NEW RELEASES: JON REGEN – STOP TIME; OLIVER LAKE / WILLIAM PARKER – TO ROY; ALEXANDER VON SCHLIPPENBACH TRIO - FEATURES

JON REGEN – STOP TIME

Remarkable. Infectious. Soulful. Just some of the words critics have used to describe Stop Time, the new album by singer, songwriter and pianist Jon Regen. Produced by Mitchell Froom (Crowded House, Paul McCartney), and featuring Davey Faragher and Pete Thomas from Elvis Costello and the Imposters, Stop Time finds Regen at the peak of his songwriting and pianistic powers, with ten original tunes that brim with humor and heart. In the words of storied Rolling Stones keyboardist Chuck Leavell, "Stop Time never stops pleasing the ears."

OLIVER LAKE / WILLIAM PARKER – TO ROY

Beautiful duets between Oliver Lake and William Parker – dedicated to the late Roy Campbell, and a wonderful tribute to his genius! This may well be one of the best performances we've heard from Lake in years – a clear, clean, unfettered way to really return to his strengths on alto sax – next to these warm, round basslines from Parker that are always a treat – but which again, seem to have even more power here than on other recent albums. Most tunes are originals, written by either of the pair – and the match of souls and spirits is tremendous throughout. Titles include "Check", "Victor Jara", "Variation On A Theme Of Marvin Gaye", "To Roy", "Light Over Still Water Paints A Portrait Of God", and "Bonu".  ~ Dusty Groove

ALEXANDER VON SCHLIPPENBACH TRIO - FEATURES

Fifteen short "features" from this legendary trio – a lineup that includes Alexander Von Schlippenbach on piano, Evan Parker on tenor, and Paul Lovens on drums! The group performs with the angular sensibility that makes Schlippenbach's name well placed as their leader – and Parker's deft lines are especially great, sometimes richly sonorous in his more color-based performances – sometimes bolder, and with a starkness that really matches Alexander's work on piano. Lovens' has always been a great partner for performances like these – and chooses to use space as much as sound, which gives his well-chosen percussion parts even more power than if he came on with a more full-on approach. 15 short titles, all improvised, and all beautiful – with a really classic FMP sort of vibe.  ~ Dusty Groove