The latest album from the now-quartet—soul/reggae vocalist Toussaint joins the trio of Eric Krasno (guitar), Alan Evans (drums) and Neal Evans (keys)—No Place Like Soul, the first recorded with a vocalist since, is a fitting launching pad for the new Stax. Over the course of 13 new tracks, Soulive delivers the goods with typical style and attitude, expanding on their vigorous instrumentals with deeper harmonies and tighter song structures.
Although Infradig’s Clinical Indifference/The Psychology of Breathing purports to be a jazz rock record, it comes across more as mood-making electronic rock, pop, and hip-hop. T
he Benevento/Russo Duo rocked their way through a single set at Higher Ground that was heavy on improvisation, but remained focused on the studio takes of their material. Having toured extensively with Phish alum Mike Gordon, Higher Ground has gradually become a second home away from The Duo’s NYC hot spot – The Knitting Factory.
Medeski, Scofield, Martin, and Wood, kicked off their night of funked out jazz at Northampton's Calvin Theater, it was obvious to everyone in the house that gimmicks and stage antics weren’t on the agenda. Instead, quality musicianship was the quartet’s goal, and world-class technique was what they came to deliver.
The Motet fuse together the Latin with the funk, the new break beats with the experimental sax-laden jazz. Through this fusion of sound and cultures, Boulder, Colorado’s darlings have been worldly instrumentalists since 1998. With the release of their new album, Instrumental Dissent, the experimental sextet has further stamped their claim to a sound that has become trademark The Motet.
Eight years following A Go Go, Out Louder pairs the groove kings together once again. Melding the sonic style of John Scofield with the groove heavy sound of MMW, these musicians easily found common ground. In fact, they sound as if they have played together for years.
Instrumental Dissent, The Motet
here is a harmonic rumbling emanating from Portland Oregon, and if you listen quite closely you might hear the sweet sound of a sax floating through the air. Devin Phillips is making quite a splash on the Portland music scene, and his road to P-town is an epic tale of devastation and rebirth. Almost as amazing as is his musical chops on his tenor and soprano saxophone, is the tumultuous path that led him here.
Stepping forward from their all instrumental debut Maximalist, Burlington, Vermont
In the true essence of keeping an old sound new again, Soulive has enlisted a number of very special guests for Break Out, their first release with the Concord Music Group after breaking ties with Blue Note. This time Ivan Neville, Corey Glover, Robert Randolph, Chaka Khan and Reggie Watts lend their talents in the key of soul to the mix. Not to be overlooked, the
