ALL ABOUT JAZZ: PASSION REVERENCE TRANSCENDENCE REVIEW
In the grand, giving spirit of the master, pianist Benito Gonzalez, drummer Gerry Gibbs and bassist Essiet Okon Essiet hold absolutely nothing back and pull no punches on their exhilarating tribute to McCoy Tyner, Passion Reverence Transcendence. READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE
Jazz Pensacola reviews “Summer Breeze” CD by Greg Murphy
CD Review: ‘Summer Breeze’ by Greg Murphy
Thursday December 15, 2016 – 0:41
SUMMER BREEZE
Greg Murphy, piano
Whaling City Sound, New Bedford, MA
Greg Murphy is a seasoned pianist and composer who has assembled a great team for this, his fourth CD as leader. It’s a mix of jazz compositions by outstanding artists as well as Murphy’s own well-honed compositions. Trio work includes bassist Eric Wheeler and drummer Kush Abadey.
Wheeler has recorded with vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater and jazz musicians, among whom are, Benny Golson, Curtis Fuller and Russell Malone. Drummer Abadey is in his early 20s but his resume is outstanding. He has recorded with Wallace Roney, attended Berklee School of Music and had recorded with Terrance Blanchard, Barry Harris and others.
Trumpeter Josh Evans joins the ensemble on most tunes and does an outstanding job. Corey Wilson joins on a Murphy composition, A Reason To Smile. Vocalist Malou Beauvoir is featured on A Reason to Smile, Ellington’s Sophisticated Lady and the Seals and Crofts composition, Summer Breeze.
Besides those listed tunes, composition other than Murphy’s are Miles Davis’ Solar, Wayne Shorter’s Fall, Sonny Rollins’ Solid and Leo’s Lullaby by Scott Robert Avedon. The other six tunes, completing the dozen on the album, are Greg Murphy compositions.
To this reviewer, the smooth and tuneful execution and rhythmic piano suggest influence of George Shearing and Dave Brubeck. Well done, Greg Murphy. We look for your next output.
Midwest Record reviews DANNY BACHER/Swing that Music!
WHALING CITY SOUND
DANNY BACHER/Swing that Music: If you never heard Chris Daniels tribute to the three Louie’s, check it out. Bacher gives that tribute another go with a different bunch of songs and a crew that would have been at home making this set for Concord or Arbors a few years ago but Bacher’s youth probably circumvented that from happening. Bacher admires these gents and their work more through a Sinatra/Vegas prism than in a jazz tradition baggage kind of way. A sprightly swinger that could single handedly ignite a whole new lounge craze, this is fun stuff for people that want a party record that more than just a collection of beats. A delightfully smoking set delivered by a boatload of pros that understand what a good time is all about.
Thank you, Chris Spector/Midwest Record
1/16: “Kindred Spirits” Album Reviewed by Jazz-Quad Magazine!
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