Rachel Z | I Will Posses Your Heart

Tags

Jazz, Keyboards, Piano, Rachel Z

Rachel Z | I Will Posses Your Heart – [Pony Canyon Records, 2009/2010]

Rachel Z - I Will Posses Your Hear

In Aug 2009 we recorded a new CD “I Will Possess Your Heart” in Mavericks studio on the Lower East Side NYC! Maeve Royce-bass, Omar Hakim-Drums, and Marcus Gilmore-drums. This day proved to be one of the happiest experiences in my life as we finally got to realize the dream of hearing the new arrangements blown out and finessed with these monstrous drummers! Maeve brought the spirit and groove for which she has become a first call bass player on the scene in NYC. –Rachel Z

Rachel Z was born Rachel Nicolazzo in Manhattan; her mother was an opera singer, and so Rachel began voice training at the mere age of two, adding classical piano lessons at seven. At 15, she began playing in a Steely Dan cover band, and discovered jazz when she heard Miles Davis’ Miles Smiles while attending a summer program at Boston’s Berklee School of Music.

Donny McCaslin | Declaration

Tags

Donny McCaslin, Jazz, Saxophone

Donny McCaslin | Declaration – [Sunnyside, 2009]

Donny McCaslin - Declaration

Donny McCaslin’s last CD, “Recommended Tools“, was a brawny saxophone trio disc. The follow-up adds a pianist, Edward Simon, a guitarist, Ben Monder, Scott Colley on bass, Antonio Sanchez on drums, and some songs have some combination of Alex Sipiagin, Marcus Rojas, Chris Komer, Marshall Gilkes, and Tatum Greenblatt on their horns.

The larger band dulls the impact of McCaslin’s playing, but that’s fine since McCaslin’s writing and the band’s performing are very good. The title track is an excellent ballad, and the faster-paced songs are all good. “Late Night Gospel” ends the disc as its title would suggest – with a slower bluesier song.

This is recommended to fans of modern straightahead jazz. —Anthony Cooper

..:: Source: Amazon.com ::..

Bobby Broom | Modern Man

Tags

African American, Bobby Broom, Guitar, Jazz

Bobby Broom | Modern Man – [Delmark Records, 2001]

Bobby Broom - Modern Man

Cool session! There’s been some comparisons to George Benson’s onetime lineup with Cuber and Dr. Smith on a few cds. But the comparison ends there. This is one ‘Hot’ cd, in the cool sense. Bobby Broom has style and chops all his own. This is one serious guitarist who can rank and outrank most when it comes to true jazz guitar.

He swings, improvises, and flat out smokes with ease and sophistication. His supporting cast is equally impressive. Cuber’s sound is classic. Idris is tight and free on the drums, and Dr. Smith as always is one killer organists. Younger organists take heed and learn. A very good work of modern jazz. —Mark Turner

..:: Source: Amazon.com ::..