Music

New Jazz: The Dave Stryker Trio — ‘Prime’

Produced by Dave Stryker Apparently, a little lockdown can be a useful thing. Guitarist Dave Stryker has released Prime—the first recording featuring his working trio. Along with Jared Gold on organ and McClenty Hunter on drums, Stryker offers eight new compositions and the mesmerizing standard “I Should Care.” From the inspiring title track “Prime,” to … Continue reading

New Jazz: Doug MacDonald — ‘Big Band Extravaganza’
Music

New Jazz: Doug MacDonald — ‘Big Band Extravaganza’

West-Coast guitarist and jazz legend Doug MacDonald is an artist so consistent, so correct, so precise, while at the same time so swinging that —as far as any jazz lover is concerned— he should just keep on releasing album after album, until virtually every known jazz song has been recorded… perhaps even with several alternate versions. The most … Continue reading

Music

Omnivore to Release Five-CD Set of Jazz Saxophonist Art Pepper’s Sessions for Artists House Label (Sept. 23)

PROMISE KEPT: THE COMPLETE ARTISTS HOUSE RECORDINGS  DUE OUT SEPTEMBER 23. Package contains the four albums drawn from the sessions,  Plus a fifth disc of additional takes. Nineteen previously unreleased performances included. Laurie Pepper contributed liner notes and rare photographs. Producer John Snyder had always wanted to record alto saxophonist Art Pepper and booked him … Continue reading

Music

Omnivore To Release Maynard Ferguson’s Complete ‘High Voltage’

The Complete High Voltage albums are released on Omnivore on July 15th. Maynard Ferguson conquered Jazz, television, the Pop charts, and even played the closing ceremonies of the 1976 Olympics. Then, hot off the heels of Body & Soul—his self-proclaimed “best album in years”—he took a creative left turn and re-invented himself in 1987 with … Continue reading

Music

New Jazz: The Evenfall Quartet

The Evenfall Quartet Label: Blue Duchess Records This instrumental collection of standards will probably stay in my CD player for quite awhile. I am already looking forward to listening to it again. It’s a completely satisfying collection of classics, including “Time After Time,” “The Shadow Of Your Smile,” “After You’re Gone,” “How Insensitive,” “That Old Black Magic,” and … Continue reading