ROY ASSAF / Ronen Itzik / Jorge Roeder / Augmented Reality (FB, Reverbnation) – “AUGMENTED REALITY” (Pianist first session leading a trio. Mostly
orginals).
About.com (Jacob Teichroew): Augmented Reality is lush and yet subtle, and with a range of stylistic influences, it achieves a sophisticated, understated presence. It is exciting to imagine how the music will sound as the band grows more seasoned around it, begins to take bigger risks while continuing to use melody as its inspiration.
CHRISTIAN FABIAN – “WEST COAST SESSION” (Bassist, leading a core trio, with
all-star guests, doing straight-ahead originals and jazz tunes).
NICOLE HENRY (FB, @nicholehenryjazz, YouTube) – “EMBRACEABLE” (Female vocalist, doing a mix of standards,
blues and new tunes).
AllAboutJazz.com (Larry Taylor): With the release of her fifth album, Embraceable, vocalist Nicole Henry pleasingly brings together a range of styles—smooth and mainstream jazz, along with pop and gospel. Henry's stated mission with this record is to take large steps in new directions, and she accomplishes this with a sweet, accessible voice that serves up lyrical ballads, as well as dishing out large helpings of soulful blues and gospel.
JAKE HERTZOG (FB, YouTube) – “EVOLUTION” (Extreme electric guitar).
The Jazz Word: Jake Hertzog, now with a handful of recordings under his belt, is one of the very few prolific young guitarists to convincingly embrace the potential of blending a jazz and rock style of performing. What stands out in Hertzog's playing, aside from a comprehensive knowledge of his instrument, is a willingness, regardless of style, to put it all on the line.
TIM MAYER – “RESILIENCE” (Saxophonist, with many all-star guests, doing a
collection of straight-ahead jazz tunes).
Mitch's Muse: Mayer's platter swings from the get-go. A few tracks have additional players for a richer sound-a bit plush, a hair away from lush, with thoughtful yet vigorous arrangements in the vein of Tadd Dameron, Don Sebesky, and pre-1965 Gil Evans.
JOSH NELSON (FB)– “DISCOVERIES” (Pianist, leading a variety of configurations, doing
all but one straight-ahead originals).
Critical Jazz: Cerebral jazz? In an incredibly unique if not personal release, Nelson takes his appreciation for the writings of Jules Verne among others and transforms this literature into a conceptualized presentation of sonic imagery that lives and breathes on its own. An incredibly thoughtful organic pulse drives the forward motion of this sonic adventure with great care and artistic touch. Nelson's music is (for me) not Ipod friendly, no good jazz worth listening to is. "Discoveries" contains intricate and involved interplay between Nelson and his musical companions that is exciting, fresh and alive to the point where mere headphones could not possibly transfer the musical experience adequately.
BOB SHIMIZU (YouTube, – “FIRST & MONROE” (Guitar-led contemporary jazz session).
CDBaby: On this outing, Bob Shimizu has shown real bravery by not allowing the influence of the Smooth Jazz broadcast idiom's whimsical rules or, the tradition and "commandments" of the Jazz Police to alter the musical vision. Bob Shimizu has simply recorded a true contemporary jazz record in the most honest sense and, most importantly, he's simply made great music!
TIERNEY SUTTON – “AMERICAN ROAD” (Female vocalist, doing a mix of show
tunes, gospel and Americana).
Critical Jazz: Organic but deep rooted in tradition this exquisite release is perfect from start to finish."...take on her own unique, slightly eclectic but incredibly accessible spin on the Great American Songbook thus releasing an almost instant classic."
Challenge Records: “We first started looking at an ‘America’-themed CD three or four years ago,” says Sutton, whose vocal style has been described as “soft as silk and smooth as fine bourbon” by the Chicago Sun Times. Circumstances led the group in a different direction at the time, the result being 2009’s Desire, which earned the group its third consecutive Grammy nomination for Best Vocal Jazz Album.
But the concept that gave ultimately gave rise to American Road stayed with Sutton and the band—Christian Jacob (piano), Kevin Axt (acoustic and electric bass), Trey Henry (acoustic and electric bass) and Ray Brinker (drums and percussion)—until, having spent countless days and nights traveling America’s roads and playing in her towns and cities, they were able to finally bring it to fruition. All of the arrangements on American Road were conceived by the entire band, which, said The New York Times, has “refined the kind of rapport that could only be achieved over time…providing a continuous flow of support, strength and inspiration.”
BILLY WHITE – “FIRST THINGS FIRST” (Straight-ahead octet, doing all originals).
AllAboutJazz.com (Dan Bilawsky): First Things First is as apt a name for a debut album as anybody could come up with. While this marks pianist Billy White's first leader date, he already has plenty of impressive musical experience under his belt: spending his college years earning a degree in ethnomusicology from UCLA; working with a jazz/hip-hop hybrid group Heezbus, while living in Paris; studying Gnawa trance music in Morocco; and writing some music for films. Eventually, the San Francisco native landed in Brooklyn, NY and began focusing his attention on writing and playing piano. This album is the fruit of that labor and it's rife with exciting compositions and strong group interplay.
CHIP WHITE – “More DEDICATIONS” (Drummer, leading an all-star band,
doing his originals, with a disc of poetry included).
CDBaby: This recording is Chip’s fourth as a leader and composer. The others are "Harlem Sunset" (Postcards, 1994), "Music and Lyrics" (Dark Colors, 2005), and "Double Dedication" (Dark Colors, 2008). The poems on Chip’s CDs come from his book of more than 100 poems for famous jazz musicians, "I’m Just the Drummer in the Band."
