Scenes

Variable Clouds: Live At The Earshot Jazz Festival

Origin, 2022

8/10

Listen to Variable Clouds: Live At The Earshot Jazz Festival

The saxophonist Rick Mandyck, guitarist John Stowell, bassist Jeff Johnson and drummer John Bishop released their debut as Scenes in 2001, and this first live recording captures their unparalleled chemistry together, where mostly originals unfold with a strong sense of connection between the band and audience.

“Tilbury Hill” gets the listen off to a warm, soothing start, where the agile sax and spirited guitar is met with cozy drumming, and “Trudge” follows with a stylish and frisky appeal that really showcases the fluid drumming from Bishop.

Moving forward, the middle tracks are among the best, where the bouncy bass of “Companions” complements the soulfulness of the mood, while the title track gets quite intimate, even stirring, in its cautiousness that pays close attention to atmosphere.

“Studio City” lands near the end and illustrates much precision between the rhythm section via its unpredictable nature, and Jim Pepper’s “Witchi Tai To” exits with Stowell’s meticulous guitar prowess making an impression.

A very exciting and timeless listen in the area of post-bop that can swing with the best of them but also emits an introspective demeanor, all 4 players are in fine form on this evening, and it signifies a return to live music after the pandemic lockdowns.

Travels well with: Wil Swindler’s Elevenet- Space Bugs: Live In Denver; Hal Galper- Ivory Forest Redux

Wil Swindler's Elevenet

Space Bugs: Live In Denver

OA2, 2022

8/10

Listen to Space Bugs: Live In Denver

The composer and saxophonist Wil Swindler aligns himself with the Denver based outfit Elevenet for these 8 distinct jazz tunes that are full of unique, harmonic language.

“Space Bug” starts the listen with Dru Heller’s frisky drums and the textured brass that makes for a lively and meticulous climate, and “The Real Me” follows with graceful musicianship thanks to Ben Markley’s piano and Matt Smiley’s infectious bass in the introspective and warm delivery.

In the middle, the intimate “Annika” builds into a soulful and layered album highlight, while “Tantrum In D” benefits much from the low flugelhorn alongside plenty of bright and dynamic interaction between the ensemble.

Close to the end, “Little Requiem” moves with a calm and fluid appeal that’s quite stirring, and “Pavlov’s Daughter” exits with a nice balance between busy, soaring jazz ideas, as well as bare bouts of cautiousness.

An extremely skilled set where the sound quality is fantastic, similarities to Gil Evans, Eric Dolphy and Billy May won’t go unnoticed across a complicated but easily accessible experience.

Travels well with: Hal Galper- Ivory Forest Redux; Rodney Whitaker- Oasis

Long Mama

Poor Pretender

Self-Released, 2022

9/10

Listen to Poor Pretender

A Milwaukee outfit comprised of Kat Wodtke (vocals, acoustic guitar), Andrew Koenig (guitars), Nick Lang (drums), Samual Odin (bass) and with Eva Nimmer (backing vocals) and Erik Koskinen (electric guitar), this is a very thoughtful debut of love, heartache and survival.

The title track starts the listen with Wodtke’s stirring vocals alongside a hazy atmosphere that benefits from playfully plucked bass and light drumming, and “Half Love” follows with warm guitar and expressive singing making for a breezy version of Americana.

The halfway point belongs to “Quiet”, which is quite intimate in its bare beauty that uses backing vocals strategically, while “The Narrows” is a bit more forceful, where folk and indie-rock meet at a poetic intersection with some soulfulness and grit.

Closer to the end, “Take It Out” is both bare and full, and embraces lovely vocal harmonies amid the flowing roots ideas, and “Lonerman” exits with a very pretty and eloquent departure of light, agile and memorable song craft.

A listen full of modern folklore and that comes with a lot of heart, it’s not hard to think of Neko Case or Lucinda Williams when listening to Poor Pretender, and it’s quite apparent that this Wisconsin band are destined for great things based on this exceptional first effort.

