C'mon Tigre

Habitat

Intersuoni, 2023

9/10

Listen to Habitat

The 4th album from the unique collective C’mon Tigre, Habitat surrounds themes of the ecosystem and how various aspects of life, both animal and vegetal, thrive and coexist via their powerful fusion sounds

“Goodbye Reality” opens the listen with warm brass amid the cultured drumming and rhythmic sensibilities of the soothing climate, and “The Botanist” follows with Seun Kuti’s contributions helping make for a soulful, Afro-beat album highlight.

In the middle, “Sixty Four Seasons” is layered with much melody in the busy but very controlled, guitar fueled song craft, while “Nomad At Home” makes great use of scrappy drums and dreamy vibes for the stylish, rich delivery.

Closer to the end, “Sento Un Morso Dolce” welcomes Giovanni Truppi to the vocally swift and highly animated landscape of worldly dance rock, and “Keep Watching Me” exits with Arto Lindsay’s distinct voice helping cultivate a rare intimacy.

A listen steeped in Brazilian traditions, African jazz, modern electronica and avant-garde rock, this is an entirely unpredictable and exciting body of work, i.e. what we’ve come to expect and appreciate from C’mon Tigre.

Travels well with: Serena Ferrara & Simone Mor- Kemana; Savana Funk- Ghibli

Joe Bonamassa

Tales Of Time

J&R, 2023

10/10

Listen to Tales Of Time

An excellent live recording that features tracks from his latest #1 studio album, Time Clocks, Joe Bonamassa captured this set at the legendary Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado in August 2022.

“Notches” opens the listen with cultured drumming and spoken word, before Bonamassa’s soaring guitar and the thumping drums enter the soulful blues rock, and “The Heart That Never Waits” follows with a trio of soulful backing singers complementing the rhythmic landscape.

Deeper into the set, the thick and rugged “Questions And Answers” uses dreamy percussion strategically, while “Known Unknowns” showcases the cautious rhythm section amid Bonamassa’s powerful pipes and meticulous guitar.

Further still, the busy and melodic “Just ‘Cos You Can Don’t Mean You Should”, the set’s best, is both intimate and hard hitting in Bonamassa’s inimitable version of the blues, and “Evil Mama” exits with plenty of crunch alongside the atmospheric organ and gospel influences.

Perhaps his most progressive and biggest production yet, Bonamassa and his superb band flesh out one memorable blues song after another, and the DVD portion comes with songs not on the CD plus bonus material, for yet another essential release from today’s best in the area of the blues.

Travels well with: Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band- Trouble Is… 25; Walter Trout- Ride;

Amy Stroup

Since Frank

Self-Released, 2023

8/10

Listen to Since Frank

The Nashville resident Amy Stroup already has an impressive resume with song placement on This Is Us, Parenthood, Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice, Vampire Diaries, and Walking Dead, among many others, and this 4th solo album has the artist displaying a rich and emotional honesty.

The listen opens with the soft piano of “Valley”, where graceful strings and playful synthetic drums make for a dreamy climate, and “Just The Beginning” follows with a soothing gospel influence that spotlights Stroup’s expressive voice amid some modern pop ideas.

“Break The Feeling” occupies the middle spot, and flows with an intimate spirit that benefits much from soft guitar work and crunchy drums, while “Sleep In” emits some hazy pop-folk ideas that are charming and poetic.

“Sailboat” and “Self Talk” exit the listen, where the former is textured playfully with a busy but melodic approach, and the latter radiates a swirling energy of dance floor ready nods that are as meticulous as they are memorable.

A listen inspired by her trip with her dog, Frank, Stroup’s clearly done a lot of soul searching lately, and it makes for a very well thought out and lush affair that illustrates her inimitable talents outside the work for Google, Nike and Lexus that she’s known for.

Travels well with: Rachel Sumner & Traveling Light- Rachel Sumner & Traveling Light; Jane Bruce- My Bed

Grant Geissman

Blooz

Futurism, 2023

9/10

Listen to Blooz

The long running guitarist and composer Grant Geissman returns with a 16th album, where his atypical version of the blues welcomes a large cast for 12 very diverse tracks.

The gospel fueled “Preach” opens with Randy Brecker’s trumpet for the warm climate, and “Side Hustle” follows with Trey Henry’s upright bass and Jim Cox’s Hammond B3 complementing Geissman’s mesmerizing guitar work.

