Cross Currents
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com April 2, 2024
O's Notes: Bassist Mark Egan leads a trio with drummer Danny Gottlieb, guitarist, and Mitchel Forman on keyboards for Cross Currents. The music is mid-tempo, pop fusion. Highlights include the peaceful “Big Sky” & “Sand Castles”, the punchy “Ponchatrain”, “Homebrew”, the laid back “Sunflower”, and the funky title track.
Fo(u)rth
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com April 2, 2024
O's Notes: Fo(U)Rth is the latest release from LA-based, Canadian drummer, composer Anthony Fung. He is a highly engaged drummer who is well integrated with his quartet. There are some excellent ballads here like “The Upside Down” featuring tenor saxophonist Mark Turner and pianist Michael Ragonese. Fung opens the title track and shines on “Boo Boo’s Birthday” with bassist Lucas Alemanno walking with a purpose.
Unconditional
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com April 2, 2024
O's Notes: Atley King is a young Canadian vibraphonist and composer leading a quintet on Unconditional. Max Huberdeau (p), Brad Turner (flugelhorn), David Caballero (b), and Arvind Ramdas (d) join him. 8 of 9 compositions are King originals with a cool cover of Coltrane’s “Naima” to wrap up the set. Other highlights are "Wondering", "Doing Good”, and “To Each Their Own".
Night Bird
shaun@blittzedmarketing.com April 2, 2024
O's Notes: Serbian jazz vocalist Jelena Jovović has studied and performed around the world and integrates rich cultures into her performance on Night Bird. We enjoyed the adventurous “Rastko”, rich with vocal harmonies and vibrant beats. Jelena stretches out on the title track featuring Steve Fishwick on trumpet, and on “Let’s Leave The Dance Floor” with fine work by pianist Bojan Zulfikarpasic. We also enjoyed Jovovic scatting on “Last Sings The Blues” with a fine bass solo by Ameen Saleem.