Music
Eric Morel Ensminger, Wrong Woman Knockin’ (Independent)
Trumpeter Eric Morel Ensminger is a Philly native, and as such, his big, slick, brassy version of jazz tends to be more urbane and Northeastern. Think Dizzy instead of Satchmo, […]
Gillet Singleton Duo, Ferdinand (Independent)
This is not ya mama’s string duets. She would not recognize some of the sounds coming from this direct and powerful live recording from cellist Helen Gillet and bassist James […]
Patrick Cooper, Gris Gris in Your Face (Independent)
With story songs that reference local history, as in “Holly Beach,” and jovially friendly love songs, such as “Courtesy of Valerie,” it’s easy to see what has made singer-songwriter and […]
Aural Elixir, Partially Domesticated Amazon: Exposed! (Independent)
On their fifth album since the late ’90s, this “rock-folk-jazz fusion” collective, which at one time featured Lynn Drury, has by now pared itself down to a jazz trio format, […]
James Booker, Classified: Remixed and Expanded (Rounder Records)
The rap on James Booker’s Classified is that it was good, but not even close to what one might see and hear on any given night at the Maple Leaf […]
Anders Osborne, Peace (Alligator Records)
Peace continues the extraordinary run of work Anders Osborne has produced since joining Alligator records. American Patchwork consolidated his reputation as a great songwriter while forging a new sound that […]
Rough Seven, Codebreaker (Upperninth)
Rough Seven’s sophomore release, Codebreaker, is a chronologically mixed bag of studio cuts dating back to Scully’s initial self-titled solo debut—following the (thankfully, only quasi-) retirement of rock outfit Morning […]
Clarence Johnson III, Watch Him Work (Like Father Like Son Records)
In the hands of Clarence Johnson III, smooth jazz finds its edge. The New Orleans saxophonist, who is best known in straight-up or creative jazz though is regularly heard working […]
Bryan Lee, Play One for Me (Severn)
Former Bourbon Street blues journeyman Bryan Lee delivers a very well-thought-out, and very un-Bourbon Street-like CD—i.e. no standards, rather plenty of originals and a sprinkling of mostly informed R&B covers. […]
James Clark, Shadows (Independent)
Being a jazz drummer, even in New Orleans, is a lot like being a writer anywhere; when people ask what you do for a living, they usually say, “That’s awesome!” […]
