; Cheo Larcombe, drums.
John Lyons. Sing Me Another Song. self. Michigan-born, Switzerland-resident, blues man John Lyons tells a story of lost loves in his new cd; European band includes Simon Britschgi–drums; Matthew Savnik– keys; Gabriel Spahni–bass; Lyons–vocals/guitar/composition.
Author: Ann Porotti, host of All That Jazz (Thursday, 10-noon) and co-host of Melodiya (Friday, 6-8pm), has fallen in love with all kinds of music as a result of writing the Jazz + Blues Adds blog.
