New Releases: Diane Hoffman - Do I Love You; Darien Dean – Detours; Jim Snidero – Waves Of Calm

Diane Hoffman - Do I Love You 

Diane Hoffman is a multi-faceted talent - a jazzy, hard-swinging singer and an accomplished painter. Raised in Cambridge, MA, Hoffman earned a BFA from the California College of Art and later studied independently with famed painter Jacques Fabert in Erongarícuaro, Mexico (her works have been exhibited extensively in Mexico, Canada, and the United States). Hoffman’s singing debut was at the legendary Sonny’s Place, in Seaford, Long Island in the late nineties, and for years she has been igniting audiences throughout the Tri-State area and beyond with her emotionally charged singing. Her often unique repertoire is informed by her painter’s passion for narrative, tone, and balance, and she has been recognized for her rich-textured voice, keen rhythm and original phrasing, and natural feel for jazz and blues. Hoffman has recorded three albums as a soloist, Someone In Love (2000), My Little French Dancer (2007), and her latest release, Do I Love You The Jazz Network Worldwide

Darien Dean – Detours

The third great album from Darien Dean – a diversely talented singer, with an approach here that goes way beyond the usual! Darien can effortlessly belt out a contemporary soul tune – but he's also got this varied approach that really sets the album apart from the rest – as he seems to draw equally from jazz, soul, hip hop, and occasional global elements in his music – which makes for this varied rhythmic quality, and equally diverse sonic palette! The songs are tight, and confidently written – and Dean's delivery more than lives up to his words, on titles that include "Black Widow", "Last Song", "Autopilot", "Todamore", "Straight Up", "You're The One", "Best Is Yet To Come", and "Scorned". ~ Dusty Groove

Jim Snidero – Waves Of Calm

Jim Snidero's got a really wonderful group here – a combo that makes for a perfect complement to his phrasing on the record, which seems somehow even more magical than usual! The rhythms are open and spacious – lots of room between the notes, served up by bassist Nat Reeves, drummer Jonathan Barber, and the great pianist Orrin Evans – who also plays Fender Rhodes as well as acoustic piano on the session! The trio creates this great space that really seems to bring out new elements in Jim's playing – especially on the tracks that also feature Jeremy Pelt on trumpet, which is about half the album. Titles include "Waves Of Calm", "Visions", "Dad Song", "Estuary", "If I Had You", and "Truth". ~ Dusty Groove