Let me come out the gate with a strong statement: I firmly believe that the Young Lions movement is one of the worst things to ever happen to jazz. Don’t get me wrong, the music in and of itself isn’t bad, per se. Most of these folks, from Wynton Marsalis to Roy Hargrove to Mark Whitfield are incredibly talented, academy-trained prodigies. What I think was, and still is … [Read more...]
Jesse Fischer – “Creepin'” feat. Jaime Woods (Stream)
Keyboardist/producer Jesse Fischer is ramping up the intrigue around his upcoming Flipped II album, release date to be determined. Perhaps the mystery behind an album of remixes and covers of Herbie Hancock, Freddie Hubbard, Wayne Shorter songs and more with an easygoing sensibility that makes this impending release so attention grabbing for us here. It certainly helps with … [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...]