Travels well with: Jeremy Nail- Behind The Headlights; Rachel Sumner & Traveling Light- Rachel Sumner & Traveling Light

Víkingur Ólafsson

From Afar

Deutsche Grammophon, 2022

8/10

Listen to From Afar

The Icelandic pianist Víkingur Ólafsson brings us his most personal work to date, where he looks back on childhood memories and his musical journey with 2 discs of work by Bach, Mozart, Schumann, Brahms, and Bartók, alongside Icelandic and Hungarian folk songs, too.

On the Grand Piano disc, Robert Schumann’s “Study In Canonic Form” makes an early impression with its swift and precise keys that are quite melodic, and Bartok’s “Rubato” isn’t too far away, and emits a stirring intimacy that’s quite introspective.

Further along, the Icelandic folk song, Snorri Sigfús Birgisson’s “Where Life And Death May Dwell”, is a calm, poetic moment that radiates so much beauty and grace, while Johannes Brahms’ “Intermezzo In E Minor” is a dreamy and atmospheric deep disc highlight.

Disc 2, the Upright Piano portion, leads with Bach’s “Christe, du Lamm Gottes”, where mood is key amid the soft gestures, and approaching the middle, “Gyorgy Kurtág’s “A Voice In The Distance” is extremely minimal, but also impactful in its well timed, sparing keys.

Kurtág’s “Scraps Of A Colinda Melody-Faintly Recollected” exits the listen, and it’s also delicate, cautious and immediately striking.

This album came to life after a life altering meeting with György Kurtág in Budapest in September 2021, which left Ólafsson with “a feeling of lightness and joy” and triggered memories of music he loved as a child.

An extremely daring venture as Ólafsson recorded the album twice, one for each piano, this effort returns to his musical roots, and wife, Halla Oddný Magnúsdottir, is present on a few pieces that help the record resonate even more timelessness and warmth.

Travels well with: Daniil Trifonov- BACH: The Art Of Life; Buchbinder- Beethoven Piano Concertos

Noam Lemish

Twelve

TPR, 2022

8/10

Listen to Twelve

The Toronto resident and pianist Noam Lemish doesn’t make music that is easy to categorize, but it is easy to enjoy, and here 6 originals welcome a chamber sized jazz orchestra for a richly textured, solo friendly and often melodic listening experience.

“Song For Lia” opens the listen with Laura Swankey’s wordless vocals and Lemish’s skilled piano being complemented by swift and soulful sax, and “The Naglia Mayster” follows with Michael Davidson’s mesmerizing vibraphone and bright trumpet that helps cultivate a cinematic, playful demeanor that benefits much from Derek Gray’s proficient drumming.

The middle track belongs to “Beethoven’s 7th Visit To Romania”, where a careful intimacy unfolds with the precise brass layering and Ted Quinlan’s meticulous guitar playing, while “Between Utopia And Destruction” focuses much on Lemish’s timeless piano playing that meshes well with the reflective sax and later on rumbles a bit more firmly.

“Rebirth” exits the listen, and it spends 11 minutes captivating us with its radiant horns, glowing guitar playing and, of course, Lemish’s gorgeous piano playing.

A genre-bending, cultured and artistic affair, Lemish and company make for a unique jazz adventure that you can listen to repeatedly with an equal amount of intrigue.

Travels well with: Ernesto Cervini- Joy; Craig Davis- Tone Paintings

Bird Streets

Lagoon

Sparkle Plenty, 2022

9/10

Listen to Lagoon

The Brooklyn artist Bird Streets, i.e. John Brodeur, returns with an album surrounding separation, rumination, and regret, and it’s a sophomore effort that’s full of personal song craft and welcomes some exceptional guests, too.

“Sleeper Agent” opens the listen with graceful keys and Brodeur’s expressive singing in the intimate climate that also hosts strings and gets a bit thicker towards the end, and “Machine” follows with a firm approach that balances dreamy bouts amid crunchy alt-rock bursts.

