Christian McBride and Inside Straight | Kind of Brown

Tags

African American, Bass, Jazz, Modern Jazz

Greeting’s music enthusiasts … after a brief hiatus it’s a pleasure to return to share with you a few fresh and engaging jazz recordings. Today I’m honored to post one of my favorite bassist on the jazz scene Christian McBride and his hot new project “Kind of Brown.” Jazz critics everywhere consider his latest gem the best jazz recording thus far [2009], its decided to his mentor and bass player the legendary Ray Brown.

Christian McBride and Inside Straight | Kind of Brown

Christian McBride

Christian’s debut album on Mack Avenue Records features a collection of hard swing-to-bluesy groove tunes. The quintet includes pianist Eric Reed, vibraphonist Warren Wolf, alto saxophonist Steve Wilson and drummer Carl Allen. The recording will not only be released on CD and digitally, but on vinyl and high-resolution 24-bit 96KHz digital downloads. ~ Source/Christian McBride.com

While you’re check out “A Day in the Life” with bassist Christian McBride.

Diverse | Diverse

Tags

Jazz, Modern Jazz

Diverse | Diverse

Diverse

In winning the 2008 Origin Records / Gene Harris Jazz Festival Competition, Diverse proved to be a creative and dynamic musical powerhouse. Beating out 10 other very original groups from across the country, the quintet opened for Roy Haynes’ ‘Birds of a Feather’ band at the Gene Harris Jazz Festival and were awarded a deal to record this album of original music. Mentored by the great Bobby Watson at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, trumpeter Hermon Mehari, saxophonist William Sanders, pianist John Brewer, bassist Ben Leifer, and drummer Ryan Lee possess a fearless approach to creating and performing and aspire to expand the jazz demographic, garnering increased appreciation from younger audiences for the music.

Source/Amazon.com

Branford Marsalis Quartet | Metamorphosen

Tags

African American, Jazz, Modern Jazz, Saxophone

Branford Marsalis Quartet | Metamorphosen [Jazz/Marsalis Music/2009] Modern Jazz

Brandford Marsalis Quartet

METAMORPHOSEN marks a decade of shared creativity by the Branford Marsalis Quartet, and is another milestone in the history of one of the most compelling and complete ensembles in jazz. Saxophonist Branford Marsalis, pianist Joey Calderazzo, bassist Eric Revis and drummer Jeff Tain Watts reveal even greater refinements in virtuosity, vision and telepathic response in a program featuring original compositions by all four members plus a Thelonious Monk classic, Marsalis return to the alto sax in addition to features for his more familiar tenor and soprano, and an unrivalled sense of collective purpose. The album title, which is German for metamorphoses, reflects the growth of both the quartet and of each member, an evolution that has generated music of even greater clarity without any sacrifice in intensity. ~ Source: Amazon.com

Release Date: 3/17/2009

Azar Lawrence Quartet | Speak The Word

Tags

African American, Jazz, Modern Jazz, Saxophone

Azar Lawrence

Azar Lawrence Quartet | Speak The Word [Modern Jazz/Azar Lawrence/2009]

Azar Lawrence’s musical history goes way back spanning all matters of the totality of sound, and the rhythms that come forth.  When it comes to the gift of music the creator endowed upon humanity, Azar’s appreciation for the celestial healing force that is music led him to play with performers of diverse genres.

Early in his career he displayed an eclectic approach to music expanding his range with notables such as Miles, the outcome being Dark Magus, Live at Carnegie Hall; and Marvin Gaye which led to Grammy winner, Hear My Dear.

Ruben Samama | Hotaru

Tags

Bassist, Culture, Jazz, Modern Jazz

What a surprisingly versatile and strong band bass player Ruben Samama brought together here for his debut album. There is really a lot to be discovered and enjoyed in this dynamic recording.

Ruben Samama

Ruben Samama | Hotaru [Jazz/ O.A.P. Records/2007] Nu-Voices

What a surprisingly versatile and strong band bass player Ruben Samama brought together here for his debut album. There is really a lot to be discovered and enjoyed in this dynamic recording.

There is really a lot to be discovered and enjoyed in this dynamic album of Ruben Samama: the inescapable structures of the arrangements, the exciting and frenetic movement of ‘Ji’, the touching way a classic like Gordon Jenkins’ ‘Goodbye’ is handled, the inspired and to-the-point soloing, this is a band with a sound of its own.

Quasimode | Mode in Blue

Tags

Culture, Japan, Jazz, Modern Jazz

Quasimode | Mode in Blue [Modern Jazz/Blue Note/2009] Import

The Blue Note debut of one of our favorite contemporary combos — a set that has Quasimode taking on a host of classics from the label’s catalog of the 60s! Given the already-soulful sound of Quasimode on other records, the setting is a perfect one — tunes that are a perfect showcase for their mix of modal rhythms and sharp-edged solo sounds! The group’s expanded a bit on some tracks by the presence of guests — but the core instrumentation features tenor, trumpet, piano, and lots of great percussion — all used to come up with a host of great club jazz-styled rhythms. Valerie Etienne sings guest vocals on a version of “Little B’s Poem” — and other titles include “No Room For Squares”, “Congalere”, “Ghana”, “The Loner”, “Afrodisia”, “On Children”, “Night Dreamer”, “African Village”, “Sayonara Blues”, and the group’s own “Mode Of Blue”.  ~ Source: DustyGroove.com

Bop Tribal | Bop Tribal

Tags

Bop Tribal, Jazz, Modern Jazz

Bop Tribal

Bop Tribal | Bop Tribal [Modern Jazz/Nu-Voices/2008]

BOP TRIBAL showcases the fierce improvisational prowess of its members weaving modal jazz, bebop, post bop, and even hip hop. This is quintessential New York jazz, transported to the Honolulu stage.

Jazz will always be considered a place for individualism or mavericks. That being said at the heart or the core of the music there’s a selfless spirit, a sense of common goals that were collaboratively pursued. That’s Bop Tribal, a local Honolulu Jazz group consisting of very talented young musicians. ~ Source: CDBaby.com

Gonzalo Rubalcaba | Avatar

Tags

Latin Jazz, Modern Jazz, Music Reviews, Saxophone

Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Avatar

Gonzalo Rubalcaba | Avatar [Latin Jazz/Review]

When I hear inspiring young artists like pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba, I know within the oracle of his music and imagination, that he’s fundamentally grounded. This style of music is well within the scope of what I expect, want and love to hear when I listen to jazz.

As a renowned pianist, the Cuban native is into his second decade of recording music. Gonzalo Rubalcaba’s latest album on Blue Note “Avatar”, is suspended beyond the acoustic realm and intricacies of his previous efforts as a leader. Even so, the beauty of this album is compiled with lyrical, spirited, and rhythmically memorable gems. With his more then sufficient quintet, Rubalcaba generously shares the stage with his band-mates by asking them to be contributors compositionally to this impressive project.