Melodic Revolution Records artist: Leon Alvarado - The Changing Tide - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Changing Tide, from Leon Alvarado and it's obviously influenced by Pink Floyd. Opening with The Equilibrium Of Time, Leon Alvarado on drums and keys/effects creates an alternate world to Dark Side of the Moon with the beat of the heart, chattering train and with soaring guitars by Edoardo Scordo and Damian Darlington, Tony Franklin on bass and Pablo Hopenhayn on violin cello and viola a cool opener. A View From A Different Room welcomes dynamic sax work by John Helliwell and excellent guitar soloing by Scordo over the tight drumming of Alvarado and excellent bass work of Franklin. Very nice. Dance Of The Pink Elephants is one of my favorite tracks on the release with a great drum rhythm by Alvarado, Franklin on fretless bass and excellent melodic soloing by Scordo on guitar and slide. Wrapping the release is a cover of Floyd's Brain Damage with Alvarado on vocal, keys and drums, Gary Gnaedinger on bass, guitar and keys, James Griggers on guitar and slide, and Jeff Swanson on backing vocals with Linda Alvarado and Liz Hall. Cool release encapsulating PF's sound. 

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Doone Records artist: IZZ - Collapse The Wave - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity top review the most recent release, Collapse The Wave, by IZZ and it's a straightforward progressive rock release. Opening with We Are The 3rd, Paul Bremner on guitars, Brian Coralian on drums, John Galgano on vocal, bass and guitar, Tom Galgano on keys and vocals and Laura Meade on vocals set the adventure afloat with tight drum rhythms, ripping guitar riffs, swelling keyboard lines and nicely woven vocals. On Brace For Impact, Tom G and Bremmer set the engines and Coralian and John on bass maintain the charge. Title track, Collapse The Wave, is one of my favorite tracks on the release with exciting guitar melody/lead and counter rhythm and nicely crafted keyboard lines and nicely blended vocals over the tight bottom by John G and Coralian. Brethren is another cool track with Coralian getting front and center with some over the top drumming. Wrapping the release is And We Will Go, with it's jagged drum rhythm and guitar riffs. With solid dual vocal lead and cool keyboard lead by Tom, this is an exciting conclusion to a cool release. 

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Tiger Turn artist: Sergio Pereira - Bossa+ - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Bossa+, from Sergio Pereira, and it's warm, clean and inviting. Opening with title track, Bossa, Luis Guerra on keys lays down the melody, complimented by Sergio Pereira on guitar, Ariel Ramirez on bass, Chipi Chacon on trumpet and Mauricio Zottarelli on drums. Chacon, Pereira and Guerra expand on the melody alternatively with lead soloing keeping the track close. Solid opener. Laid back, One For Pat, finds Pereira on lead vocal and excellent Spanish guitar styling, joined by Ivan Melon Lewis on piano, Ivan Ruiz Machado on bass, Jose San Martin on drums and Romero Lubambo on violao. Very nice. Desamor (Verao Boreal) is a very nice track and my recommendation for radio track. With it's great melody, vocal by Pereira, and interwoven Latin rhythms, this track really hits. Chacon on trumpet lays in a real nice solo giving the track just the right amount of special sauce. Wrapping the release is and jazzed up cover of Harry Warren penned, There Will Never Be Another You, with excellent solos by Chacon, Pereira and Guerra and lots of spice by Zottarelli on drums. Excellent closer. 

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The Steve Luciano Quartet - Under The Covers - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Under The Covers, by The Steve Luciano Quartet and it's really cool. Opening with Duke Pearson's Chant, Steve Luciano shows immediately where he's coming from. With clear, concise, improvisational phrasing he sets the tempo backed by Mike Avila on piano, Charlie Siva on bass, Walt Hubbard on drums and Dan Jordan on sax who also blows the roof off of this track with a terrific solo. Excellent opener. Wayne Shorter's Hammer Head is a great addition to this set with, the melody carried by Jordan and Luciano. I really like Luciano's groove line with excellent fluidity and impeccable style. Siva on bass and Hubbard on drums anchor this track to the floor and Jordan's solo really is tasty. Avila rides the wave with a really nice solo of his own adding to the overall polish of this strong track. Following Tal Farlow's arrangement of Rogers and Hart, Everything I've Got, Luciano really shows his fleet fingered approach to this classic. Siva's driving bass line maintains the continuity as Avila again works the keys into a frenzy. Very nice. One of my favorite modern jazz players, Pat Martino wrote the next track, On The Stairs, and Luciano really gives it a workout. Fluidity, style and phrasing is the name of the game and Luciano has it in spades. Another solid piano entry by Avila and thunderous bass by Siva leads to an adventurous sax solo by Jordan and a snappy drum solo by Hubbard. Excellent! Wrapping the release is David Raksin's The Bad and the Beautiful. This is a really nice opportunity for Luciano to roll out his most lush chords. A beautiful melody, smartly articulated and warmly presented, a warm closer for a terrific release. 

