Tagged: Album Reviews

Our CD of the Month for September is by baritone saxophonist Frank Basile. It's called Modern Inventions, released independently by Frank. He is a native of Omaha who has been active in the New York jazz scene for several years now. His talent shined earlier this year on a recording by the Joe Chambers Moving Pictures Ensemble recorded live at Dizzy's Club Coca- Cola in New York. He is joined on this project by Fabien Mary on  trumpet; Alex Hoffman on tenor saxophone; Ehud Asherie on piano; David Wong on bass and Pete Van Nostrand on drums.

Get ready for the electric trombone artistry of Oscar Utterstrom. His latest recording, Departure, is one of the finest electric jazz recordings to be released in the last several years.

From a veteran rock & jazz drummer and his long standing band, this date really cooks. A CD + DVD package allows the listener to totally enjoy the recorded experience, from 2007 with band members keyboardist Tom Coster, bassist Baron Browne and, guitarist Vinny Valentino, and drummer Steve Smith. Sustained energy and creative interplay persist throughout the recording, featuring adventuresome numbers, "Cat Walk", "Time Tunnel", "Interwoven Rhythms-Synchronus" and a straight ahead burner, "Jimmy Jive".

Saxophonist Bob Mintzer has been active for several decades as instrumentalist, composer and arranger. Having been a member of the saxophone section of bands led by Buddy Rich, Thad Jones-Mel Lewis, Tito Puente and Gil Evans, Mintzer is also a member of the group Yellowjackets and leader of his own smaller ensembles and has played with numerous Brazilian artists over the years. He also leads his own Grammy-winning big band. “For The Moment” is Mintzer's fourth big band recording for Manchester Craftsmen's Guild and was recorded live at the Pittsburgh, PA music hall in September of 2011.

An artist with roots in the Midwest, Rhiannon is one of a handful of vocalists who can successfully explore totally improvised music.  Her latest recording, Spontaneous, is a good introduction to her immense talents. Together with Abraham Laboriel, electric basses; Alex Acuna, drums and percussion, Otmaro Ruiz, acoustic piano and Jetro Da Silva, acoustic piano and keyboards, the ensemble (also named Spontaneous) creates magic. "Breath", "Multitudes" and "Drop of Rain" are profound experiences of music beyond predictability.

The latest offering from Michael Benedict and Bopitude, Five and One, is a hard bop delight filled with classic tunes and some forgotten gems by some of the greats of the post war bop scene. Drummer Benedict is joined by special guest baritone saxophonist Gary Smulyan, Chis Pasin on trumpet and flugelhorn, Brian Patneaude on tenor, pianist  Bruce Barth and bassist Mike Lawrence. The band offers fresh interpretations of such classics as Nat Adderley's Work Song and Miles Davis' Compulsion. There are a few non-bop tunes in the set as well.