Here are two more of the “first impression” reviews as I reduce the “must listen” pile, with new releases from Fred Hersch’s trio and from the quartet of Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Chris Potter, Larry Grenadier, and Eric Harland—the first as beautifully restrained as the second is beautifully unbound—along with a single that offers a philanthropic opportunity.
I’m continuing with the single listen/short review process to lower the must-listen pile. Here are first impressions of releases from Argentine-German vocalist Sabeth Pérez, New Mexico all-stars Michael Anthony and Terry Burns, and Swedish vocalist Frida Touray.
My plan was to post three or four more short album reviews to lower the must-listen pile a little, as I did in the previous post. One of those albums was to be The Cosmic Piano, a solo release from pianist Matthew Shipp, S.G. Then, I had the opportunity to speak with His Sui Generisness, so the other albums will have to wait a bit longer.
My must-listen pile is getting taller and taller—so many new releases from ear-worthy artists, both familiar and new to me. To lower the stack to a more manageable height and introduce a wider array of music worth your time, here are several short reviews, written after a single listen.
It’s taken more than six years, even longer for some of the tunes on the album, but vocalist, songwriter, bandleader Isaac Aragon’s new album, The Healing, is here at last, with a vinyl release party at Rio Bravo Brewing on Friday, June 13. It’s well worth the wait. From songwriting to packaging and everything between, it’s a first-class production. The live show will be memorable, all but guaranteed to move body and soul.
