Tuesday, January 21, 2014

NEW RELEASES - TIMO LASSY - LIVE WITH TIMO; ALGEBRA BLESSETT - RECOVERY; GEORGE CALBLES - ICONS & INFLUENCES

TIMO LASSY - LIVE  WITH TIMO

Maybe the most classic sounds so far from tenorist Timo Lassy – and that's saying a hell of a lot, given the 60s style of most of his other records! The date's a live one, and features Lassy really stretching out with a raw, earthy groove – a completely different side of his talents, but one that follows strongly from the soulful hardbop of his massive recordings for the Ricky Tick label! Instrumentation in the combo includes a great Wurlitzer piano, played with lots of organ-like notes – plus bass, drums, and some sweet Latin percussion to give the whole thing the extra kick you'd find on some Blue Note or Prestige session with Ray Barretto as a guest! All tracks are nice and long – and titles include "Just One Of Those Things", "Shootin Dice", "Touch Red", "It Could Be Better", "Where's The Man", and "Uncle Harry Came To Town/Sweet Spot". (Limited to 500 copies – and pressed up in a super-great, super-heavy cover! Includes bonus CD of the whole album!)  ~ Dusty Groove 
                        

ALGEBRA BLESSETT - RECOVERY

On Recovery, her BBE Records debut (due for release in February) and second full-length album, the soulful songstress known as Algebra Blessett delivers a consistently sublime set that showcases the remarkable vocal and songwriting gifts that have already established the versatile, charismatic artist as one of R&B's hottest rising performers of the genre. Previous collaborations with the likes of Bilal, India.Arie, Espernanza Spalding, plus she sang on three of fellow Atlanta artist Anthony David's albums, with the two singers joining forces on the hit duet (and popular wedding song) "4Evermore," which reached No. 1 on Billboard's R&B Adult Contemporary chart in 2011. Her debut album Purpose, (which she recorded with producers Bryan-Michael Cox, Kwamé Holland, Eric Roberson and Carvin & Ivan) spent 14 weeks on Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop album chart, establishing Algebra as a vital musical force. ~ bbe

GEORGE CABLES - ICONS & INFLUENCES

One of the best albums we've heard in years from the mighty George Cables – a set that's based around jazz icons and inspirations for Cables' music – but one that's also still quite strongly in his own voice all the way through! The trio is very well-balanced – with excellent bass from Dezron Douglas, and drums from Victor Lewis – but it's definitely George who sets the tone for each tune – ringing out with notes that are richly colorful one moment, or subtle and rhythmic the next. In addition to some Cables-penned gems that echo the title – like "Cedar Walton" and "Farewell Mulgrew" – the set also features some beautiful reworkings of standards from others' songbooks – like Bobby Hutcherson's excellent "Little B's Poem", Dave Brubeck's "The Duke", Joe Henderson's "Isotope", and Bill Evans' "Very Early". The version of "Little B's Poem" is especially nice – done in a very fresh take with almost a Latin style of rhythm! ~ Dusty Groove


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