The newest album by drummer, composer, and bandleader is an homage to the great jazz ensembles that were especially popular in the 1950s and 60s. This is Galaher’s 4th album as a leader and follows Uptown! (2012), Courageous Hearts (2009), and Panorama (2007). Uptown! made it to the Top 10 on the JazzWeek radio chart, and All About Jazz said, “This five-piece aggregate seems to have a genuine connection that comes through in its playing; this makes Uptown! a delight to hear from start to finish.” Galaher is a protean drummer adept at a multitude of styles. He plays 10 different grooves on Live's 14 tracks, laying down a smorgasbord of rhythmic styles that range from boogaloo to straight-ahead swing to jazz waltz and beyond. Live was recorded during the Covid lockdown at a restaurant in Connecticut at a private event with a small number of family, friends and restaurant staff in attendance, but Galaher and the band played liked they were in front of a crowd. The set was not planned in advance, with Galaher calling the tunes. They recorded all 14 tracks in less than four hours. The Hammond B-3 organ could be found in almost every black church, and more than a few of the jazz masters started out playing gospel.
What A Way To Go, the newest album by New York-based vocalist Ben Cassara, is an eclectic collection of songs culled from the Great American Songbook, gems by Dave Frishberg and Antonio Carlos Jobim, and four tasty originals by jazz pianist Ronny Whyte, who also produced the CD and plays piano on several compositions. Cassara is a mainstay on the New York City and New Jersey jazz scenes. . He performs regularly at clubs like Jazz at Kitano, the Metropolitan Room, Trumpets, and Shanghai Jazz. He also curates a long-running jazz series at Pangea, an East Village cabaret and jazz club. This is Cassara’s second CD and follows Sister Moon (2013). Critic George Harris said, "Want a fresh voice in singers with an XY chromosome? Give this guy Ben Cassara a try. His voice gives hints of Barry Manilow and Bob Dorough - a mid-toned tenor that sounds comfortable in his skin … Cassara sounds calm and collected on this cool collection of music, perfect for a night of pensive thoughts." New York is rife with great musicians, and Cassara brought on board a stellar cast of first-call accompanists . Eschewing vocal pyrotechnics, Cassara’s vocal style is urbane and conversational. His mentors were Carol Fredette, Roz Corral, and Marlene Ver Planck, jazz singers who are known for their ability to swing hard while telling stories with finesse and honesty … an approach that Cassara took to heart.
11x GRAMMY-award winning trumpeter & arranger, Philip Lassiter, has released "Purple," the aptly titled tribute to Prince featuring global saxophone sensation Candy Dulfer. The track is the lead single off of a forthcoming album recorded live in Amsterdam with a 14-piece ensemble and cast of special guests featured throughout. Lassiter first connected with Prince in 2010 when he auditioned to be his horn arranger/section leader and landed the gig performing with New Power Generation. Like many of the late genre-defying master’s collaborators, Lassiter was inspired by Prince’s work ethic and dedication to experimentation. With its Prince-like driving quarter note groove and syncopated guitar and bass line, Lassiter helms a 15-piece ensemble in the live recording that embodies the spirit of Prince. The punctuated, shout-like horn melodies trade with layered vocal harmonies before an asserted horn soli launches into rounds of deliberate solos performed by Jordy Kalfsvel on keyboards, Lassiter on trumpet, and capped off with a powerful, extended solo by Dulfer on alto saxophone. Though Lassiter and Dulfer never performed with Prince at the same time (she was in his band during the 2003-2005 Musicology era), the two connected when Lassiter relocated to The Netherlands two years ago and have been collaborating together ever since.
Born and raised in France, Marina Pacowski always dreamed of coming to America because of her fascination with the American music scene and her love of jazz. Now a mainstay on the Los Angeles jazz scene, Pacowski has recorded her debut jazz album, Inner Urge, with a Who’s Who of some of the finest jazz musicians in the United States. Although a superb pianist who has been honored with numerous awards, Pacowski chose to focus on her singing for this project. With the ear of a trained musician (and a uniquely individual vocal timbre), Pacowski is adept at vocal improvisation. Her complete command of the chord changes and highly developed sense of swing are apparent right from the opening number. Inner Urge is an eminent debut by a refreshing new voice on the American jazz scene. Marina Pacowski’s highly developed harmonic sense and feeling for time infuse her vocals with a musicality that you would typically associate with a skilled horn player.
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