I recently downloaded two new releases, both by ax–wielding women, Catherine Delgadillo, a guitarist, and bassist Tal Wilkenfeld, who started out on guitar before switching instruments. Both of these young women show promise, poise and maturity on these, their debut releases. Delgadillo’s Paradise Swamp is a fusion offering that treads very heavily in progressive instrumental [...]

Another recording I came across, searching for information on current jazz recordings I’ve recently picked, on MySpace, is Brian Mitchell’s Rhythm & Poetry. I never heard of Mitchell, but he’s on a few of my recent acquisitions. This is one funky release. “The Duo” of Marco Benevento and Joe Russo, along with Mike Dillon, aids [...]

Wow! Until I received Timeless World to review, I’d never heard of Chris Geith. According to his biography, he’s an accomplished songwriter and musician who has had over 1.4 million of his songs downloaded. Here’s to the democracy that the web brings to the music industry! Bio aside, this much I know: Geith’s latest gem [...]

I’ve been listening to Lunar Orbit, Karl Denson’s first studio release, outside of a few download-only tracks I stumbled upon last year, in quite sometime. I’ll admit I’ve been a fan of Denson’s since 2001 when I picked up his Blue Note release, Dance Lesson #2, so I’d been on the lookout for this release [...]

Josh Roseman’s latest recording is horn-driven, funked out, spacey reggae with a dose of dub tossed in for good measure. Roseman’s trombone, whether it’s straight and buttery, muted, electrified, or chorused is front and center on all the tunes. Like his two earlier recordings, Cherry and the very excellent Treats For The Nightwalker, New Constellations [...]

I’ve listened to Metro’s latest release a half dozen times over the last week – and I’ve probably read and re-read the ContemporaryJazz.com Forum thread regarding Express just as many times. I’m not sure if I get it or I’m missing something – yes, this release is not as rocking and balls to the wall [...]

I first came across T Lavitz, when I picked up his Extended Play recording in late 1985. I had no idea at the time who T Lavitz was, but I recognized Chet Catallo, Eli Konikoff and Dave Samuels of Spyro Gyra, so I took a chance and bought the LP. I liked what I heard, [...]

A veteran keyboardist who’s played with Tony Williams in his Lifetime band, Alan Pasqua has released a seven track jewel of a fusion masterpiece that harkens back to Miles (i.e., In A Silent Way), the Headhunters, and Weather Report. In fact, every time I listen to The Anti Social Club, I keep hearing more influences. [...]

For the last week I’ve been trying to find the right words to describe veteran studio saxophonist Mark Hollingsworth’s latest release, Chasing the Sun. I keep going back and re-listening to these well composed, excellently performed, but totally dissimilar 13 tracks. How best to describe what’s on Chasing the Sun; Brecker Brother-ish, Steely Dan like, [...]

Hemispheres is a new group recording from Joel Rosenblatt on drums (late of Spyro Gyra), Ric Fierabracci on bass (latest trio recording with Frank Gambale and Virgil Donati), and Australian keyboardist Phil Turcio. These three music veterans, along with a little help from friends like Eric Marienthal, Gary Meek, Bill Evans, Steve Tavaglione, Christian Howe, [...]