New CD Reviews - Jazz

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Featured Single

Band Name: Bria Skonberg
Featured Single: Lovefool
Album: Fresh
Genre: Jazz/Pop
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Sunday, November 15, 2009

"uncut & lo-fi" by Reform (Jazz Artist from Sweden)

"uncut & lo-fi" is the 5th and latest release from the Swedish group of 9 musicians known as Reform. They have been described as "Swedish psychedelic jazz-rock for the open minded." But what this album really sounds like is excited instrumental psychedelic garage-rock that takes cues from jazz in its improvisation and sense of order. The opener, "Lion Bar," is a wild track with boisterous and echo-laced drums, plus a plethora of instruments and sounds that makes for an energetic clamor skillfully placed somewhere between music and noise. In "Uncle Urri 2" they slow things down with a more reserved blues beat overlaid with soulful, yet highly spacey, harmonica and guitar playing. For "Spooky" they give us a song that sounds like a blend of jazz and jam-band styled rock, recorded loudly in their unique "lo-fi" manner. If you are a fan of experimental instrumental music, or intrigued by garage-rock that dares to employ the methods of jazz jams, then Reform's CD, "uncut & lo-fi," is an album you would certainly be interested in hearing.

-Sean B. and the RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team
Check out Reform 's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

Saturday, November 14, 2009

"uncut & lo-fi" by Reform (Jazz Artist from Sweden)

"uncut & lo-fi" is the 5th and latest release from the Swedish group of 9 musicians known as Reform. They have been described as "Swedish psychedelic jazz-rock for the open minded." But what this album really sounds like is excited instrumental psychedelic garage-rock that takes cues from jazz in its improvisation and sense of order. The opener, "Lion Bar," is a wild track with boisterous and echo-laced drums, plus a plethora of instruments and sounds that makes for an energetic clamor skillfully placed somewhere between music and noise. In "Uncle Urri 2" they slow things down with a more reserved blues beat overlaid with soulful, yet highly spacey, harmonica and guitar playing. For "Spooky" they give us a song that sounds like a blend of jazz and jam-band styled rock, recorded loudly in their unique "lo-fi" manner. If you are a fan of experimental instrumental music, or intrigued by garage-rock that dares to employ the methods of jazz jams, then Reform's CD, "uncut & lo-fi," is an album you would certainly be interested in hearing.

-Sean B. and the RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team
Check out Reform 's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

RadioIndy is pleased to present Miss Rose and Her Rhythm Percolators with a GrIndie Award for the CD "Who Walks In "

RadioIndy is pleased to present Miss Rose and Her Rhythm Percolators with a GrIndie Award for the CD "Who Walks In "

"Who Walks In," the debut album from Miss Rose and Her Rhythm Percolators, captures the sound & feel of 1920's & 1930's popular jazz styles with a mix of 11 classics & nearly forgotten songs from the era, including wonderful takes on such generation-crossing standards as "Ain't She Sweet" & "'Deed I Do". Singer & ukulele-player Sunga Rose leads a spot-on 4-piece band through a repertoire of pure nostalgia. And yet, this is no museum piece. The Rhythm Percolators quartet gives these songs new life with their deft & bouyant readings, making gems like the sprightly "At the Codfish Ball" sound almost contemporary. In addition, the outstanding title song, "Who Walks In," has a wonderful Eastern European bounce while the ballad "Shanghai Lil," exhibiting some of Miss Rose's best vocals, reveals as much about its era as it does the timelessness of great song craft. As the Deperession era's popular radio hits can be seen as timeless classics, Miss Rose and Her Rhythm Percolators' excellent new release "Who Walks In" is sure to appeal to music fans looking beyond today's hottest sounds and should definitely be given a listen to.

-Rice B. and the RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team
Check out Miss Rose and Her Rhythm Percolators 's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

RadioIndy is pleased to present Reform with a GrIndie Award for the CD "Reformed "

RadioIndy is pleased to present Reform with a GrIndie Award for the CD "Reformed "

Equal parts jazz and instrumental psychedelic / progressive rock, Reform's debut CD, "Reformed," charts a middle ground that ably fuses classic styles and influences - with an unusual twist. With a stellar 6-piece ensemble behind him, harmonica player Àlvaro Fernandez Gavíria's full, lower-octave playing serves as a primary lead instrument for much of the album. With studied restraint, Gaviria's tone – which recalls that of accomplished blues harp-stylist, Corky Siegel, approaches his instrument like a fusion-oriented Miles Davis, drawing out found harmonics within the framework of the band's rich and melodic songscapes. Guitarists Johan Glasson and Peter Åkerberg create the underpinning for Reform's – at times, Steely Dan-like jazz-rock sound, while drummers Anders Bergman and Åke Eriksson provide the forward thrust, effectively filling passages with deft and meticulous hits and textures. Not to go unmentioned, bassist Jesper Bergman and keyboard player, Magnus Ramel's contributions are no less vital - and noteworthy, to Reform's decidedly adventurous leanings. Regardless of whether it's fusion jazz or spacey art rock, Reform's CD is a terrific set of original music by unique players with unbounded skills.

-Rice B. and the RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team
Check out Reform 's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

Thursday, October 22, 2009

"Fun Out of Life" by April Hall (Jazz Artist from Boston, Massachusetts(MA))

"Fun Out of Life" is the most recent release from the fabulous and highly talented Jazz vocalist, April Hall. Hall's voice has the ability to not only be in constant key but also adds considerable spice to each variety of Jazz song she attempts; which range from soulful ballads, to bluesy renditions, to high energy pieces. In "Crazy He Calls Me," April interacts with some well played Jazz piano and just a dash of drums to deliver a mellow tune that shows off how her voice can be warm and inviting. Another song, "Boogie Woogie Blues (I May Be Wrong)" Hall gets a little groovier with a toe tapping, more Bluesy beat accompanied by a dynamic singing style. Then the song, "The Face I Love" we find a more traditional Jazz piece that features a fluttering flute line that subtlety jumps around Hall's velvety vocals. If you like Jazz for its pure musicianship or for how it can at times settle you down and take your mind back to another era, then you should acquaint yourself with April Hall and her singing prowess featured on the album, "Fun Out of Life."

-Sean B. and the RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team
Check out April Hall's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

"Empty Swings" by Jeff Callahan (Spoken Word/Jazz Artist from New Jersey(NJ))

Bringing poetry to life, "Empty Swings," creatively composed by Jeff Callahan brilliantly blends spoken word with Jazz Fusion. Each track features Callahan verbalizing life and nature with a voice that is soft and gentle. Callahan paints pictures with lyrics like "...wildly rummaging through button-down clouds and in pot bellied raindrops smothering the haunted beating of your nightstand clock" on the track "Sweet Dreams Earth." Even though the album is focused around the spoken poems, the instrumental background deserves credit as the cast of musicians deftly perform with emotive tonality. For instance, listen as the sweet and tender electric piano and soulful saxophone cascade around the poetic words on "Slide, Slide, Slide." "Empty Swings" gives a listener great imagery with its poetic words and is complemented by wonderful music making it an album well worth having.

-Matt M. and the RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team
Check out Jeff Callahan's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites