Monday, April 07, 2014

NEW RELEASES: U-NAM - SOMETHING'S UP E.P; THE COOKERS QUINTET - COOKERS QUINTET VOL. 1; LAURA DESBERG - SIDEWAYS

U-NAM - SOMETHING'S UP E.P

Guitarist U-Nam’s latest is the "Something's Up" [E.P.] Inlcuded on the EP is a playalong version of the song, (also known as a "Karaoke" version). Also on this release is an unreleased version of "C'est le Funk" (Radio Edit) which is actually the version that you might heard on the radio. The title trak, "Something's Up" is climbing up the charts all around the world, and has been Number 1 on the French radio station, AmysFM, 2 months in a row. Tracklisting: Something’s Up (Album Version); Something’s Up (Summer Radio Edit); Something’s Up (Playalong Mix); C’est le Funk feat. Nivo Deux (Album Version); and C’est le Funk feat. Nivo Deux (Radio Edit).

THE COOKERS QUINTET - COOKERS QUINTET VOL. 1

A sweet little combo who definitely live up to their name – and work here in a very old school approach to jazz! The group's got a great groove right from the start – maybe not as full-on modal as Five Corners Quintet, but somewhere in a same space – but they also don't just let the rhythms determine their solo expressions – and really step out here in a great range of colors and tones! Key solos come from Ryan Oliver on tenor and Tim Hamel on trumpet – and the group also features Richard Whiteman on piano, Alex Coleman on bass, and Morgan Childs on drums – all great players who also wrote all the material for the album as well. The sound is a bit in keeping with the retro look of the cover – but is never just a retro gimmick, and instead has a classically well-crafted jazz appeal. Titles include "The Ramble", "Blues To Booker", "Obligatory Blues", "Mudbug Shuffle", "Open Air", "The Fork Test", and "See You Next Thursday". ~ Dusty Groove

LAURA DESBERG - SIDEWAYS

A really wonderful little record – from a singer we already want to hear more from! Lauren Desberg's a fresh young voice in jazz – and she's taken up here by the great Gretchen Parlatto, who produced the record, and also appears on one track as well – a great match, given that Lauren's style is as forward-thinking as Parlatto's! The tunes have this sweet, soulful, blocky kind of style – a contemporary jazz glide that almost reminds us of some of Robert Glasper's work with more jazz-based singers – but with a bit of a nod back to older modes as well. Backings are by a small combo that features Taylor Eigsti on piano and Dayna Stephens on tenor – and although most tunes are older, they've got a very fresh feel – thanks to the arrangements, production, and presentation. Includes a great take on "Mister Magic" – plus "Come Running To Me", "I Wanna Be Like You", "Spring Is Here", and "You Go To My Head". (Includes download of entire album.) ~ Dusty Groove


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