Joe Farnsworth is releasing a live album recorded in New York City at the Smoke Jazz & Supper Club with a theme of New York City’s deep jazz history called City of Sounds. Farnsworth explains some of his inspiration behind the title, “I went on a Black Lives Matter march from Inwood through Harlem that ended up at a park on the West Side Highway,” he recalls. “As we marched, people were flying the flags of the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, and you’d hear salsa music playing from their windows. Then you went through Harlem and heard funk and soul and rap music. Everyone was cheering for the same thing, but [...]
Guitarist Lawson Rollins has been described by Acoustic Guitar Magazine as ‘impeccable’ and ‘dazzling.’ At the same time, the prestigious Guitar Player Magazine ranks Rollins as one of the “50 Transcendent Acoustic Guitarists” of all time and writes, “Lawson Rollins is a bona fide star…The key to Rollins’ mass appeal is his signature artistic balance between classically influenced compositional refinement, infectious exotic rhythms, and the unbridled intensity of full-on shred.” Rollins is releasing RISE, a bold collection of ten original songs that showcase his signature virtuoso guitar style [...]
Troy Roberts is back and causing a ruckus with his buddies from Australia. The album is titled Best Buddies and is a co-project with guitarist Tim Jago. Both are a part of Roberts’ Nu-Jive Five ensemble that has earned a reputation for their hard-hitting live shows and messing of styles that has bucked jazz trends to push their music to new territory beyond mainstream jazz. With Best Buddies, the two are releasing a series of biting, creative, and celebratory songs based on well-known jazz harmonic progressions and forms with new original melodies, otherwise known as a contrafact. Roberts and Jago are joined by Karl Florisson on [...]
Pianist and composer Eric Lilley and his trio have an aptly titled release, Follow Up. The new album offers nine original compositions. Lilley is joined by bassist Mark Diamond and drummer Dru Heller. With a special guest appearance by Jose Espino on two tracks, “Bud Bop” and “Leanin’.”
“The Weston Walk” is a grooving swing that slinks along with a deliciously timbered melody. The trio is tight and snappy with its hits and synchronicity. Lilley has a deep sense of jazz swing in his playing with a mature, laid-back sensibility that oozes maturity and finesse. Heller also has a deep sense of swing as he locks tightly with Heller. A thoroughly [...]
