Jazz/Blues
'Blues Immigrant' Singer Matthew Skoller Makes State-of-the-Art Chicago Statement [REVIEW]
Shirley Horn is 'Live at the 4 Queens' in 1988 Vegas, Heard for the First Time Since! [REVIEW]
Shirley Horn was in her prime at 54 when she played the 4 Queens in '88 Vegas. Reveling in the success of her 'I Thought About You' comeback album, she was back on top after a 19-year hiatus to raise her daughter. 'Live at the 4 Queens' (Resonance) is the entire 52-minute set with longtime trio of bassist Charles Ables and drummer Steve Williams. It has never, until now, been released. Jimmy O'Connell Suffers From 'Arrhythmia' but Still Makes Stunning Debut, Outside In [REVIEW]
New York City 'bone man Jimmy O'Connell likes to call his group a Sixtet. The transplanted Detroiter blows big on his impressive-as-hell 'Arrhythmia' debut (Outside In Music), where he achieves a stunning synthesis of swing, groove, post-bop, fusion, balladry and prog-jazz. The eight tracks keep surprising with their dexterity, chops and personality-plus.
