Joplin Sweeney Music Company artist: Jim Witzel Quartet - Very Early (Remembering Bill Evans) - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Very Early (Remembering Bill Evans), by Jim Witzel Quartet, and it's terrific! Opening with Victor Young's, Beautiful Love, JimWitzel on guitar paints a lush landscape of guitar chords setting up this jazz standard. With Phil Aaron on piano punctuating the melody and Dan Feiszli on bass and Jason Lewis on drums, this track is really humming. Aaron really stretches the melody on piano giving the track real width and Feiszli and Lewis alternate riffs adding the depth. Excellent.  opener.   Steve Swallow's Falling Grace has a stylistic Latin rhythm and Witzel really rolls on guitar with flowing rhythmic lead and Aaron on piano uses a percussive style to really deliver the goods. John Carisi's Israel has an incredible groove. Witzel and Aaron outline the melody nicely in duet, with Aaron first breaking loose with a light piano lead with just the least amount of bass and drums to set up the interplay. Witzel steps up with really nice guitar lead slowly but certainly ramping up the track. His intuition is terrific ... I mean this groove will push you back in your seat. Lewis shows his crisp sense of rhythm and articulation before the rest of the band falls back wrapping the track. Very nice. Feiszli leads off Miles' Nardis with a super bass line. Witzel outlines the melody on guitar with Aaron working the counter  and response. Taking the first solo line, Aaron sets a solid bop followed by lavish guitar lead by Witzel . Wrapping the release is Bill Evans' Peri's Scope with a tight Latin feel. Witzel and Aaron pair the lead before Witzel peels away with swinging, stylized guitar lead. Changing the rhythm up a little with cool rim shots by Lewis, Aaron hits it hard on piano before letting it go in full swing meeting back with Witzel for a warm finale. Excellent release. 

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Joe Elefante's Wheel of Dharma - Return of the Light - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Return of the Light, from Joe Elefante's Wheel of Dharma and I really like it. Opening with Jazz For Dummies, a cool bop track, Joe Elefante on piano sets the scene with David Heilman on drums. Freddie Hendrix on trumpet and Erena Terakubo on alto sax reinforce the phrasing for a strong start. Elefante takes the first leg with an energetic phrasing, chided on by Sameer Shankar on bass and Heilman. Terakubu on alto cuts clean with some dynamic lead and Hendrix on trumpet really hits the groove, extending the concept nicely. Strong opener. Title track, Return of the Light in 6/8 rolls along with really creative melodic summaries by Hendrix, punctuated by Elefante and Terakubu plays cleanly over mostly light bass and drums seeming to float. Elefante and Heilman exchange percussive phrases, passing to the reconciliation. Very nice. Ankara Blues really has a great feel with a driving bass line by Shankar. Terakubu really digs in on sax laying out some of the best lead on the release followed by Hendrix on trumpet and a hot drum solo by Heilman. Simple Girl is one of my favorites on the release with a strong bottom and intense trumpet work by Hendrix followed in contrast by the supple piano work of Elefante. Shankar turns up the juice on bass and Terakubo again lays in some really soulful lead. Excellent! Wrapping the release is John Coletrane's Some Other Blues featuring Elefante on vocal and piano. With a super, shuffle beat Elefante scats with piano and a super bass line by Shankar. Terakubo digs in and swings on sax followed by crisp trumpet lead by Hendrix. Shankar gets one more chance to captivate and his lines are smokin. Excellent closer for a really potent release. 

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OA2 Records artist: Ted Piltzecker - Peace Vibes - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Peace Vibes, from Ted Piltzecker and it's a solid combination of original and classic covers. Opening with Benny Golson's Whisper Not, Ted Piltzecker on vibraphone begins the melody joined by Brad Goode playing counter melody on trumpet. Gonzalo Teppa on bass and Paul Romaine on drums provide a tight rhythm section for a lush exploration of this well known classic. Piltzecker's strokes float on air and Goode's trumpet work is really crisp. Excellent opener. Toots Theilemans' Bluesette has a terrific Latin rhythm emphasized by Vinicius Barros on percussion, reinforced by Romaine on drums. Piltzecker's vibes really fill the air and Goode's trumpet lead it enthusiastic and fun. Miles Davis' Nardis features Goode on lead on trumpet, his noted caressed in warm vibes tones. Romaine lightly drives the beat as Piltzecker extends the melody and a real nice bass solo by Teppa adds another dimension to an already complex track. Very nice. The intro for Horace Silver's, Peace, is formed by Piltzecker and slowly built to full potential adding first light drums and bass, then Goode on trumpet, for a warm conclusion. Wrapping the release is jazz standard, Old Devil Moon with a Latin rhythm. Romaine adds a lot of texture with Goode taking the lead and Piltzecker adding vital warmth on vibes. Solid closer. 

