Frankfurt Jazz Trio - No. 3 Year: 2008
Style or Subgenre: Piano Jazz
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I seem to be on a bit of a trio kick lately. Even within that narrow instrumentation, there is an amazing amount of variety. This set form a rather obscure outfit is especially beautiful.
Bill Evans - Explorations Year: 1961
Style or Subgenre: Piano Jazz
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Bill Evans - Moon Beams Year: 1962
Style or Subgenre: Piano Jazz
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Wrapping up my trio binge with a pair from the great Bill Evans. Glorious stuff from a unique master. Evans's How Deep Is The Ocean may be one of the most sublime recordings of all time.
Erika Luckett - Tinted Glass Year: 1999
Style or Subgenre: Vocal Jazz
To start today's Sunday morning vocals, I dialed up Erika Luckett. She brings a slightly breathy, understated delivery rather reminiscent of a Norah Jones with occasional Latin overtones (despite the very anglo sounding name, she was born in Mexico and made her way to the US via Venezuela and Brazil. She plays acoustic guitar very nicely, and much of the album brings more of an indie singer/songwriter vibe than jazz. There are some very good songs here, nicely arranged to support her style, but it's not really a style I can sit with straight through all 13 cuts without interest waning just a bit.
Hilary Kol.e - Haunted Heart Recording Year: 2008
Release Year: 2009
Style or Subgenre: Vocal Jazz
Continuing Sunday morning vocals, I switched to a contemporary vocalist who lives (mostly) in a traditional vein, the lovely Hilary Kole.
aaaaaaaaand...... WOW!
Sure, the style hit me in a sweet spot, and Ms. Kole's technical facilities are spot on for traditional jazz singing, ..... but......
OH, that voice!
We're talking a Karen Carpenter voice here. Which is not to say that she sounds anything like Karen Carpenter, but rather that it's one of those voices that is so clean, so pure, and so expressive, that it just grabs you and makes you excited to listen. Truly stirring!
Yeah, I'm smitten. Twitterpated. As she says in the first song title.... It's love.
I may just have to run out and get everything she's ever recorded.
Dave Kikoski - Dave Kikioski Year: 1994
Style or Subgenre: Post Bop, Straight Ahead Jazz
Another great trio album here. Kikoski, along with bassist Essiet Essiet and drummer Al Foster deliver some marvelously swinging post-bop, with an occasional hint of Vince Guaraldi. Marvelous music and yet another fantastic trio discovery during this long weekend.
Gerd Dudek - Out of this World: Tribute to John Coltrane Year: 2016
Style or Subgenre: Hard Bop, Post Bop, Modal Jazz, Avant Garde, Piano Jazz
If "Tribute to John Coltrane" wasn't in the title, it wouldn't be obvious that that's what this album is about. However, with that hint, it makes some sense. Nevertheless, tribute or not, this is a fantastic sax quartet album. Dudek's tone is pretty clean and he plays it straight for the most part, but does cover the styles of Coltrane's career from hard bop through post bop and even a little modal and avant garde. HIs playing is generally lively and easy to follow, and with the rest of the quartet providing equally exciting support, this disc is an exciting listen from end to end. Hugely enjoyable.
Matt Wilson - As Wave Follows Wave
Year: 1996
Style or Subgenre: Post Bop, Modern Creative, Avant Garde
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This Matt Dudek is an interesting cat. On his debut, the drummer also surrounds himself with other interesting cats, namely Dewey Redman on sax and Cecil McBee on bass. Then for a few cuts add in Larry Godlings on organ. Their resulting output defies categorization, but sounds a lot like post bop with avant garde overtones and enough humor to make it something entirely different. Redman's soloing is enticing throughout and when he and Goldings get going together, it's extra fun.
John Coltrane - Dakar Recording Year: 1957
Release Year: 1963
Style or Subgenre: Hard Bop
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Turns out this is a retread of an Art Pepper led "Prestige All Stars" date, released six years later under Coltrane's name. I find this practice a little frustrating at times, but it's really no matter as the music is solid no matter who's name is on top. Upon this listen, I found myself really enjoying the cut, "Route 4."
Karen Francis - Better Days Year: 2003
Style or Subgenre: Vocal Jazz
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For Sunday morning vocals today, I introduced myself to one Ms. Karen Francis. On her 2003 release, Better Days, she brings standards and a few originals, covering a lot of ground, from straight ahead traditional to Latin to free vocals. The program leans mostly into the glories of romantic love but ranges to the tragedy of hate crime. Fortunately, Ms. Francis has both the natural voice and the interpretive range to pull it off very nicely.
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