Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify.
Trumpeter Al Naylor has been a fixture on the Eastern Iowa music scene for over five decades now, both as a player and as an educator. From leading the I-380 Express Big Band to his work in Orquesta Alto Maiz and the Blue Band, imparting his wisdom to thousands of high school and college students along the way, Al has made an indelible mark up and down the Corridor. For his new CD, “Friends,” he has gathered members from all his various ensembles over the years to perform a program of jazz standards and as well as some of Al’s own compositions.
What you experience when hearing 13-year-old pianist Brandon Goldberg on his debut album, “Let’s Play!”, is a refined gift, sculpted by years in the woodshed, inspired by pianists like Monk, McCoy, Chick, Bud and others, and imbued with a pure love and joy for this music. Wendy Oxenhorn of the Jazz Foundation of America says, “Brandon is an old soul who will keep this music alive in the new world.” Pianist Monty Alexander says, “Along with all the cleverness, the sophistication and tasteful choices, this young man is swinging hard. Brandon is as affecting as any other new artists appearing on the scene today. I’m a fan.” Brandon is joined by bassist Ben Wolfe, drummer Donald Edwards and reedman Marcus Strickland in his new endeavor.
Also featured this week is saxophonist Melissa Aldana’s “Visions,” a musical exploration of self-identity and expression influenced by the life and works of artist Frida Kahlo;
New York guitarist Larry Corban’s “Emergence” is his third outing with the Aperturistic Trio, augmented this time by tenor sax titan Jerry Bergonzi;
and singer Nancy Kelly pays tribute to her favorite singer with “Remembering Mark Murphy.”