Jerico Jams artist: Randy Bernsen - Heart Mind and Soul - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Heart, Mind and Soul by Randy Bernsen, and it's quite interesting. Opening with With You Always, with it's Latin flavor, Randy Bernsen on guitar plays a solid melody, joined by Jimmy Haslip on bass, David Nizri on drums, Uzi Nizri on piano and Dan Davis on trumpet. A more jagged melody with strong bass accents by David and cool piano solo by Uzi make this a terrific opener. Prodigal Son starts quietly with keys, drums, and bass with light solo accents by Bernsen and interweaving trumpet by Derek Sims and sax by Bob Franceschini. Very nice. Slinky, Billy Gate Blues has Bernsen up front with wide open guitar melody over the driving rhythm line of David and Haslip. Uzi sets a cool melody line, picked up by Bernsen with a terrific shuffle reinforcement and punchy trumpet work by Davis. Strong. ABBA Father is a really nice acoustic guitar solo with a Spanish flavor, floating on a bed of piano and keys and with the addition of cello and accent drums. Wrapping the release is Chant 881 with a jagged rhythm giving the band a nice chance to stretch. Bernsen does some of his most creative playing on this track over a cool bottom by David and Haslip. Strong closer.  

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White Label Records artist: Marc Ciprut - Blue House - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blue House, from Marc Ciprut and it's really cool mix or rock, R&B and jazz. Opening with Roll It Out, Marc Ciprut on guitar leads the way, joined by Jeremy Manasia on Wurlitzer, Etienne Lytle on organ and Tommi Rautiainen on drums creating a soulful Al Green feel with fluid guitar lead. Nice opener. Shaggy has a contemporary funk feel with Jimmy Haslip on bass, and Jon Cowherd on Wurlitzer and organ. Using a wah pedal, Ciprut creates a really nice groove with Haslip, Coward and Rautiainen working a great weave. Wrapping the release is Kiss You Again with varying time shifts and Ciprut playing it straight with Rauianinen and  Lytle against Ciprut's own adverse bass line. Very cool closer for a solid release. 

 

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Nefer Music artist: Jeff Richman - XYZ - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, XYZ, from Jeff Richman and it's quite good. Opening with title track, XYZ, Jeff Richman on guitar is joined by top players, George Whitty on keys, Vinnie Colaiuta on drums and Jimmy Haslip on bass. With the incredible duo of Haslip and Colaiuta laying down a clean, funky rhythm, Richman weaves a lush flowing melody. Strong opener. On Optamystical, Richman slowly builds depth and breadth on a McLaughlin type guitar pattern paired with Whitty on keys not unlike Beck and Hammer, before breaking into a more melodic refrain with exceptional drum work underpinnings by Colaiuta. Excellent!  Left Right Here is low slung with a cool yet funky bass line and Richman laying down a smooth melody over Whitty's horn like keyboard work. Richman's lead lines are creative and flowing. With it's jagged rhythm underpinnings, Likewise, is another really nice track with Mitchell Formen on keys and with Colaiuta adding in off/add rhythm drumming that gives the track so much depth. I really do love his style. Wrapping the release is laid back, She's Got To Be Somewhere. Scott Kinsey on keys and Richman share the lead workcreate a nicely woven envelope of sound with excellent drum/ bass interplay by Haslip and Colaiuta. This is a really solid release with a boat load of cool, fusion style music. 

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

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Jeremy Green - Standing Eight - New Release Reviewx

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Standing Eight, by Jeremy Green and it's a cool jazz rock instrumental release with plenty of juice. Opening with No Jacket Required, Jeremy Green and Mike Stern on guitars lay in some great dialog over excellent drum work of Keith Carlock and featuring the excellent bass lines of Jimmy Haslip. Very cool. Will Lee lays down a funky bass line and fine soloing on Ain't No Chevy and Carlock is incredibly tight with Green and Robben Ford really working it on guitar and including the fine trumpet work of Mark Levron. Green and Michel Cusson really put on a great show on Close with a Jab and the solid bass work of Moto Fukushima sets a super framework for the highly articulate drumming of Carlock. Excellent. Wrapping the release is Car Rock with Oz Noy paired with Green on guitar and an aggressive bass line by Ian Da Souza. With bluesy yet adventurously jazzy guitar riffs, and the phenomonal drum work of Carlock, this is a solid closer for a solid release.  

