Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify.
Referred to by the media as one of the newest and most innovative voices in modern jazz guitar, Bulgarian-born, Bay Area-based Hristo Vitchev has been captivating audiences across the globe. At only 37, he has already released nine critically acclaimed albums as a leader plus four more as a co-leader. He’s also been voted a “Rising Star on Guitar” by Downbeat magazine. The music on his new CD, “Of Light and Shadow,” is the most adventurous and exploratory work he’s recorded so far. It showcases the artistic evolution and synergy that his acclaimed quartet has developed with countless touring and recording performances over the last decade.
Whenever one of today’s most talented jazz vocalists gets together with six of the most highly regarded mainstays of the current jazz scene, something magical is bound to happen. As it does on “You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To,” with Alexis Cole teaming up with the One For All sextet to present their exciting takes on eleven classic tunes. Throughout her career, Ms. Cole has made a practice of surrounding herself with great musicians, and her latest outing is no exception. Each member of One For All, including Eric Alexander, Jim Rotondi, Steve Davis, David Hazeltine, John Webber and Joe Farnsworth, is a leader and recording artist in his own right, and all are familiar faces on the lively scene at Smoke, one of Manhattan’s premiere jazz clubs.
Also this week, the J
ambalaya Brass Band blends the rhythms and tonalities of New Orleans and Cuba on “Habana to New Orleans”.
Drummer Jeff Hamilton and his trio mates Tamir Hendelman on piano and Christoph Luty on bass are captures “Live from San Pedro”.
The Ira B. Liss B
ig Band Jazz Machine features special guests Bob Mintzer, Eric Marienthal, Holly Hofmann and Dean Brown on “Tasty Tunes.”