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Dena DeRose – Ode To The Road...

Dena DeRose – Ode To The Road
2020 release. Dena DeRose’s music is like a cool breeze; she’s wry, wise, impeccably musical, no-nonsense, and fun. After her three decades as a pianist-singer, DeRose’s voice and her fingers are on the most harmonious of terms. She’s not afraid of simplicity; DeRose has no time for hollow sentiment, nor does she feel a compulsion to outsmart the makers of the Great American Songbook.… Read...

The Eddy – Soundtrack

The Eddy – Soundtrack
The official soundtrack for Netflix’s Damien Chazelle-produced series The Eddy has been released. The Eddy continues Chazelle’s music-focused productions that started with Whiplash in 2014, followed by the 2016 Oscar-winning hit, La La Land. In a way, Chazelle focuses on his penchant for jazz more exclusively than ever in his new Netflix series, as the show follows a former musician running a failing jazz club in Paris.… Read...

Mark Winkler – I’m With You...

Mark Winkler – I’m With You
Mark Winkler wanted another bite of the apple, and Bobby Troup’s zesty book of rhythm patter, swooning ballads, and novelty numbers provides plenty of creative nourishment. His second album devoted to the songs of the jazz-steeped pianist, songwriter, singer, and actor, I’m With You offers a welcome reminder of Troup’s sturdy book. Winkler’s 2003 album Sings Bobby Troup covered some of the same ground (the albums share four songs).… Read...

Lincoln Briney – Homeward Bound...

Lincoln Briney – Homeward Bound
I recently heard a song from this album and was totally knocked out.   The album, which was released in 2016, is a musical treasure filled with incredible arrangements of classic and lesser known Paul Simon compositions.  Here is James  Gavin’s review from 2016. Homeward Bound is Lincoln Briney’s third full-length studio recording. He chose the highly respected arranger and producer, Paul Langford.… Read...
Brazilian Music Spotlight Toninho Horta – Belo Horizonte
Toninho Horta – Belo Horizonte A fantastic return to form for the legendary Toninho Horta – the Brazilian singer and guitarist who first rose to fame in the company of Milton Nascimento at the start of the 70s – then created a tremendous musical legacy of his own! This double-length set has Horta working in some great jazzy territory – that spacious, soulful style that marked all the members of Nascimento’s “corner club” from Minas Geraes – an approach that seems to embrace elements of fusion and progressive styles, but give them a warmer, more soulful Brazilian setting – all while never losing any of the sophistication of their inspirations.… Read...
Recent Jazz Vocal Discovery Michelle Nicolle
Michelle Nicolle Known for her ability to get right to the heart of a song, as well as being an in the moment improviser Michelle has continually developed and nurtured her art form with the help of her quartet.  As well as releasing 8 CDs the MNQuartet has toured extensively throughout Australia and internationally -highlights include South Korea, Finland, and Czech Republic, Asia Pacific Festival (Russia), Tokyo Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival (Holland), New Zealand, Turkey, Estonia, Indonesia and Singapore.… Read...
Classic Jazz Vocal Album Spotlight Irene Kral – Kral Space
Irene Kral – Kral Space One of the three classic albums that singer Irene Kral recorded near the end of her shortened life. Kral is heard throughout at the peak of her powers on this haunting session featuring pianist Alan Broadbent, bassist Fred Atwood, drummer Nick Ceroli and Emil Richards on percussion and vibes. Her renditions of a slower-than-usual “Star Eyes,” “Once Upon Another Time,” “Small Day Tomorrow,” “Sometime Ago” (the definitive version), “Everytime We Say Goodbye” and a pair of Tommy Wolf/Fran Landesman songs (“It’s Nice Weather for Ducks” and “It Isn’t So Good It Couldn’t Get Better”) are all quite memorable.… Read...
Other Releases of Interest Nu Deco Ensemble
Nu Deco Ensemble Since its inception in 2015, Nu Deco Ensemble has exploded onto Miami’s eclectic musical scene captivating audiences, holistically engaging with its community and fusing innovative, genre-bending orchestral performances and collaborations with the highest levels of musical artistry. Nu Deco is reimagining a fresh vision of what an orchestra can achieve in the 21st century. Created by two of classical music’s most in demand artists, Jacomo Bairos and Sam Hyken, Nu Deco Ensemble is a flexible and innovative hybrid orchestra that celebrates living composers, reimagines all genres of music, and collaborates with a wide range of diverse musical guests, composers, choreographers, dancers, and mixed media artists.… Read...