Posts Tagged Jazz
Archive
December 12, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Stubs: # 242 – Michael Houstoun & The Rodger Fox Big Band, Wellington, 2015
An intriguing musical collaboration – and one that has worked so they’ve repeated it – and when I say repeated it, it’s always a little different. But the classically trained pianist and the big-band leader and trombonist really do find some strange alchemy – on record and in performance. I’ve seen them a few times […]Archive
December 10, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Gerald Cleaver and Violet Hour: Live at Firehouse 12
Gerald Cleaver and Violet Hour Live at Firehouse 12 Sunnyside Drummer/composer Gerald Cleaver is on fire here leading his band Violet Hour through some post-bop future-classics. Ben Waltzer (piano) is an early delight on the opener, Pilgrim’s Progress, trumpeter Jeremy Pelt has a chance to rip here too. And Chris Lightcap (double bass) is urgent […]Archive
December 9, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
The Vinyl Countdown # 203
Donald Byrd, Black Byrd / Slop Jar Blues [Single] (1973) The guy in the shop goes, “oh mean, you got some DJ sets coming up?” And I said, “Nah, I just want to play this at home”. Cool story, bro. Yeah, I know. But I can see how buying a single by Donald Byrd might […]Archive
December 8, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Jon Batiste: Chronology of a Dream – Live At The Village Vanguard
Jon Batiste Chronology of a Dream: Live At The Village Vanguard Verve The hardworking Jon Batiste has already released a previous live volume from last year’s residency at the Village Vanguard. Where that was all Monk-like (if not Monk-lite) this new one showcases Batiste’s compositional chops and the tunes are short-sharp statements in groove. His […]Archive
December 3, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Snorre Kirk: Beat
Snorre Kirk Beat Stunt Records / Sundance Music Ltd. Norwegian drummer Snorre Kirk leads a truly Scandinavian band (Klas Lindquist on alto sax and clarinet and Tobias Wiklund on the cornet are from Sweden, while bassist Lasse Mørck, pianist Magnus Hjorth and tenor sax master Jan Harbeck are from Denmark). And over a handful of […]Archive
December 1, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Kyle Eastwood: Cinematic
Kyle Eastwood Cinematic DISCOGRAPH I’m a sucker for this sort of thing anyway – a bunch of great movie-score moments and themes reinterpreted in a strict ‘jazz setting’ (take my money, etc!) – but also, bass player Kyle Eastwood has a particularly special film connection; he’s the son of Clint. He has been on screen […]Archive
November 25, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Kenny Pore: A Place Across Town
Kenny Pore A Place Across Town Kenny Pore Sessions Smooth Jazz, Light Jazz, Dinner Jazz…it goes by many names and it’s usually awful to all but hi-fi nuts and sessions musicians (usually just the cats that played on that actual session).Archive
November 20, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Sweetman Podcast # 194: Fergus Barrowman
Welcome to episode 194 of Sweetman Podcast with support from our sponsors – T Leaf T, Yeastie Boys and La Petite Chocolat. Now – as you probably know, as well as the usual platforms (this site, soundcloud, iTunes/Apple) you can now get to Sweetman Podcast on Spotify – follow it there and have it saved […]Archive
November 12, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
The Bad Plus: Never Stop II
The Bad Plus Never Stop II Legbreaker Records Since the very early 2000s The Bad Plus has been a role-model for great modern jazz trios; their gimmick (and they weren’t the only ones, neither the first nor last) was to take rock and pop and indie songs (Aphex Twin, Tears For Fears, Nirvana, Blondie) and […]Archive
November 5, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Harry Connick Jr: True Love – A Celebration of Cole Porter
Harry Connick Jr. True Love: A Celebration of Cole Porter Verve Harry Connick Jr. is a musical master; wizard. Beautiful singer, great pianist, dab-hand at the arranging and such an ear and feel and flow to it all. He has made it look and sound easy – but that’s what happens when you’re a child […]Archive
October 13, 2019 by Simon Sweetman