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New Trad Records artist: Sergio Pamies - Time To Say - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Time To Say, from Sergio Pamies and it's a strong tribute to Chick Corea. Opening with Latin flavored release with title track, Time To Say, Sergio Palmies on piano joins with Dave Liebman on soprano sax developing a strong melody over the rhythm bottom held tight by Samuel Torres on percussion, Jimmy MacBride on drums, Miguel Fernandez on percussion and handclaps and Ricky Rodriguez on bass. Excellent opener. Sleep Delirium is another really solid track featuring Alex Norris pelting out melodic lead soloing on trumpet, chased by Pamies on piano and MacBride on drums. Michael Thomas gets the floor and sets his sax flowing. Corazonada has an extended bass solo by Rodriguez and exceptional percussion by Torres allowing solid piano soloing by Pamies. Kenny Wheeler's Miold Man is a strong addition to the set with a great moving bottom and featuring Marshall Gilkes with a terrific trombone solo, a strong trumpet solo by Norris and Daniel Pardo on flute. Wrapping the release is Nana Para Sergito featuring Paquito D'Rivera on clarinet floating above Pamies on piano melody. D'Rivera and Pamies each take nice stretches, embellishing the melody nicely over Rodrigues on bass and quieted percussion and drums by Torres and MacBride. This is a solid closer for a really strong release. 

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Nefarious Industries artist: Mac Gollehon & The Hispanic Mechanics - Bite of the Street - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Bite of the Street, by Mac Gollehon & The Hispanic Mechanics and it's an entertaining cornucopia of sound. Opening with Souled Out, a Latin infused track with a driving bottom by Eric Klaastad on bass and Jeanne Carno on drums. Mac Gollehon on trumpet soars, blowing great flowing lead and Ismael Sanchez adding intense percussion. Solid opener.  Title track, Bite Of The Street, has a funky, soulful feel with Latin overtones. With a powerful brass refrain the track slowly melds into a Spanish flavored tune with great movement and powerful lead. On funky, High Drama, the band drops back giving Gollehon plenty of space to play first muted, then open. This is my favorite track on the release with plenty of movement and exciting lead by Gollehon. Wrapping the release is Sleepwalker, a rapid fire jam with hot trumpet riffs and Ariel Lawler on backing vocals over hot drum and percussion bottom. Tight closer. 

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Little Village artist: Curtis Salgado - Fine By Me - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Fine By Me, from Curtis Salgado and it's a great mix or rock, pop R&B and blues. Opening with country rocker, My Girl Is A Nut, with Salgado on vocal and harmonica, Alan Hager on guitar, Keith Brush on bass and Jimi Bott on drums. Chugging rhythm on Better Things To Lie About has a great feel, reinforced by Joe McCarthy on trumpet, Lars Campbell on trombone, and Tim Bryson on sax and features super vocal and harmonica by Salgado. One of my favorite tracks on the release is I'm Gonna Forget About You featuring vocal duet with Salgado and Robert Cray. Jim Pugh on piano and B3 gives the track depth and Jerry Jemmott on bass and Kid Andersen joining Cray on guitar really adds the spice. Hear The Lonely Hearts is a terrific soul track featuring Salgado on lead vocal backed by The Sons of Soul Revivers (James Morgan, Walter Morgan and Dwayne Morgan) on harmonizing vocals. With Rome Yamilov on guitar and Kid Andersen on bass, this is a standout track. Safe At Home is a solid pop rocker with Salgado on vocal backed by Lisa Leuschner, Kid Andersen on guitar and keys, Hershel Yatovitz on slide and bass and Paul Ravelli on drums. Slow blues, You Give The Blues A Bad Name features Anson Funderburgh on guitar and he really digs in. I think that Salgado's best vocals are on this track, with Billy Watts on guitar, Terry Wilson on bass, Loren Gold on piano, Tony Braunagel on drums and the illustrial horn backing of Joe McCarthy on trumpet, Lars Campbell on trombone and Tim Bryson on sax. Excellent track. Wrapping the release is shuffle,  Under New Management with nicely styled guitar lead by Funderburgh. Salgado really gets the groove moving on vocal  with Wilson on bass, Loren Gold on piano, Bruanagel on drums and McCarthy, Campbell and Bryson on horns. Salgado lays in some real tasty harmonica making this an excellent closer. 