Further along, “Fat Back” welcomes Tom Scott’s well timed sax and Russell Ferrante’s playful electric piano for the melodic textures, while “Robben’s Hood” gets plenty funky thanks to Robben Ford’s meticulous guitar and Ray Brinker’s agile drumming.

Approaching the end, “Whitewalls And Big Fins” finds itself in Rockabilly territory thanks to Bernie Dresel’s frisky drums and John Jorgenson’s animated guitar, and “Sorry Not Sorry” exits with a mournful, bluesy appeal via Ferrante’s cozy guitar and dreamy atmosphere.

Even if Geissman’s name isn’t familiar to you, you’ve already heard his work as he’s scored plenty of TV and film, including the theme song for Two and a Half Men, and this highly creative body of work continues his non-traditional view of jazz that you can’t help but admire.

Travels well with: John Allee- Past Imperfect; Ben Cassara- What A Way To Go!

Bob Corritore & Friends

High Rise Blues

VizzTone, 2023

8/10

Listen to High Rise Blues

Bob Corritore’s Vault series continues with a focus on blues from Chicago, where the 14 previously unreleased tunes were captured over a 30 year span (1992-2022), and feature Corritore’s inimitable harmonica prowess.

“Last Time” opens the listen with help from Jimmy Rogers for the raw, harmonica fueled blues that’s raw and rhythmic, and “Buddy Buddy Friends” follows with Magic Slim’s gritty, soulful pipes front and center in the energetic climate.

Closer to the middle, “Candy Bars” recruits Manuel Arrington’s talk singing that complements Corritore’s fluid harmonica, while “Honey Where You Going” benefits much from Sam Lay’s expressive pipes amid the crisp rhythm section and breezy melody.

Near to the end, Willie ‘Big Eyes’ Smith adds his soaring pipes to the rugged blues of “She’s Alright”, and “Caught In The Act” exits with Lil’ Ed’s contributions that help cultivate an intimate yet powerful finish.

An excellent representation of some of Chicago’s finest, Corritore again makes for some timeless and robust blues that is universally enjoyable.

Travels well with: Bob Corritore & Friends- Women In High Places; Bob Corritore & Friends- You Shocked Me

Matt Charette & The Truer Sound

Lo Fi High Hopes

Self-Released, 2023

10/10

Listen to Lo Fi High Hopes

A very active musician in Boston’s always fertile music scene, Matt Charette plays a unique version of punk fueled Americana, where plenty of grit is present in his working class anthems.

“4x4” gets the listen off to a rugged start, where Charette’s gruff yet tuneful voice is met with Greg Hoffman’s thumping drums for the melodic roots rock, and “Anywhere” follows with a rural beauty that benefits much from Cody Nilsen’s warm pedal steel.

Further down the line, the cautious strumming of “Feel” is met with Charette’s poetic and sincere singing amid Chris Coughlin’s agile keys, while the louder “Wrecking Ball” welcomes Nick Scotti’s dense bass lines alongside the crisp drums and versatile singing of the more punk spirited album highlight about the pandemic’s darkest days.

Landing near the end, the intimate “Hard Way” builds into an emotive, country-punk demeanor, and “How It’s Going To End” exits with a rich and harmonic version of Americana that parallels the greatness achieved by Tim Barry.

Charette’s resume includes his formative years in punk bands like the Scrapes, and after seeing the Boston legend Lenny Lashley go solo, Charette made the leap to the stage with just his guitar. Certainly still indebted to his days listening to Black Flag and The Clash, Lo Fi High Hopes puts an incredible spin on alt-country that you can’t help but admire.

Travels well with: Lucero- Should’ve Learned By Now; Cory Branan- The No-Hit Wonder

Mark Lewis

Sunlight Shines In

Audio Daddio, 2023

8/10

Listen to Sunlight Shines In

The legally blind Puget Sound native Mark Lewis is well versed in saxophone and flute based song craft, and Ron Kobayashi, Bab Elefante, Steve Dixon and Nolan Shaheed are in attendance for these 11 creative tunes.

“Lunar Escape” opens the listen with much warmth, as Lewis’ cozy alto sax is met with Kobayashi’s comforting keys in the reflective climate, and “Mike’s Tango” follows with Lewis handling flute for the stirring display of meticulous beauty.

Further along, “Leaving Fall Behind” has Nolan Shaheed’s well timed trumpet helping cultivate a charming intimacy that benefits from Lewis’ absorbing flute, while the upbeat “Square B” spotlights Dixon’s agile drumming for the swift album highlight.

