Cuban pianist/composer/shaman Omar Sosa has once again teamed up with arranger Jaques Morelenbaum and the formidable NDR Bigband to project his compositions on a wide orchestral screen, and Kit Downes plumbs the orchestral capabilities of three pipe organs on a spacey collection of improvisational performances. Continue reading
Tag Archives: mel minter
Stocking Stuffers
Don Messina. Photo by Ted Waddell.
Chloe Feoranzo. Photo by Debayan Ghosh.
Tom McDermott. Photo by Jan Luley.
The latest releases from Tom McDermott and Chloe Feoranzo, and from Don Messina deserve consideration for the stockings of friends and family with eclectic musical tastes. Continue reading
Different Strokes: Quintet Releases from Matt Wilson, Taylor Haskins, and Joe Fiedler
Matt Wilson. Photo by John Abbott.
Taylor Haskins
Joe Fiedler. Photo by Peter Gannushkin.
Three of the more original voices in the jazz world—drummer Matt Wilson, trumpeter Taylor Haskins, and trombonist Joe Fiedler—have new releases that show three different faces of jazz. Continue reading
Two Quick Hits: Eddie Daniels/Roger Kellaway and Florian Hoefner
EddieDaniels. Photo by Richard Laird.
Roger Kellaway. Photo by Tom Copi.
Florian Hoefner. Photo by by Tom Cochrane.
Two new releases cover an old but still fresh performance by a classic quartet featuring Eddie Daniels and Roger Kellaway at the Village Vanguard, and a solo excursion on the shores of Newfoundland by pianist Florian Hoefner. Continue reading
Saxophonist Glenn Kostur Celebrates Excellent New Album with CD Release Party
Glenn Kostur Group (from left to right): Jim White, drums; Erik Applegate, bass; Dana Landry, pianos; Steve Kovalcheck, guitar; and Glenn Kostur, saxophones.
It may take you a while to get past “That’s the Way of It,” the opening track of saxophonist Glenn Kostur’s new album, The Way of It (Artist Alliance Records), because you may keep hitting the repeat button. An optimistic blues shuffle with a hard bop edge, this Kostur original has a punchy head that can bubble up out of nowhere while you’re loading the dishwasher or daydreaming at a red light, and set your head to bobbing.
It’s an excellent start to this welcome collection of 10 mainstream tracks—6 originals and 4 standards—with Kostur on bari and tenor, backed by Steve Kovalcheck (guitar), Dana Landry (pianos), Erik Applegate (bass), and Jim White (drums). Kostur will celebrate the album’s release in concert at the Outpost this Thursday with these same sidemen, as well as special guest vocalist Hillary Smith. “That’s the Way of It” could well open the set, so don’t be late. Continue reading