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Joey De Leon
MONK'estra: MONK'estra Plays John Beasley
by Jack Bowers
The MONK'estra is actually a number of groups of various shapes and sizes, from duo to big band, assembled under the guiding hand of composer, arranger & pianist John Beasley towait for it!"play John Beasley," an artist whose admiration for Thelonious Sphere Monk is clear throughout this buoyant and resourceful album, as it was on Volumes 1 and 2 of the series, in which the MONK'estra played Monk." Beasley wrote eight of the album's fourteen genial numbers ...
read moreThe Echo Park Project: It's My Turn
by Jack Bowers
There is an abundance of salsa and soul (soulful salsa?) on It's My Turn, the sixth recording by conguero Carlo Lopez's Los Angeles-based Echo Park Project. Most of the sunny, light-hearted music was written and arranged by Joe Mannozzi (the one exception is bassist John Belzaguy's Can't Complain"). These tunes," Lopez says, are for listeners and dancers alike." That must be true, as it is hard to keep the feet from moving and toes from tapping as one's ears are ...
read moreBob Holz: Live in New York & L.A.
by Dan Bilawsky
While Live in New York & L.A. is a split-scene production crossing coasts, spanning several years and utilizing different personnel lists, it offers a cohesive playlist. Not surprisingly, Bob Holz ties everything together with his kit and charisma. Mixing standards and originals to good effect, this Berklee-trained drummer, who previously worked with everybody from guitarist Larry Coryell to trumpeter Randy Brecker to bassist Stanley Clarke, is always in his element. Frontloading the album with half a dozen ...
read moreJohn Beasley: MONK'estra Plays John Beasley
by Jim Worsley
In 2016 John Beasley gifted us with John Beasley Presents Monk'estra Volume 1 (Mack Avenue). The buzz of that superb record led to John Beasley Presents Monk'estra Volume 2 (Mack Avenue, 2017). Both records were Grammy nominated for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album. They were both more than Grammy worthy, but alas the competition is fierce. Beasley has been more than a Thelonious Monk fan throughout his life, including his now over forty years in the music industry. ...
read moreCarol Welsman: Dance With Me
by Edward Blanco
Vocalist and pianist Carol Welsman always had an affinity for Latin rhythms and often included the element in her music. In fact, producing an album where the Latin side of jazz is the main focus has been a longtime dream that she finally fulfills on Dance with Me. The music is a delightful excursion into the Latin jazz genre with arrangements that touch on boleros, salsa, cha cha cha and even calypso. One of the main highlights of the recording ...
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A Night In Tunisia
From: Live in New York & L.ABy Joey De Leon