JIMMY GREENE – FLOWERS: BEAUTIFUL LIFE VOL. 2
A huge step forward in music for saxophonist Jimmy Greene –
an artist who's still reeling from the loss of his daughter, who was murdered
at Sandy Hook Elementary in 2012 – but who's turning his grief and sorrow into
some of the richest music he's ever recorded! The feel here is even deeper than
the first volume dedicated to Green's daughter – original songs that burst out
with so much life and energy, we're held rapt right from the very first note –
almost never mired in the sort of melancholy you might expect from such an
experience, and instead ready to set a new fire to light the way ahead! Greene
plays tenor, soprano, alto, and baritone – and other musicians include Kevin
Hayes on Rhodes and piano, Mike Moreno on guitar, Renee Rosnes on piano, Ben
Williams and John Patitucci on bass, and Jeff Tain Watts and Otis Brown III on
drums. Titles include "Fun Circuits", "Second Breakfast",
"Flowers", "Stanky Leg", "Big Guy",
"Amantes", and "Thirty Two". ~ Dusty Groove
JOEY DEFRANCESCO – PROJECT FREEDOM
Joey DeFrancesco's been giving us albums for many years now,
and he never fails to deliver something that's right on the money – as is the
case with this tight quartet session with his People combo! Joey's touch on the
keys of the Hammond is amazing – and there are all these unusual inflections
and shadings throughout – of the sort that few players can do while still
keeping their groove – and as always, Joey's sense of space and timing is what
really makes the album sparkle, and set him apart from so many of his
contemporaries. At a spot or two, DeFrancesco also picks up the trumpet, which
he blows overdubbed over his keys – and the rest of the group features warmly
understated work from Troy Roberts on tenor and soprano sax, plus Dan Wilson on
guitar and Jason Brown on drums – on titles that include "So Near So
Far", "Peace Bridge", "A Change Is Gonna Come",
"Stand Up", "Project Freedom", and "The Unifier". ~ Dusty Groove
D-ERANIA – LANGUAGE OF THE HEART
A sultry saxophonist from the Chicago scene – an artist
who's especially great on soprano sax, which she uses in a sweet style that
takes us back to Grover Washington in the 70s! Yet there's also a contemporary
vibe to the record, too – not a smooth jazz polish, but instead a reworking of
older funky jazz modes – into a modern, urban groove that's mighty nice – and
which has plenty of space for D-Erania to give us some well-crafted lines on
both soprano and alto sax. Tony Cazeau handles keyboards on most tracks –
although one title features guest work on keys from Robert Irving III, and a
few more feature drums from Makaya McCraven. Titles include "El
Tobias", "Is What It Is", "All We Need", "Native
Beauty", "Ride With Me", and "Laelia's Dream". ~ Dusty Groove
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