Deeper into the listen, the crisp drumming and cautious AM radio melodies of “Let You Down” carries some folk nods with its modern indie-rock presence, while “SF 1993” is acoustic guitar focused and has Brodeur hitting some high notes in both bare ebbs and fuller modern rock.

Approaching the end, the breathy “On Fire” might remind you of Elliott Smith, and brings soothing strings from Patrick Warren into the poetic album highlight, and “Go Free” exits a bit jangly with some retro rock gestures and fuzzy guitar you won’t soon forget.

The album starts with the line ‘I gotta tell you, I’m kind of a mess’, and this sets the tone for the introspective affair that’s packed with both alt-rock booming and vulnerable sparseness, and just might be the best record you’ve heard anytime recently.

Travels well with: Matthew Sweet- Catspaw; Fastball- Step Into Light

Richard Williams

Hollywood Christmas

Self-Released, 2022

8/10

Listen to Hollywood Christmas

A very diverse holiday album, the multi-instrumentalist Richard Williams brings rock, big band swing, and orchestral ideas to a dozen Christmas classics that have never sounded quite like this.

“It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year” opens the listen with Alex Stiles’ smooth pipes guiding the warm brass and Bernie Dresel’s fluid drumming, and it’s not long until “White Christmas” emits much beauty from Rebecca Lopez, as Trey Henry’s plucked bass complements the soulful horns.

Further along, the frisky “Winter Wonderland” showcases Kate Plewe’s glowing voice amid a booming presence, while “(There’s No Place Like) Home For The Holidays” places Chelsea Brooke Olson on vocals for the orchestral meets jazz energy of the classic.

The finals tracks belong to Julie Seechuck’s intimate pipes, where “Somewhere In My Memory” and “Someway, Somehow” is full of stirring, cinematic song craft that benefits much from sweeping strings.

Williams puts a fresh coat of paint on some already great tunes, and his addition of vocal-less tracks for those who just the music portion only is a nice addition to this exceptional debut album from the veteran artist

Travels well with: Jim Witzel Trio & Quartet- Feelin’ It; Doug MacDonald- I’ll See You In My Dreams

Lorraine Klaasen & Mongezi Ntaka

Ukubonga Gratitude

Justin Time, 2022

8/10

Listen to Ukubonga Gratitude

The South African vocalist Lorraine Klaasen and South African guitarist, composer, arranger, musical director and producer Mongezi Ntaka come together for this album that collects pieces from the Southern Africa’s Township music songbook and features works penned by some of Southern Africa’s most celebrated singers and composers.

“Sekusile (Kikirikiki)” starts the listen with the sounds of a rooster, before Tlale Makhene’s lively percussion complements the warm vocal harmonies, and “Fiela” follows with Ntaka’s cozy acoustic guitar and David ‘Qadasi’ Jenkins’ graceful concertina helping make for a very expressive album highlight.

Residing in the middle, “Insizwa” emits much melody in its rich and cultured spirit, while “Meet Me At The River” welcomes Steve Dyer’s dreamy flute to the poetic, call and response singing that’s full of folk influences.

“Unamanga” arrives near the end and showcases both Klaasen and Ntaka’s very adaptive pipes, and “Can’t Cross Over” exits with acoustic guitar the duo’s charming presence in a very youthful finish.

An aptly titled affair that certainly does show gratitude to the composers, most of who are no longer living, Klaasen and Ntaka illuminate the African romantic courtships, wedding songs, social and political commentary, consciousness and cultural pride with so much care and precision.

Travels well with: Shujaat Husain Khan/Katayoun Goudarzi- This Pale; Sarah Aroeste- Monastir

Roger Taylor

Outsider

Universal, 2022

8/10

Listen to Outsider

The queen drummer Roger Taylor’s 6th solo album, these songs were inspired by the Covid lockdowns and are full of his inimitable skill and experience that welcomes Spike Edney (keyboards), Tyler Warren (drums), Tina Keys (multi-instrumentalist), Neil Fairclough (bass) and Christian Mendoza (guitar).