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

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Outside In Music artists: Barry Coates, Jimmy Haslip, Jerry Kalaf - New Dreams - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, New Dreams, from Barry Coates, Jimmy Haslip, Jerry Kalaf and the title seems quite appropriate. Opening with Towner, Kalaf on drums, forms a tight, stabling, drum reference as Haslip creates a chord like structure over which Coates plays soaring solo lines. Very nice. On Faith, Kalaf uses brushes on the snare head and cymbal to give structure, firmed by Haslip's bass lead and adorned by the articulated melody by Coates. Before is a playful track with Coates on synth, super improvisational bass lead by Haslip and a direct snappy drum line by Kalaf. My favorite track on the release is Sacred with a percussive rhythm by Coates freeing Haslip to play lead on bass and giving the space to Kalal to improvise on drums. Wrapping the release is Retrograde giving Kalaf the lead with explosive percussion over the synth guitar work of Coates. With atmospheric work by Coates, Kalaf really works the heads, leading to rudimental bass lines and painterly solo work by Haslip on bass. This is a really interesting set of music but not one that you're likely to dance to. Enjoy. 

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

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Gramofono Sound Label artist: Will Porter - Tick Tock Tick - New release review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Tick Tock Tick, from Will Porter and it's a cool slice of music. Opening with title track, Tick Tock Tick, a Dr John track features the Dr with his Will Porter with his soulful lead vocal, backed by Thaddeus Richard on keys, Todd Duke on guitars, Brian Brian Quezergue on bass and and Bunchy Johnson on drums. My favorite track on the release is original Why Do We get Blue? which is a stellar showcase for Porter's voice and backing vocals by The Womack Brothers and with a tasty baritone guitar solo Jimmy Haslip. Ike turner's funky, I'm Blue, is really pumped up with super horn work by Mic Gilette and Johnnie Bamont. Solid blues, I Can Do Bad By Myself is another favorite with deep roots, featuring sreat soulful vocal by Porter, warm keys by Richard, powerful horns by Gilette and Bamont and strong guitar soloing by Leo Nocentelli. Very nice. Smooth jazz ballad, Don't Go To Strangers has the strings and the warmth but the baritone guitar solo by Haslip gives the track real traction. Wrapping the release is Everything's Gonna Be Alright, a strong radio candidate with R&B bones and featuring lead vocal by Porter and The Womack Brothers providing essential backing vocals with a potent bass line by Quezergue and tight rhythms by Doug Belote. 

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

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Tone Center Records artist: Jing Chi - Supremo - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the to be released (October 27, 2017) recording, Supremo, by Jing Chi. After a 13 year break Jing Chi, featuring Robben Ford, Jimmy Haslip and Vinnie Colaiuta is delivering their 4th record for Tone Center Records and it's a doozy. Opening with The Majestic, this band is off the hook with a fusion sound made in heaven. Ford has incredible chops and Colaiuta (who coincidentally grew up only a few miles from my childhood home) is one of the best drummers on the planet. On a who's who list of drummers, it's easier to list who he hasn't played with... even Jeff Beck! Haslip sets a great bottom, doing what most great bassists do... setting a great foundation for the track while playing incredible lines that would blow you away if you just listened to them without the band. Mike Haynes on trumpet adds tight trumpet work as well. Powerful opener. Showtime is a super track with a strong bass line and various time changes. With clean guitar lead and punchy horn work by Jeff Coffin and Haynes, this track has great texture. Secrets has a strong underlying R&B feel supported by soulful horns but with contemporary lines and powerful bluesy guitar lead by Ford. One of the nicest tracks on the release is easy going, Casablanca, with it's almost waltz like flow. Warm chords by Ford, with light percussion and bass set the stage and as the track opens Ford lays out some beautiful improvisation lead perfectly appointed by Colaiuta's remarkable sense of drum rhythm.  Excellent! Vegas has a country feel with a tight bass line and twangy jazz guitar riffs by Ford. At The Apollo has a real nice groove with a power horn feel.  Coffin and Haynes carry the melody set by Haslip and Ford takes the front as the track develops with more adventurous exploration of the theme. Fat rich guitar tones and powerful drum rhythm by Colaiuta anchor this track. Wrapping the release is title track, Jing Xi with a jagged rhythm pattern giving Colaiuta a real opportunity to show his stuff. Anyone who has seen him play would immediately recognize his sound and with masters like Ford and Haslip to work with, this blues infused track is a great closer. If you want to hear something that isn't mainstream but really hits... this is it! 

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

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