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JazzNote Records artist: Sean Hong Wei & Jeremy Monteiro - The New Jersey Sessions - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The New Jersey Sessions, from Sean Hong Wei and Jeremy Monteiro, and I really like it. Opening with Charlie Parker's Dewey Square, Alex Sipiagin on trumpet, Jay Anderson on bass and Evan Sherman on drums lay out the basic rhythm/ melody. Sean Hong Wei leads off with a stimulating solo on tenor sax and Jeremy Monteiro follows with a real nice solo of his own. Sipiagin steps up with a real nice trumpet solo punctuated by Monteiro and Anderson rolls in a real nice bass solo of his own crowned by Sherman on drums. Excellent opener. Influenced by Coltrane's arrangement of Billy Eckstine's I Want To Talk About You, Hong lays down his own interpretation with rich tenor tone. Coaxed by Monteiro and anchored by Anderson and Sherman, this is a solid entry to the set. Marvin Fisher's, When Sunny Gets Blue is another rich ballad and Hong's sax really sings it joined by Houston Person. Expressive phrasing and simple backing by Monteiro, Anderson and Sherman gives Hong plenty of room. Anderson takes an extended bass solo which contrasts Hong nicely. Milt Jackson's, Bags' Groove, really does have a terrific groove with Hong sharing the lead with Houston Person also on tenor sax. I really like Monteiro's piano work on this track adding in a really nice swing. Wrapping the release is The Duke's, Sophisticated Lady, where Hong and Monteiro share the spotlight. Monteiro's piano is precise and sensitive and Hong's sax rich and expressive. Excellent closer. 

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Adam Hersh - Tornado Watch - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Tornado Watch, from Adam Hersh and it's quite interesting. Opening with Woe V Shade, Adam Hersh on Rhodes piano, Jermaine Paul on bass and Myles Martin on drums create a whirling rhythm. Andrew Renfroe on guitar joins adding to the mix and a very cool tight mix. Parallel Motion is a deeper exploration featuring Evan Abounassar on trumpet and Devin Daniels on Alto sax. Hersh on Rhodes and stepping bass lines by Paul create an intriguing dialog and Daniels on sax plays thoughtfully expressive phrasing. Very interesting. On Concessions there is a distinct change in direction with a more forward melody by Abounassar and Daniels. With a bop driving bass line by Paul and piano encouragement by Hersh, Daniels lays out a real nice solo. Hersh takes the reins and a real nice gallop over Paul's bass line and tight drum action by Martin. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Propellant with a smooth, almost Latin influence. Paul keeps it tight with Hersh and Daniels holding the melody. Joined by Abounassar on trumpet and Renfroe on guitar, Paul's bass comes to life with solid lead lines. A real nice melodic piano solo by Hersh takes over the track with light bass and drum bottom giving way to a strong trumpet solo by Abounassar and then Daniels on sax. Solid closer. 

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TRM Records artist: Tony Romano - Three Chord Monte - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Three Chord Monte, from Tony Romano and I really like it. Opening with fusion track, Cadillac Green, Tony Romano on percussive guitar, Jennifer Vincent on bass and Rob Garcia set a really super groove. Paul Carlon on sax sets up the melody and continues with an aggressive sax groove. Romano takes the lead on guitar and really digs in with percussive guitar rhythm and jazz chords. This really is a super opener. Lay It Down is a jazz rocker with an African rhythm feel. Romano and Carlon alternate and jointly play the compact melody before Romano takes an adventurous run on guitar. This track really has that Kuti vibe and with excellent work by Vincent and Garcia on the bottom this track is hot. Carlon's sax work is terrific with the life of authentic African jazz. Excellent! Camino has a definite Latin feel with a solid bottom by Vincent and Garcia and slick Flamenco style guitar work by Romano. Very nice. Ratatat is a ethereal track with a driven, but understated bottom and Romano presenting a mixture of rhythms, chords and melodic phrasing. Loosely crafted (and tightly maintained) Squirrelly, has a New Orleans style stumble drum rhythm providing the rhythm for a solid bass line by Vincent and a rhythmic chorded guitar solo by Romano. Wrapping the release is Home is a soothing, melodic track featuring Carlon laying out the melody on sax, handing off to Romano who elaborates on guitar. This is a cool closer for a real nice release. 

