Veteran Jazz Clarinetist and educator Harry Skoler presents a solid quartet session on his latest recording, Echoes. Skoler is joined by guitarist Bill Frisell, Dezron Douglas on the bass, and Jonathan Blake on the drums. The reedman and his quartet create a tribute to artists who Skoler met during his formative years as a musician including Benny Goodman, Marian McPartland, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Jimmy Giuffre, Miles Davis, and others.
Songs include "Study In Orange" (for Bill Evans), “Everything's Cool, Everything's Cool”(for Rahsaan Roland Kirk) and "Never Played in Syracuse"(for Miles Davis). And Skoler goes into detail about the artists who inspired him in the liner notes for this recording.
Harry Skoler is currently Professor of Woodwinds at Berklee College of Music, a position he has held since 1997. A surgical procedure that nearly cost the artist his life sidelined him for some time. Returning to music, Skoler has released several albums previous to the current recording, including a tribute to his primary influence, “Living in Sound: The Music of Charles Mingus”. For more information you may visit https://harryskoler.com
Tom Lippincott/Ode To The Possible
From South Florida, Tom Lippincott presents an astonishing and compelling new release, Ode to the Possible. Lippincott, an eight and six string guitarist is joined by David Fernandez, tenor and soprano sax; Marty Quinn, bass; Lucas Apostoleris, drums and Camila Meza, voice. Lippincott demonstrates his artistry on the pulsating "Bell Tower". With powerful chords the accomplished guitarist (and music educator) leads his band through a kaleidoscope of electronic colors on each and every song. Riveting intensity drives “An Inhabitant of Carcosa", while the mood is contemplative on “Sisters and Brothers”, that reminds this listener of the songs of the Civil War. The standout track is “Stella By Searchlight”, a masterpiece of Lippincott’s guitar combined with modern electronic instrumentations, followed by the equally compelling ”Rational Peace”. The closer is the track “Lynchian” which is a tribute to the late, great director David Lynch. Overall, it’s a very compelling record from a master jazz guitarist.
For more information, you may visit tomlippincott.com
More reviews coming soon!
