Tuesday, June 12, 2018

NEW RELEASES: CATHY SEGAL-GARCIA – THE JAZZ CHAMBER; EMANATIVE - EARTH; LO GRECO BROS – DIFFERENT STANDARDS VOL. 2


CATHY SEGAL-GARCIA – THE JAZZ CHAMBER

On her 11th CD, The Jazz Chamber, Cathy Segal-Garcia expands her already wide-ranging musical vision with innovative arrangements performed with a jazz chamber orchestra. Segal-Garcia’s guiding principal for this project was quality musicianship. “I really embraced the idea of a chamber orchestra for this project because of how orchestral music affects the listener,” says Segal-Garcia. “A large group of musicians playing beautiful but complex charts creates a rich and encompassing experience.“ The Jazz Chamber was produced by Bevin Manson, top-notch pianist, composer, and arranger, and co-produced by Dennis Dreith, a film composer, arranger, and conductor, who lead his own eponymous jazz band.  Segal-Garcia chose songs of various provenance. They are not your usual fare. She’s joined by several guest vocalists, including Tierney Sutton, Kate McGarry, and Mon David. She’s also joined by her improvisational vocal group Fish To Birds on a moody, evocative tune enhanced by Bennie Maupin’s signature bass clarinet sound. The JazzChamber is a showcase not only for Segal-Garcia’s warm, dark sound and intimate performances, but also her expansive musical vision. With first-class arrangers and some of the best jazz musicians in the country, her newest project presents an artist not content to rest on her laurels.

EMANATIVE - EARTH

Maybe the best music so far from Emanative – a group who've been kicking around the London scene for the past decade or so, but who really seem to hit a new level with this album on Jazzman! The group's led by percussionist Nick Woodmansey, who often steps back to let all the other spiritual elements flow through the sound in a wonderful way – including excellent piano and organ from the great Jessica Lauren, plus reeds from Tamar Osborn and Ben Hadwen – both players who have a very cosmic approach – and haunting percussion from additional players, in addition to Nick's own work on drums, balafon, and other instruments. There's a very strong bassist in the lineup, too – Suman Joshi – and he directs the proceedings with great strength when everyone comes together – but also knows enough to step back when things are exploring different planes of global consciousness at a more personal level. Titles include "Spice Route Suite", "Egosystem", "New Day", "Heaven's Mirror", "Iyaami", "Raga Requiem", and "Minutes To Midnight For This Planet".  ~ Dusty Groove

LO GRECO BROS – DIFFERENT STANDARDS VOL. 2

Beautiful work here from the Lo Greco brothers – sounding even warmer and jazzier here than on their previous work for Schema Records! The duo of Gianno Lo Greco on drums and Enzo Lo Greco on bass have a really easygoing approach to rhythm – soulful, with all the right spaces between the notes – allowing the music to build slowly with a very organic vibe – as things are expanded by contributions on tenor, trumpet, piano, Fender Rhodes, and some great vocals from singers who include Alice Ricciardi, Doctor Feelix, and Julia St Louis! Almost all tracks have vocals, and the album's got plenty of slow-building modal numbers that really take us back to the greatness of the European jazz scene in the 70s. Titles include "Velvet", "Locked", "So She Does", "Paradise", "Feeling Good", "Moonlight", and "Naima". ~ Dusty Groove



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