Having just received our preview copy of Singer-pianist Peter Cincotti's newest release "East of Angel Town", I sat immediately sat down in the studio to take it in. Before I turned the speakers on, memories of the 19 year old's debut in 2003 came back with greatfondness.. "I changed the rules".. "Ain't Misbehavin".. "Comes Love".. the entire album announcing the arrival of fresh talent for us older jazzers. It has been a good while since the last studio release "on the moon" (2004) which I… Continue

My first thoughts over recalling the jazz releases of 2008 brought no immediate standouts. Unlike other years, I didn’t already know my choices for the top 20 or have the usual dread of knowing which would have to be left out in the limited space of such a discussion. In the past days, I have been reading many journalists who have already chosen their favorites and many writers indicate that 2008 was a lackluster year in new jazz offerings. However, I sat down to examine the cast of 2008… Continue

If you were to invite me to a concert of a trio featuring trombone, guitar, and Jew’s harp, and then you would tell me that I would spend two hours loving this ensemble, I would begin drawing from my vast repertoire of calendar ‘excuses’. No way would I commit my precious time to such a scenario. Further, I would never again believe that you could ever understand what I enjoy, the music I savor, or my limits of toleration. Yet, I did attend this concert.. and if I hadn’t, I would have missed… Continue

I have to admit that when I preview new music from a group anchored by the jazz organ, I do so with great hope.. A hope that there will be fresh creativity and diversity within the selections. So many times I receive new ‘burner’ albums where each song, one after the other, sounds like the same session.. then repeated in reverse. I am happy this week. A new CD came into the radioIO studios from the organ based trio ‘Organissimo’. The album is called ‘Groovadelphia’… and it destroys all of the… Continue

Occasionally, a song title will come up in several of our jazz channels with the four letters ‘NSJF’ typed in. After having several inquiries as to what this stands for inspires me to write an explanation for listeners. ‘NSJF’ stands for North Sea Jazz Festival.. These tracks come from a four cd set that was produced in 2006 by Manon Miessen of Radio Nederlands featuring performances from the Hague years. The festival now is held in Rotterdam. This rich collection of selected performances was… Continue