Drummer Jonathan Barber is quickly making a name for himself. Voted this year’s best “Up & Coming” drummer in the Modern Drummer Readers Poll, the young Barber is setting the bar high, but what do you expect from someone who’s already collaborated with Erykah Badu, Wallace Roney, Jeremy Pelt, Kenny Barron, Terrace Martin, Stefon Harris, and Marcus Strickland just to name a few. … [Read more...]
Saxophonist Sharel Cassity Premieres New Single “Be The Change”
Composer and saxophonist Sharel Cassity released her fourth album as a leader last week on Relsha Music. Evolve sees the introduction of Cassity’s new band Elektra comprised of trumpeters Ingrid Jensen, Marcus Printup and Freddie Hendrix, bassist Linda Oh, guitarist Mark Whitfield, pianists Miki Hayama and Richard Johnson, vocalist Christie Dashiell, drummers Jonathan Barber a … [Read more...]
Jeremy Pelt – “Sir Carter” (Stream)
Every year, trumpeter Jeremy Pelt releases a new album, and every year it's an album that stays on folks' minds all year round. Typically, he releases his albums in January on the High Note label, but 2018's entry, Noir en Rouge - Live in Paris, needed just a touch more cooking and simmering, apparently, since it's set to release February 16th. Still, based on the first single … [Read more...]
Jeremy Pelt – ‘Make Noise!’
Every year, trumpeter Jeremy Pelt releases a new album on the High Note label and I look forward to it each year, almost more than I do Christmas. Like any artist, he tweaks the formula each time, finding new ways to make music and express logistically his ideas, seeing what he can make with different tools. Sometimes it'll be through electric instruments; sometimes through two … [Read more...]
Claffy – “Don’t Let It Bring You Down” (Stream)
Bassist/multi-instrumentalist Alexander Claffy has endeavored to create a seemingly ambitious debut self-titled album. It's memoiric in scope, glisteningly optimistic. It can get almost overwhelmingly earnest. This is no more clear than in his latest single, "Chapter 4: Don't Let It Bring You Down". Check out the song from the upcoming album, Claff, after the … [Read more...]