Arriving near the end, “Swami’s Song” has Lewis emitting a soulfulness via his tenor sax amid Elefante’s alluring bass playing, and “Lovely Dancer” exits with the careful rhythm section suiting Lewis’ skilled sax prowess.

Lewis has assembled an astonishing 1700+ compositions, and these pieces are full of melody, imagination and a heartfelt demeanor that will appeal to any fan of jazz from any era.

Travels well with: Mark Lewis Quartet- Naked Animals; Steve Gadd Band- At Blue Note Tokyo

Javier Nero Jazz Orchestra

Kemet (The Black Land)

Outside In, 2023

9/10

Listen to Kemet (The Black Land)

The trombonist, composer, educator and arrangers Dr. Javier Nero pens an exiting sophomore album, where the themes of Kemet, the ancient Egyptian, progressive black civilization, is fleshed out with many players on brass and a particularly luminous rhythm section.

“The Blues Reincarnated” opens the listen with Luke Brimhall’s bright trombone and Josh Richman’s expressive piano helping make for a rich, dynamic display of lively jazz sounds, and “Time” follows with Ben Patterson’s meticulous trombone and William Ledbetter’s animated bass playing that illuminates the animated drumming from Kyle Swan.

Further along, “Nostalgic Haiku” finds a calmer place to reside, where James Collins’ cozy piano and Fran Vielma’s well timed percussion makes for a dreamy climate, while the title track benefits much from Nero’s wordless singing and textured brass.

Closer to the end, “One Day”, the album’s best, blends Regan Brough’s sublime bass and Ben Bokor’s airy flute via the cinematic qualities, and “Jam #3 (In C# Minor)” brings both adventurous and reflective ideas into the swirling, mesmerizing atmosphere.

A listen that spans conflict, freedom, yearning and contemplation, you can tell a lot of work went into this listen, and it certainly resonates long after the music stops.

Travels well with: Septology- The Black Forest Session; Scott Peptito- Many Worlds

Noshir Mody

A Love Song

Self-Released, 2023

8/10

Listen to A Love Song

The guitarist and composer Noshir Mody returns with 5 tunes that explore love and life via modern (mostly) instrumental jazz that welcomes Kate Victor, Benjamin Hankie, Campbell Charshee, Yuka Tadano and Ronen Itzik to the rich climate.

‘What Tomorrow May Bring” opens the listen with Itzik’s frisky drums and Tadano’s upbeat bass complementing Mody dreamy guitar tone in the shimmering atmosphere, and “The Yards” follows with a calmer demeanor of elegant instrumentation that showcases Charshee’s flowing piano playing.

“Mystic” occupies the middle spot, and emits a rare intimacy via the introspective guitar and soulful flugelhorn from Hankie, while “In Absence Of Answers” allows the meticulous rhythm section to shine amid the agile keys. “A Long Song” exits the listen, and spotlights Victor’s lovely vocals that suit the pretty guitar, reflective bass and light drums.

A listen that balances solo moments with collaborative bursts, Mody and company pay close to attention to mood, and it really does draw the listener in immediately.

Travels well with: Kevin O’Connell Quartet- Hot New York Minute; Tomas Janzon- Nomadic

Tracy Nelson

Life Don’t Miss Nobody

BMG, 2023

8/10

Listen to Life Don’t Miss Nobody

The legendary roots singer Tracy Nelson returns with her first album in over a decade, and she’s got some well known guests along for the songs that tell the story of her humble beginnings to world wide fame.

“Strange Things Happening Every Day” opens the listen with John Gardner’s animated drums and Byron House’s frisky upright bass making for an upbeat and swinging climate that showcases Nelson’s soulful, booming voice, and “There Is Always One More Time” follows with Mickey Raphael’s emotive harmonica adding much to the cautious, poetic beauty.

Halfway through, “Yonder Come The Blues” showcases Steve Conn’s warm piano and Doug Mosher’s soothing clarinet that complements Nelson’s cozy voice, while the upbeat shuffling of “Honky Tonkin’” welcomes Willie Nelson’s inimitable pipes to the lively energy.

Close to the end, “Where Do You Go (When You Can’t Go Home)” finds itself in gospel territory thanks to the precise backing vocals from Dianne Davidson, Vickie Carrico, Reba Russell, and Issac Ferguson Dillard, and a solo version of “Hard Times” exits with Nelson’s stirring voice and acoustic 12 string finishing the listen with much sincerity.

A very diverse effort that illustrates a wealth of talent and experience, let’s hope it isn’t another 10 years before Nelson makes music, cause her forthright song craft is much needed during these often turbulent times.

Travels well with: Meredith Moon- Constellations; Lynn Miles- TumbleTweedyWorld

Chloe Jean

Fairy Tale Fail

Rhythmus, 2023

9/10

Listen to Fairy Tale Fail

The jazz vocalist Chloe Jean brings us covers and original music that comes with autobiographical lyrics, which makes for a very personal listen that enlists a large cast of musicians for the 11 timeless tracks.

“Black Sheep” opens the listen with Marc van Wageningen’s bouncy bass and Billy Johnson’s agile drums complementing Jean’s very expressive singing, and “Cry Me A River” follows with Mike Olmos’ warm flugelhorn and Peter Horvath’s moody keys that suit Jean’s soulful pipes.

Further along, “Don’t Know Why”, a song popularized by Norah Jones, sees a playful spin that welcomes Dan Feiszli’s frisky bass amid Jean’s breathing singing, while “Free” benefits much from Jason Lewis’ light drumming and Ray Obiedo’s dreamy guitar, not to mention the poetic vocals.

“Crazy”, which was recorded live, is a gorgeous original that shows how much Jean’s voice radiates outside the studio, too, and takes company from Colin Douglas’ cozy drumming, and the charming “Blues Skies” exits with just David K. Matthews’ acoustic piano and Jean’s versatile delivery making an indelible impression.

A breast cancer survivor, Jean’s will and dedication to all avenues of her life have kept her creativity intact and admirable, as evidenced by this captivating listen.

Travels well with: Ellie Martin- Verdant; Tatiana Eva-Marie- Two At The Most

The Waymores

Greener Pastures

Chicken Ranch, 2023

9/10

Listen to Greener Pastures

The Atlanta residents Willie Neal and Kira Annalise, i.e. The Waymores, bring in some serious session players, including Dave Pearlman, Terry Wilson, James ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson, Phil Parlapiano and Tony Braunagel for these live 10 tracks of their timeless brand of Americana.

“Under Your Spell Again” opens the listen with Pearlman’s warm steel guitar alongside the cozy vocal harmonies of the roots flavor, and “Flashbacks Of A Fool” follows with plenty of soul amid Braunagel’s crisp drumming in the upbeat country rock.

Halfway through, the frisky, dance floor ready “Greener Pastures” showcases plenty of melody that benefits from Hutchinson’s skilled bass, and while the twinkly, aching “Don’t Worry” recruits classic country nods to the dreamy appeal.

Close to the end, the snappy, toe tappin’ “She’s Gone” carries an infectious energy, and “Tavern Time” exits with Parlapiano’s lively keys and animated rhythm section complementing Neal’s baritone and Annalise’s pretty voice.

Their most collaborative effort to date, and certainly one of their best, too, the gorgeous harmonies, sing-along choruses and meticulous instrumentation make Greener Pastures a must for fans of roots, country, folk, Americana and singer-songwriter ideas.

Travels well with: Ian Jones- Results Not Typical; Peter Case- Doctor Moan

Peter One

Come Back To Me

Verve, 2023

8/10

Come Back To Me

After a 3 decade hiatus from music, the West African star Peter One returns with country-folk and Afro-pop ideas via this first record on a major label, and it welcomes 10 well thought out songs.

“Cherie Vico” opens the listen with warm, soulful singing alongside cozy plucking and rhythmic percussion in the careful climate, and “Kavudu” follows with a sublime dreaminess that welcomes expressive singing for a poetic landscape.

“Sweet Rainbow” occupies the middle spot, where a soothing quality is complemented by the calm melody, while “On My Own” showcases One’s powerful and absorbing voice for the emotive album highlight.

At the end, “Bonne Année” spotlights the meticulous acoustic guitar and light drumming with a cultured approach, and “Birds Go Die Out Of Sight (Don’t Go Home)” exits with timeless folk qualities that make great use of the subdued, playful instrumentation.

One is retiring from his nursing career, and eager to get back into making music, and though his 1985 effort Our Garden Needs Its Flowers might be what he’s best known for, I would be willing to bet his current work will be trumping that soon thanks to his worldly vision of folk music.

Travels well with: Sunny War- Anarchist Gospel; Melissa Carper- Ramblin’ Soul

CRM

My Lunch

Self-Released, 2023

8/10

Listen to My Lunch

The Italian post-punk outfit CRM (Customer Relationship Madness) return with a sophomore album, where psychedelic and electronic ideas are present across 9 exciting and animated tracks.

“Interference” opens the listen with a warm beat and a soundbite, as the 7+ minutes buzzes with bright synth from Francesca Ronconi and Luca Palazzi’s expressive vocals, and “Buy” follows with a spacey feel amid the thumping drum machine and Francesco Degli Innocenti’s swirling guitar.

“My Lunch” and “Mirror” land in the middle, where the former offers a strategic, dense feel that’s got some sci-fi appeal to it thanks to Gianpaolo Rosato’s bass skills, while the latter floats with a dreamy, cinematic quality that segues into darker textures.

Close to the end, “Vanity Wheel” carries an almost jazz feel thanks to the mesmerizing piano and brass sounds, and “Jesus’s Back” exits with a truly unique formula of glowing synth, hypnotic guitar and loud drums for the fascinating finish.

A highly creative effort, CRM use industrial, New Wave and noise-rock to their advantage, too, as each track here is meticulously executed.

Travels well with: Wolf Eyes- Dreams In Splattered Lines; ERYRX- Psychological Projective

Don Braden

Earth Wind And Wonder Vol. 2

Self-Released, 2023

8/10

Listen to Earth Wind And Wonder Vol. 2

The inimitable saxophonist Don Braden brings his exceptional vision to songs by Earth, Wind & Fire and Stevie Wonder- 2 of his early influences- and he’s got some excellent company for the 9 exciting interpretations.

“In The Stone” gets the listen off to a rich, dynamic start, where Braden’s soaring sax is complemented by Art Hirahara’s lively keys and Jeremy Warren’s fluid drumming, and “Master Blaster (Jammin’)” follows with Kenny Davis’ thick bass adding much to the soulful climate.

Halfway through, “Profusion” allows Miki Hayama’s dizzying key acrobatics to shine amid Braden’s meticulous sax playing, while “Send One Your Love” finds an intimate place to reside via the dreamy brass, introspective piano and calm bass work.

“Creepin’” and “That’s The Way Of The World” exit the listen, where the former makes great use of Braden’s airy flute and Kahlil Kwame Bell’s warm percussion, and the latter bops and shakes with an infectious energy of cozy, harmonic, timeless jazz.

Braden sure does justice to these originals, and it makes for rhythmic, harmonic and melodic jazz sensibilities that sure are a lot of fun to listen to.

Travels well with: Alex Weitz- Rule Of Thirds; Nick Finzer- Dreams, Visions, Illusions

Tony Holiday

Motel Mississippi

Forty Below, 2023

8/10

Listen to Motel Mississippi

The Memphis Soul blues revivalist Tony Holiday returns with a sophomore album, where North Mississippi Hill Country, Delta Blues, and Memphis soul ideas are present and appreciated.

“Rob & Steal” opens the listen with Lee Williams Jr.’s thumping drums and blues friendly guitar playing amid Holiday’s soulful pipes, and “Get By” follows with warm keys alongside Holiday’s smooth voice that comes with well timed backing vocals and spirited harmonica.

Halfway through, “She’s So Cold” emits a punchy climate that’s packed with gentle melody, while “Just As Gone” shuffles with a honky tonk energy that will get your body moving to the snappy rhythm.

The last 2 tracks are among the best, where “You Know Who I Am” showcases a mysterious atmosphere of stylish and bouncy blues on the softer side of the equation, and “Yazoo River” exits with a festive demeanor of frisky drumming, cozy harmonica and infectious bass lines from Terrence Grayson.

In addition to the above, Holiday is joined by A.J. Fullerton (guitar, banjo), Dave Gross (guitar, accordion, backing vocals, keys, percussion, Moog synth), Aubrey McCrady (guitar), Victor Wainwright (keys), Mikey Junior (backing vocals) and Jake Friel (harmonica). Together, they make for a collaborative, rich body of work that’s both modern and retro, and will require multiple listens.

Travels well with: Mike Pope- Ripening (Ain’t It Strange); The Claudettes- The Claudettes Go Out!

Erik Friedlander

She Sees

Skipstone, 2023

8/10

Listen to She Sees

The cellist Erik Friedlander brings along his ‘garage band from the 2020’s’, Sentinel, for these 10 tracks of diverse chamber ideas.

“Baskets, Biscuits, Rain” opens the listen with Stomu Takeishi’s fluid drumming and Friedlander’s string manipulation that makes his instrument sound like a horn, and “Wit And Whimsy” follows with a more rock focused approach that benefits from Ava Mendoza’s playful guitar playing.

