Sarah King: Tulip or Turnip (Birdwatcher)
Vocalist Sarah King has been a ukulele busker in the subways of New York, a ringleader of the street brass ensemble Hungry March Band, and … Read More “Sarah King: Tulip or Turnip (Birdwatcher)”
Reviews
Eva Cassidy: Live at Blues Alley—25th Anniversary Edition (Blix Street)
When singer Eva Cassidy died of melanoma in November 1996, at age 33, she was barely known outside her home base of Washington, D.C. Those … Read More “Eva Cassidy: Live at Blues Alley—25th Anniversary Edition (Blix Street)”
Charlotte Greve: Sediments We Move (New Amsterdam/figureight)
Charlotte Greve is a polymath with an exceptional talent for blurring a diverse stylistic breadth. The German-born, New York-based composer, saxophonist, and vocalist’s compositions thread … Read More “Charlotte Greve: Sediments We Move (New Amsterdam/figureight)”
Alexis Cole: Sky Blossom (Zoho)
This big-band-bolstered set from ace vocalist Alexis Cole leans on the literal with its subtitle: Songs from My Tour of Duty. In 2009, following a … Read More “Alexis Cole: Sky Blossom (Zoho)”
Irene Jalenti: Dawn (Antidote)
Today, even though the worldwide jazz art form is vibrant, too many musicians record before they have something significant to say. Irene Jalenti is not … Read More “Irene Jalenti: Dawn (Antidote)”
Adonis Rose and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra Feat Cyrille Aimée: Petite Fleur (Storyville)
Petite Fleur is essentially a meditation on the ties that bind Crescent City art to French culture. Teaming up for 10 songs that cross styles … Read More “Adonis Rose and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra Feat Cyrille Aimée: Petite Fleur (Storyville)”
Stacey Kent/Art Hirahara: Songs from Other Places (Candid)
Stacey Kent’s clear-as-light vocals and Art Hirahara’s lyrical piano make their duo outing exactly “what the world needs now.” On Songs from Other Places, their … Read More “Stacey Kent/Art Hirahara: Songs from Other Places (Candid)”
Champian Fulton: Live from Lockdown (Self-released)
We know what you’re thinking: Oh, great, here come the pandemic albums. Those who didn’t merely dump their offerings on Bandcamp during the initial wave, … Read More “Champian Fulton: Live from Lockdown (Self-released)”
Jackie Kay: Bessie Smith: A Poet’s Biography (Vintage)
First published in 1997, now republished with a new introduction, Jackie Kay’s Bessie Smith unrolls less like a formal study of the singer and much … Read More “Jackie Kay: Bessie Smith: A Poet’s Biography (Vintage)”
Mankwe Ndosi & Body MemOri: Felt/Not Said (Auspice NOW)
Vocalist Mankwe Ndosi brings a brand-new dictionary to music. Her sonic language is a string of spontaneous combustions that nod toward Jeanne Lee and Meredith … Read More “Mankwe Ndosi & Body MemOri: Felt/Not Said (Auspice NOW)”