"Tides" starts the listen with warm piano and a very dreamy delivery of graceful, stirring song craft, and "I Know, I Know, I Know" follows with more emphasis on drumming amid the cautious rock that radiates soulful singing.

Halfway through, "Gangsters Are Running This World" emits flowing melodies and some of the best singing on the album, while the fuller and energetic "The Clapping Song" is packed with rhythm and bright textures that even recruits brass for the occasion.

Close to the end, the acoustic intimacy of “Foreign Sand” glows with much beauty in its poetic delivery, and “Journey’s End” exits with a bit of psychedelia present in the spacey, prog-friendly finish.

An album that occasionally sounds like queen, ultimately this is Taylor’s own distinct sound, and he balances calm moments with louder rock across a very accomplished body of work.

Travels well with: Roger Daltrey- As Long As I Have You; Ray Davies- Our Country: Americana Act II

Hal Galper

Ivory Forest Redux

Origin, 2022

9/10

Listen to Ivory Forest Redux

The esteemed pianist Hal Galper brings us a remastered reissue of his late ‘70s masterpiece, Ivory Forest, and this updated version enhances John Scofield’s guitar, Wayne Dockery’s bass and Adam Nussbaum’s drums, too.

The title track opens the listen with a light mood of agile keys, dreamy guitar and well timed drums in the very meticulous and adventurous climate, and “Continuity” follows with a sublime intimacy that showcases Galper’s finger acrobatics front and center.

In the middle, “My Dog Spot” flows with a swift and dynamic song craft that will be forever timeless in its free jazz exploration, while “Monk’s Mood” trims the pace and volume back with a reflective tone of beauty thanks to Scofield’s intricate guitar prowess. “Rapunzel’s Luncheonette” exits the listen, and is full of lightning quick piano, frisky drums, and fluid guitars in the powerful and creative finish.

An album that still sounds so relevant and technical 40+ years later, Galper sure has done us a favor by reissuing some of his best work.

Travels well with: Rodney Whitaker- Oasis; Eric Jacobson- Discover

Rodney Whitaker

Oasis

Origin, 2022

8/10

Listen to Oasis

The inimitable bassist Rodney Whitaker brings along Terell Stafford (trumpet/flugelhorn), Tim Warfield (tenor/soprano sax), Bruce Barth (piano), Dana Hall (bass) and Rockelle Fortin (vocals) for these songs that pay homage to Gregg Hill’s rhythmic and melodic legacy with strong attention to detail.

“Betty’s Tune” starts the listen with animated keys and frisky drumming, as Fortin’s soulful and expressive singing adds to the lively climate, and “Puppets” follows with a calmer pace of warm keys, soulful brass and a very reflective, timeless display.

In the middle, the upbeat and dance floor friendly “Sunday Afternoon” flows with a classic jazz demeanor, while “S’cool Days” benefits from acrobatic drumming amid the bright sax and dynamic musicianship.

Moving towards the end, “To The Well” showcases Stafford’s tremendous talent in both calm and busier moments that allow Fortin’s stirring vocals to shine, and the title track exits with a flowing rhythm that allows all the players a platform for their respective talents.

This is the 3rd album in this series, and Whitaker and company sure do justice to Hill’s vision with cautious textures, energetic moments and no lack of swing fun that’s anchored by Whitaker’s adaptable bass playing.

Travels well with: Lincoln Goines- The Art Of The Bass Choir; Eric Jacobson- Discover

Mike Pope

Songs For People (High & Low)

Blind Owl, 2022

9/10

Listen to Songs For People (High & Low)

A veteran singer-songwriter from Southern California, Mike Pope may bring to mind Leonard Cohen or Paul Clayton , and his memorable song craft certainly holds its own against those legends. Amazingly, until 2022 he had never recorded an album, so he decided to release two at the same time.