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Qualified Records artist: Big Shoes - King Size - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, King Size, by Big Shoes and it's addicting. Opening with Jimmy Hall's, Halfway To Memphis, with a real R&B style. Featuring Rick Huckaby on lead vocal and guitar, this track has a real strut with Jimmy Borland on bari sax, Steve Hermann on trumpet and Charlie Rose on trombone, Mark T Jordan on keys, Tom Szell on bass, Kenne Kramer on guitar, Will McFarlane on guitar, Bryan Brock on percussion and Lynn Williams on drums. Solid opener. Right About Now has a real "Little Feat" feel with a swampy bottom courtesy of Williams and Brock. Bluesy slide guitar really sounds nice and Jordan's piano work adds terrific upper rhythm. Very nice. Shuffle, I Don't Need Nobody, penned by Cramer has a real nice groove filled out by Herman, Boland and Rose and Jordan sets up a real nice piano solo, leading to a cool guitar solo by McFarlane. Super track. Buckwheat Zydeco's Make It Easy On Yourself has a great funky organ with excellent horn punctuation and tight drums. Huckaby's vocals are terrific and backing vocals add another dimension giving this track real breadth. Rocker, Yvette is one of my favorites on the release with a solid driving rhythm and simple rocking rhythm. Wrapping the release is Jesse Ed Davis' She's A Pain. With Jordan pounding it out on piano and Williams tight drums, this track has great traction. Huckaby's vocals really hit the spot and McFarlane's slide work is smooth as silk. Excellent closer. 

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OA2 Records artist: Kelsey Mines - Everything Sacred, Nothing Serious - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Everything Sacred, Nothing Serious, from Kelsey Mines and it's really strong. Opening with Self-Alchemization, Kelsey Mines on bass and vocal and John Hansen on piano create a certain ambiance which develops into a super interesting groove. With Elsa Nilsson on flute and Beserat Tafesse on trombone playing in tandem, the sketch of melody is cast. Hansen takes the first solo with nicely illustrated piano lead, backed by Danilo Silva on guitar, Mines on bass, Machado Mijiga on drums and Jeff Busch on percussion. Nilsson rolls out a real nice flute solo with super bass and drum work supporting. Excellent! Sitting and Not Waiting has a really nice shape, Mines driving the bottom. Tafesse really wails on trombone with finesse and precision, punctuated by Mijiga and Hansen. Hansen really has great chops on piano, further expanding the track over the ever driving bass of Mines. Pluriverse is a real interesting track opening with a somewhat avant-garde intro, feeding via a rhythmic bass line by Mines. Nilsson on flute and Tafesse on trombone create a nicely harmonic melody line with light cymbal and snare work by Mijiga. A warm interlude by by Nilsson on flute is really strong ...accented by Hansen and Mijiga and Mines bass work is masterful. As the band pares back, Silva plays lush lead guitar with really nice phrasing.  Wrapping the release is lively, Marcy's Regret with a lightly salted Latin rhythm. Nilsson and Tafesse have the lead carried by the super rhythm section of Mines and Mijiga. Mines gets a real nice chance to lay down a really sweet bass solo with rhythm by Silva on guitar and Mijiga on drums. Nilsson picks up the lead on flute and Busch on percussion brings up the heat. Mijiga and Hansen throw fuel on the fire with a great percussive duel bringing up the finale. Very nice recording. 

