Sydney Irving : Unfashioned Creatures Review
Joe Lovano is back with his Trio Tapestry on ECM records. The same line up joins Lovano as on the trio’s 2019 self-titled debut of Marilyn Crispell, piano, and Carmen Castaldi, drums. The new album is titled Garden of Expression, which is eight Lovano compositions, and continues the musical journey started in their first album. Produced by Manfred Eicher, the trio recorded at Auditorio Stelio Molo RSI in Lugano.
Trio Tapestry’s music has a long history of friendships and collaboration, and when the trio first played together, they performed all improvised music. Lovano states, “Our very first concert was without any [...]
Emily Weisband is back with a new EP called Not Afraid To Say Goodbye (Stripped). The Nashville singer-songwriter continues to affirm her pop prowess with four distinctive and genuine tracks highlighting her sincere lyrics, intimate instrumentation, and nuanced storytelling. Weisband has been writing for other artists like Halsey and Camilla Cabello, but now she is writing for herself and gets to tell her story. Not Afraid To Say Goodbye is the follow up to her debut EP, Identity Crisis and for her second EP, Weisband’s emotional, raw, and authentic songwriting is at its best. Not Afraid To Say Goodbye (Stripped) is [...]
WIG WAM, the heavy metal band from Norway, have reunited and are back to abusing the airwaves with a new album, fittingly titled Never Say Die. The twelve new tracks have all the aspects that built their monster reputation of driving energy, unstoppable riffs, and ever power melodies. The songwriting is fresh sounding with plenty of loud guitars. The catchy hooks and melodic hard rock anthems that Wig Wam is known for are present throughout for a full-blown hard-rocking excursion. WIG WAM is Glam (Åge Sten Nilsen), vocals; Teeny (Trond Holter), guitars; Flash (Bernt Jansen), bass; and Sporty (Øystein Andersen), drums.
The title track was also the [...]
American jazz vocalist CeCe Gable had a busy 2020 releasing her full-length album More Than A Song and a winter solstice tune “Once Again It’s Winter.” Each featuring a different line up except one defining player and collaborator, bassist Harvie S. The choice standards on More Than A Song range from Porter to Arlen/Mercer to Jobim and beyond, all expressive vehicles for Gable’s supple vocal instrument. The single is an original collaboration by Gable and pianist accordionist Corky Bennett. The two have created a breezy bossa nova that is guaranteed to warm the chilled season with hopes of sun-kissed summers ahead.
“East of the Sun,” also a [...]
SAVANA FUNK comprises Aldo Betto, Blake Franchetto, and Youssef Ait Bouazza (respectively from Italy, England, and Morocco). The three first met in the spring of 2015 in Bologna, Italy and it became immediately apparent to them that they shared a special bond on an emotional and musical level. Together they create music that mixes African music, funk, blues, psychedelic rock, and jazz influences. In 2018 they officially adopted the name SAVANA FUNK and are now releasing a two-song EP called Barà Tounkarankè / Mba. The two tracks are fronted by vocalist Kadi Coulibaly with added keyboards added by Nicola Peruch, and Kalifa Kone adds [...]
The Neighbourhood is an American alt-rock band that is now releasing their fourth studio album called Chip Chrome & The Mono Tones. Produced by Danny Parra and The Neighbourhood, the eleven tracks represent their first studio album in two years. Inspired by the iconic David Bowie album Ziggy Stardust, the band’s frontman Jesse Rutherford takes on the persona of the supposed character, Chip Chrome. Rutherford explains, “Before we started this album, I asked myself what my opinion was about our music, our band, and our fans, and I realized I didn’t really know—and that scared the shit out of me,” [...]
