At the very end of August, Grammy award-winning trumpeter Brian Lynch announced the impromptu release of his latest creation, The Omni-American Book Club, a big band album inspired by over 18 works of literature, including volumes by W.E.B. DuBois, Ralph Ellison, Isabel Wilkerson, Ta-Nehisi Coates, David Levering Lewis, Eric Hobsbawm, Nell Irvin Painter, and Amiri Baraka, and … [Read more...]
Charles Evans – “Ending Beauty” (Stream)
Baritone saxophonist Charles Evans in his upcoming duo album with soprano saxophonist Dave Liebman has made tempestuous music. The new album, On Beauty, through its various movements has all the feeling of a storm rolling over hills. It's an adventurous release that takes turns and chances. The rest of the band on the album includes pianist Ron Stabinsky and bassist Tony Marino … [Read more...]
Mario Castro Quintet with Strings – ‘Estrella de Mar’
I had reservations at first. Any album that integrates a string section must do so with care. Are the strings the main attraction? An accent? A layer of a greater sound or something flashy that pulls away from the central musician? Most importantly, when adding strings, is this album going to get Capital S Serious? Yet one run through 26-year-old saxophonist Mario Castro's new … [Read more...]