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Qualified Records artist: Yates McKendree - Need To Know - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Need To Know, from Yates McKendree and I really like it. Opening with solid blues number, Burnin' Tears, Yates McKendree on lead guitar and vocal really sets a nice pace. With Steve Mackey on bass, Griffin Photoglou on drums, Robert Frahm on rhythm guitar and Kevin McKendree on piano and Hammond, Yates vocals are strong and his BB King flavored guitar attack really fits this track perfectly. Excellent opener. Run It In The Ground is a super hot runner with Muddy Waters roots. Yates is really riding high on lead vocal and his guitar work sails with Kevin and Frahm kicking it with heavy support by Griffin. James Brown's, I Don't Care gets a real nice cover by Yates with his soulful voice and solid horn backing by Steve Herrman on trumpet, John Hinchey on trombone and standout sax work by Jim Hoke on tenor and bari sax. Chris Kenner's Something You Got has a real nice funk underpinning by Kevin on organ, Frahm on rhythm and Kenneth Blevins on drums and Yates takes his guitar to town with excellent phrasing on lead and some of his best vocals on the release. See See Rider gets a real nice R&B meets jazz makeover and Yates plays some of his most outrageous guitar to date. This track may seem like it would be a sleeper, but it's anything but. Excellent! Willie Dixon's I Can't Stop is outrageous with Yates seeming to ooze Otis Rush and his falsetto vocal contrast are wild. With Kevin on piano, Frahm on rhythm Mackey on bass and Photoglou on drums, this release really does continue to get deeper. Wow! Hot shuffle, Good As Gone, is manned by Yates on vocal, lead guitar, bass and drums and Kevin on organ and guitar. This thing is a blast! Wrapping the release is Tide, a cool instrumental with progressively building intensity created by Yates adding more and more layers of washer and dryer, Guitars, bass, and Hammond to a cool beat by George Sluppick on percussion. This is a great release and an easy recommendation. You gotta get this!

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Ruf Records artist: Pavlov's Dog - Wonderlust - New Release Review

p> I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Wonderlust, from rocker, Pavlov's Dog. Originally formed in 1974 in St Louis, Pavlov' Dog now regrouped by founder, lead singer, guitarist and songwriter David Surkamp with singer Sara Surkamp, Abbie Steiling on violin, Rick Steiling on bass, Mark Maher on keys, Steve Bunck on drums and Phil Ring on guitar. Opening with rocker, Anyway There's Snow, David Surkamp has the lead vocal and guitar lead with Abbie adding prominent violin work and Bunck's tight drum rhythm. Mona has a distinct pop rock feel with a strong melody and firm guitar chords by David, reinforcing his vocal work and nicely executed violin lead by Abbie. Solid Water, Liquid Sky is an interesting track with shout like lead vocals and and a warm, mellow backing by Abbie, Rick on bass, Mark on piano, Phil on drums and Steve on drums. Instrumental, Calling Sigfried has a sprite, European folk/rock feel with nicely presented violin lead by Abbie and crisp drumming by Steve over the masterful piano work of Mark. Very nice. Wrapping the release is I Wait For You, featuring David's trademark vocals, accompanied by Mark on piano and Abbie on violin in clean, folk/pop like form. Solid closer. 

 


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Origin Records artist: Affinity Trio - New Outlook - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, New Outlook, from Affinity Trio and it's really cool. Opening with Onward, a solid bop Eric Jacobson on trumpet carves a strong melody. Joined by Pamela York on piano who not only holds a firm rhythm but plays strong, inciteful phrasing, together with Clay Schaub on bass makes for a perfect trio. York penned, title track, New Outlook, has a simple solitude, pairing Jacobson with York on melody, anchored by Schaub creating a nicely flowing track. Larry Willis', To Wisdom, has a beautiful balance with Jacobson creating the primary melody, handing to York for a playful piano exploration. Jacobson returning with a floating trumpet solo solo and handing to the richness of Schaub on bass really gives the track a special delivery. Wrapping the release is Kenny Dorham's Una Mas framed by the percussive piano attack of York. Jacobson fleshes out the melody on trumpet with York and Schaub creating a solid bottom. The groove really develops a great groove with York and Jacobson playing call and response to great resolve. I've seen plenty of trios and often to disappointing results, typically sax or piano lead with drums or bass. But with 3 strong players, all covering rhythm this is a very satisfying release. 

