Wally Schnalle - Idiot FIsh 3/Subplot
Idiot Fish 3
is the 10th release from drummer/composer Wally Schnalle. It’s a project that
has been brewing since 2010 when it first appeared live at San Jose Jazz Fest.
After many incarnations, technological learning curves and compositional evolutions
it has finally recorded. The first Idiot Fish recording featured Frank Martin
on keyboards, Hristo Vitchev on guitar and Joe Costatnini on bass The second recording entitled Idiot Fish 3 is
a stripped down trio and it’s a fusion tour de force featuring Schnalle,
Vitchev and bassist Dan Robbins. Schnalle’s compositions are fueled by the best
of fusion traditions yet they are fresh and forward-looking. And he uses the
latest computer/music technology to a dream he has been striving to realize for
decades of achieving harmonic content as well as other sounds emanating from
his usual acoustic drum set. Intriguing compositions, virtuosic soloists and
cutting edge tech come together to create an intriguing musical experience. And
live Idiot Fish shows include a host of projected visuals to enhance the
experience. Many of these are audio reactive in real time to Schnalle’s
electro/acoustic drum set.
Shirley
Crabbe - Bridges
Some
vocalists excel at lyric interpretation. They know how to tell the story of a
song with subtlety and nuance. Other singers have such beautiful voices that
they’d be a pleasure to listen to if they sang the periodic table set to a Brahms
lullaby. It’s not easy to say which is Shirley Crabbe’s strength, since she
possesses both those talents in equal measure. Now, Bridges, her newest CD and
follow-up to her 2011 debut release Home, re-affirms Crabbe’s position as a
rising star in the jazz firmament. The overarching concept of Bridges is about
connections. There are bridges that we cross, bridges that we burn, and bridges
that we build, and each song that Crabbe chose exemplifies those interactions.
It is an eclectic project, featuring jazz standards, a pop tune, and two
originals. Crabbe is joined on this
project by some of the top musicians in the New York City area, including David
Budway, a versatile pianist who has recorded and performed with a Who's Who of
jazz luminaries, and Donald Vega , a virtuoso pianist who is currently
performing internationally in Ron Carter’s Golden Striker Trio. Bridges is not just a project of love songs;
it’s also a project that is genuinely imbued with love. With her superb
phrasing, intonation, and honeyed voice, Crabbe’s warmth and sincerity shine
through.
Sharon
Musgrave – Sha’s Archive
British
born, Canadian raised and based vocalist and songwriter Sharon Musgrave
launched her career with “Fascinating Rhythm,” a 1992 UK Top Ten hit with the
house music band Bassomatic, produced by the legendary William Orbit. On Sha's Archive, she shares a whirlwind of passionate, rhythmically eclectic tunes
she’s been compiling since her 2010 album Ooutflow. She’s done it all in her
career – pop, dance, funk, rap, even flamenco – but here she’s in a spirited,
soul-jazz state of mind with gentle sparks of blues and rock. Though the vibes
are diverse, each track percolates in a fresh way that showcases the intimate
purity of her exquisite voice. ~ smoothjazz.com
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