Genius work from a singer who makes us proud to live in the Windy City – vocalist Milton Suggs, who emerges here as a hell of a writer and arranger too! Milton's easily one of the best new voices in jazz we've heard in years – filled with a rich sense of imagination on his lyrics and phrasing, and a depth of soul that makes sure that his music and movements are always right on the money – a sound and style that puts him the company of a rare few in jazz – a short list that might include Jon Hendricks, Gregory Porter, Kurt Elling, and Mark Murphy! Yet like all those talents, Suggs has a sound that's uniquely his own – a way of putting over a tune that's tremendous – especially when he takes musical inspiration from others, and makes it something all his own – as he does here with core compositions by Wayne Shorter, Belly Golson, and Roy Hargrove. The Shorter inspiration is especially strong – which is great with us – and the album also features great instrumental accompaniment as well. Titles include "Jayme's Song," "Walking Out," "Only A Memory," "Side By Side," "Die Laughing," "Will You Fly With Me," and "Joy Enough To Spare." ~ Dusty Groove
Nouvelle Vague live and acoustic in Portugal – covering songs by Echo & The Bunnymen, The Cure, New Order, Yazoo, The Buzzcocks, Eurythmics, New Order, Joy Division, Blondie and others – a remarkably sweet and intimate set! The group are no strangers to covering new wave and post-punk classics, but hearing them in this acoustic format is a bit of a surprising twist, and a rewarding one at that. The breezy, bossa-indebted acoustic guitars, subtle keys, percussion and gentle vocals breath fresh air into some great songs. There's some real wildcard material, too – with takes on the Cramps, Dead Kennedys and others. Includes "The Killing Moon," "Blue Monday," "Sweet Dreams," "Guns Of Brixton," "Blister In The Sun," "Love Will Tear Us Apart," "In A Manner Of Speaking," "Heart Of Glass," "Human Fly," "This Is Not A Love Song" and more. ~ Dusty Groove
An amazing bit of music – and an incredible document of generations of creative jazz energy as well! The legendary Phil Cohran teams up here with Hypnotic Brass Ensemble – a collective made up of Cohran's sons, who follow strongly in the rich legacy of his own Artistic Heritage group – yet in a very different way! Hypnotic Brass have caught the ear of many during their bright rise to fame – with a fluid, horn-heavy groove that's really amazing – echoes of Sun Ra and other Chicago creative legends – yet played almost entirely on brass instruments, which gives them an even bolder vibe. Here, working with their progenitor brings the group even more depth than before – an excellent sound that really spins things out wonderfully – percussion layered underneath the horns, solos taking jazzy flight, and an overall righteous vibe that holds things together beautifully. The album's way more than the sum of its parts – and those parts are already rich indeed – and titles include "Stateville," "Cuernavaca," "Ancestral," "Spin," "Apsara," and "Frankincense & Myrrh." ~ Dusty Groove
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