In the middle, “Summit” finds a calmer place to reside, where a dreamy presence of warm strings is met with glowing guitar, while “Ache, Air” showcases sublime cello prowess amid the firm drums and lively guitar playing.

Close to the end, “Rush. Rush Slowly” incorporates more cinematic qualities that spotlight Diego Espinoza’s bass work, and “Moneycake: Corrupting” exits with an extremely unique personality, where the strings sound sci-fi at times, the rest of the quartet make for a dynamic, adventurous finish.

A joyous affair, this is Friedlander’s first release since undergoing Deep Brain Stimulation surgery for his Parkinson’s diagnosis, and with his tremors now gone, he’s able to play cello with no reservations, and it’s allowing him to make some of the best genre-skipping sounds of his career.

Travels well with: Jeff Coffin- Look For Water; Matt Ulery- Mannerist

Maia Sharp

Reckless Thoughts

Self-Released, 2023

8/10

Listen to Reckless Thoughts

The Nashville singer-songwriter Maia Sharp returns with a 9th solo album, where her diverse song craft unfolds with a very personal demeanor that’s sincere, relatable and full of self-examination.

“She’ll Let Herself Out” opens the listen with Sharp’s expressive voice alongside warm guitar and soft drumming in the thoughtful climate, and “Old Dreams” follows with an inviting dreaminess that’s poetic and intimate.

Halfway through, “Kind” displays upbeat and flowing Americana that’s got a bit of ruggedness to it, while “Too Far Now” is full of bare beauty which welcomes soulful sax to the album highlight.

Approaching the end, “Everything You Need” is quite emotive, stirring even, in Sharp’s very eloquent vision, and “The Road To Hell And Back” exits with timeless folk ideas present amid the glowing melody.

Sharp’s resume is exceptional, and includes writing songs for Bonnie Raitt, Trisha Yearwood and Cher, among others, and her solo work is honest, soulful and embraces all the hallmarks of Americana that will always be relevant.

Travels well with: Nicki Bluhm- Avondale Drive; Beth Bombara- It All Goes Up

Gonzalo Grau & La Clave Secreta

De Verdad Verdad

Self-Released, 2023

8/10

Listen to De Verdad Verdad

Gonzalo Grau and company have been interpreting salsa music for 25 years now, and this collection of covers and originals examines our technologically run world, where computers may have replaced the authenticity of daily living.

“Comando Z” opens the listen with Roberto Quintero’s lively congas and Grau’s animated keys to Manolo Mairena’s expressive singing, and “La Runidera” follows with Fausto Cuevas III handling congas and Pablo Bencid’s skilled drumming cultivating cultured melodies for the festive climate.

Further on, “Mis Cuatro Acordes” places Jeremy Bosch on lead vocals for the intimate versus busy dynamic, while “Bajale Dos” showcases Jason Lindner’s synth solo and soaring backing vocals for the rhythmic album highlight.

Deeper still, LaNesha Latimer’s gorgeous voice populates the bright brass and agile piano of “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing”, and “Mi Soniquete” exits with swift drumming, mesmerizing keys and stylish percussion for a highly collaborative and meticulous exit.

The album was recorded live, and it carries a very cozy, spontaneous feel that illuminates the timeless Latin flavor, where the many guests all bring their distinct charm.

Travels well with: Fuat Tuac- Immigrant; 3D Jazz Trio- 9 To 5

Guido Spannocchi

All The Above

Audioguido, 2019

8/10

Listen to All The Above

London’s Guido Spannocchi brought in some serious talent for this 3rd album, and while Spannocchi handles alto sax on the entire affair, his all star companions help flesh out these 12 originals that were influenced by urban life, club culture, and exotic rhythms.

“Moral For Cash” starts the listen with strong percussion before the snappy jazz setting emerges with Tony Kofi handling sax duties, and “Kensington Hanami” follows with warm restraint in the flowing melodies that are immediately enthralling.

Further along, “Ode To Ornette” unfolds with bouncy double bass from Gina Schwarz and elegant interplay between the instruments, while “Aria” has Filippo Galli anchoring the tune with his proficient drums.

Near the end, “Sunday Solitude” offers soft and adventurous sounds, and “Rush Hour War Chant” exits the listen with quick experimental flashes of jazz manipulation that few, if anyone, could replicate.

At nearly an hour, there’s much to absorb here, but Spannocchi and company are so skilled that you’ll be hanging on every unpredictable moment, waiting to hit repeat.

Travels well with: Abdullah Ibrahim- Mindif; Ornette Coleman- Sound Grammar