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Hard Times Records artist: Piper & The Hard Times - Good Company - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Good Company, from Piper & The Hard Times and it's a high energy blues rocker. Opening with title track, Good Company, Piper Green on vocals is smooth as silk leading the way with grinding guitar lead by Steve Eagon, strong piano rhythm by Amy Frederick, Dave Colella on drums and Parker Hawkins on bass. Solid opener. Tear It Down has a strutting R&B feel with Green digging in with a gritty attack and Eddie Meyer on sax adds real warmth with Frederick on organ and featuring Lisa Oliver-Gray and Etta Britt on backing vocals. Eagon sets a perfect stage with beautiful tone on guitar for Turn The Tables, a slower blues with soulful vocals by Green. My favorite track on the release. Cheatin's Gotta End is another favorite of mine on the release with it's power bottom by Hawkins and Colella, fiery guitar work by Eagon and heavy organ by Frederick giving Green a wide berth to sing the blues. Very nice. Shuffle, Keep It To Yourself has a great feel with Frederick and Eagon giving the train and Green really belting it out. Eagon has great overdriven tone and super phrasing and Colella's drumming is spot on. Very cool. Wrapping the release is R&B track, Those Days with great soul shouting by Green, and nicely interwoven sax and guitar lead by Meyer and Eagon. Solid closer. 

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Origin Records artist: Maja Jaku - Blessed & Bewitched - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blessed & Bewitched, by Maja Jaku, and its quiet and dynamic. Opening with The Witch, Maja Jaku applies her vocals like drops of silver on the lush piano chords by Alan Bartus. Michael Rodriguez on trumpet really adorns the track nicely with well conceived lines making for a solid opener.  Another quiet track, Lonely Little Fox, has Jaku's vocal, working nicely on Bartus's piano and accented by Rodriquez on trumpet, with Dezron Douglas on bass and Johnathan Blake on drums. I love the richness of Bartus' piano intro on Never Let Me Go and Jaku's vocals really work nicely with this standard and Rodriguez's sensuous trumpet work is really outstanding with choice bottom work by Douglas and Blake. Wrapping the release is Everything Must Change, an easy paced ballad with solid balance between Jaku and Bartus on piano. Solid phrasing and choice instrumentation give this release the right balance.

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Horizon Music Group artist: The Name Droppers - Cool Blue Shoes - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Cool Blue Shoes, by The Name Droppers and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with a rocking take on Howling Wolf's, Killing Floor Rafe Klein leads the way on vocal and guitar with full piano and organ support by Ron Rifkin, Scott Spray on bass and Bobby T. Torello. Title track, Cool Blue Shoes is a cool track with a bit of a funky swagger. Klein on lead vocal is joined by Rifkin and Carole Sylvan on backing vocals and with a tight drum rhythm by Torello and a rich key work by Rifkin. Torello has the mic on Willie Dixon's, I Cry For You making a great connection between drums and Rifkin on keys. Cool shuffle, Yes I Will, blends Rifkin on lead vocal and Torello, Rifkin and Klein on backing gospel like vocals giving the track a rocking gospel feel. Wrapping the release is Out Of The Blue with a doo wop flavor. Klein leads the way on lead vocal and Simone Brown handles the backing vocals nicely with the addition of horns and featuring Rifkin on organ and Bill Holloman on sax.  Solid closer. 

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Sweetspot Records artist: Al Basile - Blues In Hand - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues In Hand, by Al Basile and I really like it. Opening with All of Your Lies, Al Basile on lead vocal and cornet create a real funky groove backed by Mark Teixeira on drums, Brad Hallen on bass, Bruce Bears on keys, Jeff "Doc" Chanonhouse on trumpet, Doug James on tenor sax and a stellar guitar solo by Kid Anderson. Excellent opener. Blues After Blues is another really strong track with a deeper feel and a soulful Albert King kind of vibe. Basile plays a soulful cornet solo and his vocals, along with Anderson's sweltering guitar work and Bears' organ solo give this track real traction. Up tempo soul track, Thank You Fool has a real radio appeal with it's solid melody and smooth organ solo by Bears. Good Rhythm is an easy paced blues track featuring Basile's vocals and a real nice piano solo by Bears. A lower octave, stylized, guitar solo by Andersen adds to the dark feel of the track. My Dearest Dream has a reaal nice bluesy feel with Basile on vocal and cool laid back trumpet work by Chanonhouse and smooth piano work by Bears. Wrapping the release is funky, When You Lose Your Money, has just a hint of BB King with accents by Chanonhouse and a firm bass line by Hallen giving the track a distinct feel. A simple, soulful cornet solo by Basile and his own distinct vocal style and a stylized guitar solo by Andersen makes this a solid closer for an enjoyable release.


