“This recording is one of the finest sonic
achievements of Mapleshade...”
praises Stereophile. Steve and Larry Willis, two of Jackie McLean’s greatest protégés, front this smoking group. All Music Guide says, “...this is a rich and very satisfying album by a master of his instrument and of small-group dynamics. 4-Stars.”
Paul Murphy, the legendary Jimmy Lyons, blazingly fast drummer, inspired this history-making session-and inspired depths in Larry Willis' piano you'll hear nowhere else. The music on Volume 1 focused on the boundary between jazz and classical. Volume 2 is all about melody and swinging and breathtaking drama of two masters composing with one mind. Fred Kaplan picked The Powers Of Two as one of his "Ten Best of The Year", and Volume 2 is even better!
In Frank’s words, “This is something quite different…I’m not trying to revolutionize the
big band, I’m just telling it the way I hear it with thirteen horns and a rhythm section.” After leading the Basie band for a decade, in ’95 Foster put down the baton to form his
band—the Loud Minority.
"A lively, unpredictable CD that will appeal to anyone who likes his/her jazz with a big dose of world music...", according to All Music Guide. Up front, Joe Ford, the Fort Apache Band’s alto sax star, stokes the fire alongside Benito’s effervescent piano. In back, nailing down classic meringue, rumba and mambo grooves, Asante’s thunderous five-foot carved drums lead his African hand drum congregation.
A powerful, bluesy, natural-born jazz improviser, Kenyetta combines the emotional power of Dinah Washington with the spiritual intensity of The ARC Choir. Inspired to play with more fire than ever, Larry Willis' peerless trio-Steve Berrrios on drums and Steve Novosel on bass-cook like crazy behind Kenyetta's effortlessly natural, brilliant improvisations.
"Although McCloud's been on the jazz scene for years, having worked with such notables as Elvin Jones, Jon Hendricks, and Jimmy McGriff, but has never really become a name that jazz fans would recognize. This album should help change that..." recommends All Music Guide.
Mesmerizing and unique acoustic jazz-rock versions of hits by Peter Gabriel, Elvis Costello, Dire Straits, The Clash-recorded with unbelievable clarity. Car Audio was knocked out: “These guys tread a musical line between ludicrous and lovely, and come off like circus acrobats whose performances justify the risks...”.
Give a listen to the blues-soaked groove on "Pete's Rock"-you'll understand why Monk, Cannonball, Sarah Vaughan and Sonny Rollins loved playing with Bookie. You can hear Bookie’s note-bending soulfulness and the big, deep sound of his high-action
pluck with utter clarity.
“The musicians are top-notch, they cook as a combo, and the sound, even by Mapleshade’s standards, is sensational…a thoroughly delightful album,” says Absolute Sound. If you love real-deal swing like Fats Waller, Benny Goodman, and Artie Shaw, John’s red hot clarinet and vibes quintet is guarenteed to please.
If you like your jazz uptempo and overflowing with vitality, look no farther. Patience is
a cooking, muscular-toned tenorman somewhere between Coleman Hawkins and Sonny Rollins—a musician great enough to have toured with Ellington, David Murray and Stevie Wonder.
Bound For Sound said ,"Your basic eclectic combination of Latin percussion, South American rhythms, jazz brass and funk baritone sax...Wonderfully rhythmic and infectious...so sonically superior it's scary...Recording of Merit."
"The mood here is modern, blues-tinged...McKee plays the devil out of the bass...His walking lines are are wrist-thick, filled with limber notes; his intonation is spot on..." according to Down Beat. If you like mid-sixties Miles and love that classic Blue Note sound, you'll be knocked out by Sound Roots.