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Juan Megna Group - Mariwo^ - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Mariwo^, from Juan Megna Group and it moves. Opening with title track, Mariwo^, a fast paced, Latin flavored number, Juan Megna on drums and percussion holds a tight ship. Jose' Luiz Martins on piano sets up the structure with Shawn Purcell on guitar and Leonardo Lucini on bass. Tedd Baker on sax plays a really strong solo, Lucini on bass has a solid solo of his own, David Sacks lays in some great trombone riffs and Megna really takes it home on drums. Powerful opener. F'ara Ogunja' has a driving rhythm and Baker really lays it out there on sax, joined by Sacks on trombone really intensifying the feel. Megna is anything but a quiet drummer with excellent rhythm and driving riffs. Purcell lays out a really nice solo of his own on guitar punctuated by Martins on piano and well placed bass lines by Lucini. Si Estuvieras is a particularly beautiful song composed by Megna and Luis A Perez. With a Lucini on bass, Megna on cymbal and light snare and Martins on piano the groundwork is laid. Martins creates the structure for the track on piano and Emmanuel Trifilio on Bandoneon plays the melody. Really really nice. More radio oriented track, Coisa No2 features Alisson Crockett on vocals and Baker on sax over a lively bass, drum, piano background.  Wrapping the release is The Owl Look, with a pop melody and a Latin flare. Martins and Baker weave their magic over a firm bass line by Lucini and tight rhythms by Megna. Improv starts with a an adventurous sax solo by Baker, who hands off to Purcell on guitar and Martins on bass who propel the track nicely. A deeper dive into the track by Martins and Megna yields tension coming to a resolution with a return to a more melodic conversation with Lucini. Solid closer. 

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Tiger Turn artist: David Bixler - BEATitude - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, BEATitude, from David Bixler and it's quite enjoyable. Opening with A Power Deferred, alto sax player/ composer, David Bixler sets up a solid melody, caressed by the excellent accent work of Jon Cowherd on piano and Ike Sturm on bass and Rogerio Boccato on percussion. With a lightly salted Latin rhythm and Bixler trades with Cowherd who's piano lines flow nicely and Sturm's bass solo is firm and inciteful. Strong opener. Hide Seek Find has a bit of Bossa Nova in it's blood with Cowherd and Boccato creating the basis for the rhythm and Sturm really working the bass. Bixler, free to play the melodic solo lead. Again, Sturm gets the floor and his freedom to enhance the track is really meaningful. Cowherd takes a nice stroll on piano before joining back to a uniform front giving the track real texture.  Wrapping the release is Lost Hours? No, with it's solemn, alto sax drifting a hint of melody over the shadow bass lines of Sturm. Cowherd begins an abstracted piano rhythm, joined by Boccato and weaving into one fabric as the composition grows. Cowherd takes the lead on piano crafting a really nice alternate framework, providing space for a new melodic interlude by Bixler with Boccato and Sturm to anchor the piece. Very nice closer. 

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You & Me Music artist: Hyeonseon Baek - Longing - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Longing, from Hyeonseon Baek and it's very cool. Opening with Ellington's Caravan, Hyeonseon Baek really emerges smoothly from the darkness with his smooth tenor vocals. Kevin Hays really working the melody on piano,, and Lucas Pino on tenor sax plays beautiful, lyrical phrases over the tight bottom of Linda May Han Oh on double bass and Jochen Rueckert on drums. Exciting opener. Original composition, West 4th St. is a solid shuffle with Baek scatting over a terrific rhythm. Hays plays masterful piano improv with a great bass line by Oh. Jimmy Rowles' laid back, A Timeless Place showcases Baek's voice nicely with a solid interlude balanced between Hays on piano and Oh on bass. Wrapping the release is a second take on West 4th St with Pino letting it all hang out on tenor sax. With a super bass line by Oh, tight drums by Rueckert, Hays on piano and of course the solid vocal styling by Baek, this is a super closer. 

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Ez It Iz Music artist: Andy Ezrin - I Was Here - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, I Was Here, from Andy Ezrin and it's a solid mix of jazz and fusion styling. Opening with Grapes, Randy Brecker on trumpet and Donny McCaslin on tenor sax blend nicely creating an inviting intro. Andy Ezrin on piano sets up the melody on piano and improvises a broader theme, with strong solo lines by McCaslin, joined by John Patitucci on bass and Marcus Gilmore on drums. A vibrant solo by Brecker really stands out nicely before the 5 circle back for a cohesive opener. Easy shuffle, Greenwoman, finds McCaslin leading the melody on sax. Patitucci on bass sets up a complex bass line reinforced by Gilmore's riveting snare work on drums and an aggressive solo by McCaslin contrasts nicely with Ezrin's solo work on piano. Pop funky, Ain't That Some Shit, is a definite radio track with McCaslin wailing on tenor sax, floating on a bed of piano and B3 by Ezrin. A snappy bottom by Patitucci and Ari Hoenig on drums. Wiggle Room is my favorite track on the release with a lot of freedom around a central melody, anchored by Patitucci and Gilmore but stimulating soloing by Ezrin and McCaslin and Patitucci. Brecker had the lead on Never Enough, with it's memorable melody and pace. Ezrin walks the melody along on piano, joined by Patitucci making for another of my favorite tracks on the release. Wrapping the release is Cascades, a clean piano elaboration by Ezrin. With a nice phrasing and execution, a great closer for a cool release. 

