Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify.
Pearl Django fo
rmed twenty three years ago and very quickly came to forefront of the Northwest Gypsy jazz scene, as well as America’s Gypsy jazz scene, where they have remained ever since. The band’s newest CD, “With Friends Like These,” their thirteenth in all, celebrates the return, if only for one year, of founding member Neil Andersson. It also shows off both the playing and writing of the skillful guitarist and new member, Tim Lerch. The disc contains thirteen original tracks, with contributions from all the members.
Through the richly textured arrangement of longtime collaborator Nick Lane and a stellar ensemble of Los Angeles’ finest, veteran guitarist and composer Tom Rizzo presents “Day and Night,” a swinging and wide-ranging recording of interesting standards and provocative originals. From Ornette Coleman to Wayne Shorter to Cole Porter, Rizzo’s supple guitar lines provide a central voice to a wide array of sonic moods. Along with Rizzo’s quartet is a 6-piece horn section featuring saxophonist Bob Shepard, trumpeter Bob Summers and Mr. Lane on trombone.
Also this week, rising young guitarist Alex Wintz, a frequent collaborator with Etienne Charles, Ben Williams, Roxy Coss and Nick Finzer, debuts as a leader with “LifeCycle”.
The University of Central Florida’s Flying Horse Big Band, directed by Jeff Rupert, welcomes tenor saxophonist, composer and arranger Harry Allen as “Big Man on Campus”.
Special EFX,
led by guitarist Chieli Minucci, unveil “Deep as the Night.”