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Jazz Violin with a Classical Touch: Ben Powell; New Street including A Tribute to Stephane Grappelli Ben Powell, a twenty-five year old jazz/classical prodigy, was discovered in his native England by visiting conductor Keith Lockhart.  Powell was encouraged to study in the US and a scholarship to Berklee followed.  While (more…)

GLORIOUS DAYS AND NIGHTS: A Jazz Memoir By Herb Snitzer University of Mississippi Press/ Jackson pp. 144 © 2011 Photographer Herb Snitzer has contributed greatly by describing his life in photography and his observations about the personalities he encountered when doing so.  His book is not just a collection of (more…)

Scott Hamilton and Rossano Sportiello: Midnight at  Nola’s Penthouse Two veterans team for this swinging jazz recording.  Scott Hamilton’s tenor sax and Sportiello’s virtuoso piano make for a great team.  No need for bass or drums with these two rhythm-makers.    Some tunes are lovely ballads—for example, In the Middle of (more…)

Mike Wofford/ Holly Hoffman Quintet: Turn Signal Personnel:  Holly Hoffman, flute, alto flute, piccolo Terrell Stafford: trumpet, flugelhorn Mike Wofford, piano; Rob Thorsen, bass; Richard Sellers, drums. Here’s another  lovely Capri release by the Hoffman-Wofford team.  This time they have  enlisted trumpeter Terrell Stafford to round out the group.  There’s (more…)

A SEA OF VOICES: Jamie Ousley Personnel: Jamie Ousely, double bass; Joe Davidian, piano; Austin McMahon; Drums & Cajon; Nanami Morikawa, vocals on Shenandoah; Gabriel Salentz, piano on Alfonsina y el Mar; Carlomagno Araya, percussion on Swallowed in the Sea  and Rocky Top. This is an unusual recording in several (more…)

HARRY ALLEN: Rhythm on the River Personnel:  Harry Allen, tenor saxophone; Rossano Sportiello, piano; Joel Forbes, bass; Chuck Riggs, drums; and Warren Vache, cornet. Here’s a straight-ahead jazz recording with over one hour of music.  All are skilled musicians each with years of experience.  Of the thirteen selections, cornetist Warren (more…)

BEST MUSIC WRITING 2011 Ed. Alex Ross and Daphne Carr Softcover;   Da Capo Press, pp. 311 Of the thirty-two pieces in this collection of music stories and articles of interest to serious music fans likely will include David Hajdu’s piece about pianist/composer  Fred Hersch, Geoffrey O’Brien’s article about Duke Ellington (more…)