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Sleeping Dog Records artist: Mother Blues with Gerald McClendon - Sleeping While The River Runs - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Sleeping While The River Runs, by Mother Blues with Gerald McClendon and it's really strong. Opening with powerful R&B track, Pass You By features Gerald McClendon on lead vocal with Steve Bramer strumming rhythm guitar, Jerry Soto on keys, Gordon Patriarcha on bass and Jim Barklay on drums. A solid ballad with a bluesy feel, super opener. Soulful, Keep You From Harm, has an easy pace and tasty guitar guitar soloing nicely complimenting McClendon's sure vocals. Funk rocker, Common Ground, is another show of McClendon's vocal styling with a chukka rhythm accentuated by Soto on organ and Bramer throwing down on guitar. Bramer lays down a real nice intro on shuffle, Come To Me, and McClendon's vocal phrasing is super. Me & Ian is a real cool instrumental with jazzy textures and full surf like chords for drum and guitar. Habit of The Heart is a straight up rocker with flashy guitar riffs and an aggressive bass drum rhythm. McClendon leads the way on vocal and Bramer shows his chops. Very cool. Another cool rocker is Where's The Fire with fanning guitar rhythm by Bramer and Hurtin' Burt on harp with some funky bottom by Partiarcha on bass and Gikas Marks on drums. Really nice. Wrapping the release is a reprise of Sleeping featuring saturated organ work by Soto and lush vocals by Carole Baskin, Lara Jenkins and LaShann McNicholas. Strong closer.

 


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Origin Records artist: Milan Verbist Trio - Time Change - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Time Change, from the Milan Verbist Trio and it's a solid set of tracks from introspect to lively. Opening with title track, Time Change, a somber yet insightful composition with Milan Verbist creating a calming presentation, adorned by Jens Meijer's light drum work. Toon Rumen takes the lead on bass with a standout melodic solo adding strong contrast to the track. Bop track, No, I Haven't has a strong groove with a driving bottom courtesy of Rumen and Meijer and a strong yet off jagged melody by Verbist. Rumen again steps up with a strong bass solo that really adds to the composition. Very cool. Brigitte's Waltz is a lovely composition which slowly unfolds and develops very nicely, starting first with mostly Verbist but blooming with the progressive introduction of Rumen and Meijer. Rumen again adds a powerful bass solo, accented nicely by Verbist's percussive piano. Bach's Sarabande is a terrific addition to the set allowing Verbist to illustrate one of his early passions for classical music. Very very nice. Wrapping the release is Gary Peacock's Flutter Step. Originally performed by Peacock and Ralph Towner, this track is rearranged to fit and a terrific closer for this strong set. 

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Guitar One Records artist: John Brennan - Bring It On Back To Me - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Bring It On Back To Me, from John Brenan and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with Junkyard Blues, John Brennan on vocal, guitar and drums sets his own pace. With a touch of reverb Brennan has the guitar firmly under his fingers and a slide at ready. Singing and playing with real conviction, this is hard not to like. On Elmore James' It Hurts Me Too, Brennan shows a good hand with the slide and his vocals are strong and steady. Very cool. JJ Cale's, Call Me The Breeze gets a hybrid cover somewhere between Cale's own arrangement and that of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Hi vocal has more spunk than Cale's own but less than the swagger of Ronnie Van Zant and his guitar playing is more bluesy than Cale's but not as wound out as King/Collins and Rossington... still a lot of fun. Another great original, Ain't Gonna Cry For You No More is a strong blues rocker with a driving beat and sweet slide under commanding vocals by Brennan. I particularly like Brennan's cover of Robert Johnson's Love In Vain. The arrangement somewhat follows the Stones cover of the track in 1969 but this cover, maintaining it's guitar and vocal only pairing is particularly effective with deft handling of the slide by Brennan. Very nice.  Wrapping the release is a rocking version of Muddy Waters' Baby, Please Don't go, featuring Brennan doing call and response on slide before taking command on vocal with authoritative delivery and driving guitar. Strong closer. 

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