Tuesday, January 30, 2018

NEW RELEASES: STEVE HOBBS – TRIBUTE TO BOBBY; BILL KING – DESERT ORCHID; MIKE LEBRUN – SHADES

STEVE HOBBS – TRIBUTE TO BOBBY

Vibist Steve Hobbs serves up a tribute to the late Bobby Hutcherson – but one that's not slavish in sound or spirit at all – which is very much in the best Hutcherson tradition! Instead, the music is all Steve's own – and is given a nod to Bobby, as he passed away right after the recording of the album – and had also be a longtime friend and supporter of Hobbs – whose own talents on the vibes are pretty great! And like Hutcherson in the 70s, Steve also plays a fair bit of marimba on the record too – using the wooden instrument in ways that resonate with the soulful elements of his vibes, but differently – in a cool combo that features Adam Kolker on tenor and soprano sax, Bill O'Connell on piano, Peter Washington on bass, and John Riley on drums. Titles include "Let's Go To Abaco", "The Road To Happy Destiny", "The Craving Phenomenon", "Tres Vias", "Thelonious Funk", "Into The Storm", "El Sueno de Horace Silver", and "In From The Storm". ~ Dusty Groove

BILL KING – DESERT ORCHID

Renowned New Mexico artist Deborah Samuels – “Desert Orchid contains the best of what the southwest is all about. Lovely and filled with such grace!” Desert Orchid – is an aural refection of the American southwest - the landscape, plant life, the verandas, and rugged people who live artfully amongst nature’s often hostile terrain. The plateaus in the distance, the thousands of miles of blowing sand, the harsh morning light, the grace and pastoral beauty of late afternoon is encased in one, lone Desert Orchid. “I’ve been exploring a variety of Spanish influenced themes with 2018 Grammy nominated violinist Elizabeth Rodriguez and Magdelys Savigne of jazz musician Jane Bunnett’s, all-Cuban women’s ensemble, Maqueque. Last year, under banner The Uprising we saw the release of Isle of Saints – a contemporary mix of Cuban rhythms and 70s’ style fusion jazz. Over the holidays the ranchero style single arrived, “Amarga Navidad” with OKAN – the band guided by Rodriguez and Savigne. Also, in the mix, Cuban virtuoso Pablofsky Rosales on guitar,” says pianist/composer Bill King. Desert Orchid mixes Spanish roots with chamber music, a most unusual marriage of genres. One moment, the performance seems as if you were shaded by a porch and basking in a hot summer’s wind, the other; at a concert hall listening to sophisticated ensemble.

MIKE LEBRUN – SHADES

Sweet reeds from Mike Lebrun – a musician who's way more than just another funky saxophone player! Mike's got a great ear for the overall sound of his music – so that he often layers together his instruments, in ways that make us feel like two horns are following the same path at once – quite possibly the case, given that Lebrun plays tenor, alto, soprano, flute, and clarinet on the record – in addition to handling the overall rhythms! There's other live musicians too – playing more alto, vibes, piano, and some very strong drums – the last of which are often used to give the music a nice kick, but in ways that are fresher than more standard funk. The whole thing explodes nicely with a strong sense of tone and color – and titles include "Flute Party", "Saxophones Crash A Flute Party", "Clusterduck", "Now Then Or Some Other Time", "Jamovaland", "Melt", "Summon The Hope", "Drive There", and "Drive Back".  ~ Dusty Groove


 

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