“Mirror” starts the listen with Pope’s soaring vocals and intricate guitar playing that benefits much from 3 part harmonies, and “Steep Cracked Rocks” follows with mesmerizing guitar picking that might remind you of the first time you heard Elliott Smith, and his vocal delivery is just as distinct, too.

Deeper into the listen, the gorgeous instrumentation of “Shooting Star” is full of vivid storytelling that’s as emotive as it is stirring, while “My Gods” recruits an ominousness that showcases firm keys and moody strings.

Further still, “None But The Rain”, a Townes Van Zandt tune, focuses on vocals in its bare melody and nearly gospel presence, and “Maryanne (Again And Again)” exits with a washboard amid an old time feel that’s rootsy and charming.

A very well thought out listen that’s both romantic and tragic, Pope’s vision is one of careful observation, and he’s got feistiness about him that parallels Joe Strummer, which could never be a bad thing.

Travels well with: Kurt Rosenwinkel- Stars Of Jupiter; Creature And The Woods- J Tree

Gogol Bordello

Solidaritine

Casa Gogol, 2022

10/10

Listen to Solidaritine

The New York gypsy punks Gogol Bordello return with their 8th album, and it’s a collection of tunes that surround survival and perseverance, which is quite fitting considering not only the pandemic, but the war in the frontman Euguen Hutz’s native Ukraine.

“Shot Of Solidaritine” starts the listen with gritty folk punk that erupts into swift and uproarious, anthemic ideas, and “Focus Coin” follows with some ska-punk nods amid the crisp drums and playful rhythm.

Elsewhere, H.R. of Bad Brains make an appearance on the raw yet melodic sounds of the string friendly “The Era Of The End Of Eras”, while “Take What Only You Can” features KAZKA across the Eastern European influences that meet at a place of harmonic punk prowess.

Approaching the end, “Fire On Ice Floe” is both raw and folk driven with a hint of cabaret rock sounds, and “Huckleberry Generation” exits with a blistering pace of raging, memorable and multi-faceted hardcore.

The always impressive Walter Schreifels (Quicksand, Rival Schools, Gorilla Biscuits) turned the knobs on this one, and it makes for a timeless soundtrack of unity and power that’s easily the best work Gogol Bordello have done yet.

Travels well with: DeVotchka- This Night Falls Forever; Rogue Wave- Nightingale Floors

Juraj Kojs

Orchid Music

Neuma, 2022

9/10

Listen to Orchid Music

A listen that actually allows us to hear the sounds of an orchid thanks to genome sequencing and data mapping, Juraj Kojs documents the dynamic communication of these house flowers via drums sounds, samples and synth prowess.

“Florida Native Orchid DNA Sonified” starts the listen with 10 chapters, where the initial swift robot like talking of “Pogonia ophioglossoides” segues into the sounds of a typewriter in “Cyrtopodium punctatum”, as well as the sci-fi droning of “Epidendrum anceps”. This portion exits with the bright synth of “Encyclia tampensis”, which is quite animated in a spacey, New Wave sort of fashion.

Arriving near the end, the many voices talking on “The Orchid Quartet” alongside light percussive sounds is quite mesmerizing, and “Florida Orchid DNA Synthesizer and Sequencer Improvisation” exits with a swift and cinematic manipulation of sound with plenty of gentle, creative electronic ideas present.

A very inventive listen that meshes people, flowers and technology in a very artistic way, every moment here is unpredictable, captivating and warrants repeated listens.

Travels well with: Alex Lubet- Songs In Time Of Plague; Dan Kurfirst- Arkinetics

Moonfruits

Salt

Self-Released, 2022

9/10

Listen to Salt

Kaitlin Milroy and Alex Millaire, i.e. Moonfruits, return with their sophomore album, and it’s a diverse and distinct version of modern folk sounds that welcomes many players for the orchestral and chamber nods that are quite striking.

