Bman's Blues Report

Wayne Alpern 's Varieties & Extravaganzas is a stylish stroll through music history. His 13th album, it's a diverse collection of original compositions and inventive arrangements for brass quintet recorded by the Times Square Brass Quintet . This gifted group of recent graduates from The Julliard School in NYC perform under the leadership of Robby Garrison , Co Principal Trumpet of the sarasota Orchestra accompanied by David Puchkoff, Principal Trumpet on NYC Ballet Orchestra and Addison Maye-Saxon, Principal trombone of the Symphony in C . Two newcomers to the group include include James Picarello on French Horn and Adolfo Monterroso on tuba . 🎵 LISTEN & SUPPORT THE ALBUM ▶ Listen to Album Samples (Click to Expand) " src="https://amazon.com" width="100%" height="350px" style="border:none; background:transparent;"> Add t...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Secular Rituals , by Wayne Alpern and it's expansive and thought provoking. I want to start out by saying that the cover for this release has a unique, quiet beauty with hints of a landscape obscured by fog and cleanly designed title and artist notation surrounding a red diamond. Brilliant work by Darline Braz and Kasa Objects. Because the release to me is more a cohesive composition with movements than separate "songs" I will try to describe what I am experiencing aurally rather than isolate specific segments of the passages and note participants. The release opens with Utopia with a varying digital rhythm pattern and notes that seem to hang in the ether. This layering of different digital loops and patterns creates a soothing intro to this release. Victims of Venom is really a cool track with an underlying world music influence. Digital tom tom sounds, jungle sounds and a digital small keyboard create qui...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Frankenstein , from Wayne Alpern and it's a clever blend of pop, hip hop, jazz, blues and sampling in an organized fashion. Opening with Carol King's top hit, You've Got A Friend , Alpern remolds the track with with synthesized sounds, trumpet and guitar leads and extended turnarounds. With help from David Mann on reeds, Tatum Greenblatt and Brad Mason on trumpet, Mike Boscarino and Mike Davis on trombone, John Patitucci on bass, Andy Ezrin on keys, Kevin Ramessar on guitar and Clint De Ganon on drums, its a full house. Mann, Greenblatt and Mason produce the fire power for horn led Motown track, Ain't That Peculiar made popular by Marvin Gaye. Herbie Hancock's Cantaloupe Island is my favorite track on the release with Greenblatt and Mason working with Ezrin on the lead and warm backing by Boscarino and Davis. Martha and the Vandellas' hit, Dancing In The Streets is another top track on the releas...