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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