“Brittle Earth” starts the listen with a very unique version of Americana, where playful banjo and glowing vocal harmonies unfold amid much atmosphere, and “Pretzel Bell” follows with more presence on drumming in the dreamy folk delivery that’s layered precisely.

In the middle, “Loki” uses acoustic guitar strategically alongside the expressive singing and lush textures, while “Ladder Song” focuses on the agile voices in a darker landscape of creative chamber folk prowess.

Close to the end, the frisky and old time feel of “Seven Billion” makes this the album’s best, and the very pretty “Moon Cradle” finishes with a mesmerizing appeal that’s sublime balladry at its finest.

Though Millaire’s rugged baritone, and Milroy’s choral-experienced mezzo are certainly the focus here, the violin, harp and double bass certainly complement the song craft superbly, as Moonfruits make the most of the 12 focused tracks.

Travels well with: Ollee Owens- Through The Darkest Night; Lunar Bloom- Lunar Bloom

Annika Chambers & Paul Deslauriers

Good Trouble

VizzTone, 2022

8/10

Listen to Good Trouble

The powerhouse duo of Annika Chambers & Paul Deslauriers come together for a soulful, blues-rock effort that includes both covers and originals, and often tackles social issues with strong attention to detail.

“You’ve Got To Believe” starts the listen with Chambers’ soaring pipes alongside warm mandolin and searing guitar work, and “Stand Up” follows with some funk flavor in the soulful rock that makes great use of Kim Richardson’s well timed backing vocals.

Elsewhere, “Walk A Mile In My Shoes” benefits from Barry Seelen’s organ prowess and Gary Davenport’s precise bass to complement Chambers’ expressive singing, while the gritty “We Got The Blues” brings no lack of melody to the thumping climate.

Closer to the end, “Money’s Funny” places Bernard ‘Bingo’ Deslauriers on drums and Alex McElcheran on bass for the lively and dynamic rocker, and the fuzzy “I Need More Power” burns slow with a timeless and rugged finish that’s quite memorable.

A project that began during the pandemic when Chambers and Deslauriers, who were newlyweds, got together with the guitarist JP Soars and drummer Chris Peet for some home studio sessions. The endeavor continued to grow into this exceptional listen, which is, thankfully, probably not the last collaboration between the couple.

Travels well with: Kat Riggins- Progeny; Crystal Shawanda- Midnight Blues

The Lucky Losers

Standin’ Pat

VizzTone, 2022

9/10

Listen to Standin’ Pat

The San Francisco outfit, The Lucky Losers, return with 11 original tunes, where Cathy Lemons and Phil Berkowitz, the movers and shakers behind the band, deliver plenty of retro, soul, blues and Americana sounds.

“Pack Up The Bags” starts the listen with Chris Burns’ lively keys, as bright brass from Michael Peloquin, Brian Catania and Mike Rinta complement Lemons’ soulful pipes, and “Somewhere In The Middle” follows with Berkowitz’s playful harmonica and Jon Otis’ proficient drumming adding much to the harmonic and gritty blues rock.

In the middle, the intimate spirit of “Down In Memphis Town” benefits much from Peloquin’s glowing sax and Ian Lanson’s meticulous electric guitar, while the frisky delivery of “Rust Belt Blues” bounces with Endre Tarczy’s animated bass and Lemons’ soaring pipes front and center.

Residing near the end, the powerful “They Wrecked My Town” benefits from Kid Andersen’s agile organ playing and the poetic singing, and the lively title track exits with Terry Hanck’s charming tenor sax and the pair’s lovely vocal harmonies that we could never tire of.

An extremely diverse affair that even touches on funk and R&B, Lemons and Berkowitz and company really have created something special, and there just isn’t a moment here that’s not top notch and worth repeated listens.

