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Jazz/Blues

Bassist Mats Eilertsen Crosses the 'Rubicon' on ECM Records Debut as Leader [REVIEW]

There's a subtle sophistication at work on Mats Eilertsen's ECM 'Rubicon' debut. His bass has already graced 12 previous ECM sessions of other artists as produced by Manfred Eicher, but now, just like Julius Caesar in 49 B.C., whose army crossed the Rubicon River knowing it was too late to turn back, Mats has laid the gauntlet down. His septet is rather wondrous. And there's no looking back.
By Mike Greenblatt

  • Ready to 'Traverse This Universe' with Miss Sophie Lee from New Orleans? [REVIEW]

    She came to New Orleans from Chicago 15 years ago and now owns two restaurants and holds court at a third every Thursday at The Spotted Cat on Frenchman Street. Miss Sophie Lee's 'Traverse This Universe' (KingMoon Recordings), her fourth, is a worthy follow-up to her 2013 'Love Street Lullaby.' She sings in a lightly lilting and totally swinging sophistication, making each song into a one-act play.
    By Mike Greenblatt

  • Behold! Cameron Graves is the 'Planetary Prince' of Los Angeles on Far-Reaching Debut [REVIEW]

    There's a new sound emanating out of L.A. these days called West Coast Get Down. These cats don't give a flying fig about genre classifications so it's not unusual to hear the craziest sound coming out of their come'n'go collective. Heretofore, it's been a live phenomenon but as Kamasi Washington's 'The Epic' showed last year, their hip grip is tightening, the scene is set, and now it's time to swallow whole 'Planetary Prince' by Cameron Graves.
    By Mike Greenblatt
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