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Ancient-Future.com Records artist: Mariah Parker - Windows Through Time - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Windows Through Time, by Mariah Parker and it's a refreshing breeze. Opening with The Very Wings, Mariah Parker on piano sets a percussive, irregular yet solid theme for the blossoming of this track. Joined by Gary Brown on bass and Mark Walker on drums the track continues to grow through the addition of melodic soloing by Matthew Montfort on guitar and Paul McCandless on sax. Very nice opener. With a Latin flavor, Sol de Barcelona has a really nice melody framed by Parker and McCandless. Montfort's guitar soloing is clean and concise, further elaborated by McCandless and augmented nicely by Sascha Jacobsen on bass, Mark Walker on on drums and Michaelle Goerlitz on percussion, developing into an elegant presentation by Parker on piano. Another Latin flavored track, Duende, features McCandless on melody over the solid piano work of Parker. Montfort's hand at Spanish style guitar is lush and Parker's solo on piano is bright and refreshing. McCandless' solo sways in the breeze with a reedy tone over the support of Kash Killion on bass, Walker on drums and Ian Dogole on cajon. Wrapping the release is Rendezvous with it's soft, inviting melody. Sketched out by Parker with Walker on drums and  Killion on bass and Dogole on cymbals and then overlayed one by one by McCandless and Montfort, this track is a calming closer. Very nice.

 


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Ian Wardenski - Unfoldings - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Unfoldings, by Ian Wardenski, and it's thought provoking yet familiar, it's abstract but not free form, it's outrageous yet well composed, it's heady yet understandable. This release has 5 "songs" which are really one total composition divided loosely into 5 movements. Movement I opens with Frank Russo on drums laying down a cool rolling rhythm and Amy Shook punching the bass, leading to Savino Palumbo's energetic piano lead. Tamara Tucker adds a vocal lead actually bringing to mind extracts from Zappa compositions. Composer, Ian Wardenski shows his chops on guitar which really are tight and Mercedes Beckman on alto sax is fluid and mindful. Very cool opener. Movement II opens with Shook on bass crafting a riff, then additively altered by Russo who really plays tight, rock formed riffs on drums. Palumbo on piano really stretches and forms the melody on this track handing off to Wardenski who bends and shapes the form beyond comprehension yet never losing concept. Joined by Beckman on sax and cranking up the bottom. Another solid entry. The composition is summarized in Movement V with the tension brought out by Palumbo is intensified by Tucker on vocal. With a strong bass/drum rhythm creating a driving path, Tucker and Beckman lead the way toward the climax. Russo on rimshots alters the trajectory and Shook on bass sets up the new direction. Wardenski takes the lead and with inciteful guitar phrasing starts the theme. Beckman on alto sax continues the theme driven by Russo and then paring down to just rimshots and Shook on bass, Palumbo plays a brilliant refrain ending in a powerful return of Beckman, Tucker et al. Very interesting. 

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Gerald Gradwohl - ...Or What? - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, ...Or What?, from Gerald Gradwohl and I really like it! Opening with Paradoxon, an excellent fusion track, the rhythm line is laid down by Kirk Covington on drums and Adam Nitti on bass. Gerald Gradwohl creates a great environment on Line 6 effects and crafts funky, jagged, free flowing guitar lead melody. Very cool! On Cheap Chunk, Covington and Nitti did a deep groove with soulful sax lead by Bill Evans, paired with Gradwohl on guitar. Evans and Gradwohl both take aggressive solos making this one of my favorite tracks on the release. No kidding! What Are We Gonna Do Tomorrow, is another track with a heap of funk. Nitti really knows how to pour on the heat with a bass infused lead line and solid solo and Covington adds some rhythmic vocal backed by Saskia Helige. Gradwohl lays in some really tasty guitar riffs for another solid addition to the set. The Course has an aggressive, rock fusion bottom with Gergo Borlai on drums and there's no holding back by Gradwohl who pours on the heat. Wrapping the release is  Gereghitti, a guitar rocker with Nitti on bass and Stephan Maass on percussion. This is a really strong release with a lot of great music.

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