Travels well with: Ben Levin- Take Your Time; Al Baslie- Through With Cool

Mark Erelli

Lay Your Darkness Down

Soundly, 2022

9/10

Listen to Lay Your Darkness Down

The singer-songwriter and guitarist Mark Erelli was diagnosed with degenerative eye disease recently, and along with that came a lot of uncertainty about his creative future. It also made him take a more deliberate approach to his song craft, as he recorded this album slowly, at home, before having some friends contribute.

“Break In The Clouds” opens the listen with a very warm spirit, where a breezy Americana formula unfolds with Dave Brophy’s agile drumming complementing Erelli’s inviting voice, and “Fuel For The Fire” follows with Anthony da Costa’s proficient electric guitar and Zachariah Hickman’s strategic bass making for a stirring, rootsy affair.

At the halfway point, “You” offers a bare and poetic display of slow burning emotion, while “Sense Of Wonder”, the best track, recruits folk influences amid the intricate acoustic guitar and vivid storytelling.

Moving towards the end, “Lay Your Darkness Down” welcomes Lori McKenna’s sublime backing vocals for the powerful and intimate version of Americana, and “Love Wins The Long Run” exits with a fuller approach via Charlie Rose’s glowing pedal steel alongside the playful strumming, punchy drums and, of course, Erelli’s friendly pipes.

Erelli has been faced with a possible life changing diagnosis, but he’s taken that adversity and parlayed it into some of his best work to date, and a must listen for fans of Americana/roots/folk-rock that’s wise and timeless.

Travels well with: John Fullbright- The Liar; Peter Mulvey & Sistastrings- Love Is The Only Thing

Alex Lubet

Songs In Time Of Plague

Neuma, 2022

8/10

Listen to Songs In Time Of Plague

The midwestern multi-instrumentalist Alex Lubet pens a very atypical solo effort here, where steel guitar and mountain dulcimer are utilized across 18 tracks of spontaneous song craft.

“On The Seventh Hour”, the lone track with steel guitar, opens with a bare, mysterious quality, where space and tension are fleshed out with strong attention to detail for the 18 absorbing minutes.

“Seventeen Songs In Time Of Plague” follows, and presents 17 chapters that range from the soft and pretty “Generation”, to the intricate progressions of the flowing “Occasion”. Further still, “Space” is particularly sparse with its well timed and poetic bouts of strings, while the final track, “Eternity”, emits a dreamy quality, where firm playing exits the listen with much allure.

An improvised affair that is highly technical, Lubet doesn’t use a pick, hammer, capos or any other tools here, and his very skilled playing is quite colorful and textured superbly across the experimental, enjoyable listen.

Travels well with: Dan Kurfirst- Arkinetics; Lawson & Merrill- Signals

Tucker Brothers

Two Parts

Self-Released, 2019

8/10

Listen to Two Parts

A duo of Joel and Nick Tucker, the esteemed brothers take help from Sean Imboden on tenor sax and Brian Yarde handling drums on this very accomplished and dynamci effort where guests are also present.

“Warm Heart” starts the listen with help from Elena Escudero on the atmospheric and slightly haunting yet graceful opening, and “When Souls Meet” find a jazz friendly and rhythmic place to reside with Walter Smith III’s skills on tenor saxophone.

Elsewhere, “Lifely” recruits a spirited mood as Joel Tucker’s guitar acrobatics shine, while “Two Parts”, one of the album highlights, shines with intricate fusion as Ellie Pruneau contributes her sublime piano skills.

At the end, “Heavy Drop” flows with a contemplative setting on the bass heavy, brass filled 9 minutes, and “Return To Balance” exits the listen with the vast talent of the Tucker Brothers evident on the multifaceted, timeless jazz approach.

Both Tucker brothers are educators in addition to being veteran players, and with Two Parts they bring their vast skill and experience to this strong and proficient 3rd album since 2015.

Travels well with: Emi Takada- Why Did I Choose You?; Pablo Ziegler Chamber Quartet- Radiotango