Daily jazz blog, Marlbank

Track of the week: Dayna Stephens, 'Bubbly,' Cellar Live

Bit of a gear shift here for saxophonist Dayna Stephens with the foil of interesting sounding guitarist Emmanuel Michael opposite him, think a sound like a cross between Mary Halvorson and Bill Frisell. Drummer Jongkuk Kim is tremendous in opening …

Published: 26 Jan 2024. Updated: 6 months.

Bit of a gear shift here for saxophonist Dayna Stephens with the foil of interesting sounding guitarist Emmanuel Michael opposite him, think a sound like a cross between Mary Halvorson and Bill Frisell. Drummer Jongkuk Kim is tremendous in opening the tune up rumbling under Michael's solo - the line-up on the track is completed by bassist Kanoa Mendenhall. Stephens' mournful lead sax line is masterfully understated and yet says so much - from the Cellar Live album Closer Than We Think out in April.

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Eric Legnini and Charles Loos, Growlin' Faces, Igloo ***1/2

Another two-piano record. But the twist here is that both Belgian players Eric Legnini and Charles Loos alternate between piano and Rhodes electric piano for extra piquancy and a lot more groove. Stylistically very different to the Wollny-Kühn …

Published: 26 Jan 2024. Updated: 6 months.

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Another two-piano record. But the twist here is that both Belgian players Eric Legnini and Charles Loos alternate between piano and Rhodes electric piano for extra piquancy and a lot more groove. Stylistically very different to the Wollny-Kühn recording Duo also released today you're more in a modern mainstream domain, sometimes landing in a Chick Corea-like mood on 'Doo We Doo' or on Charles Loos' title track, other times even more groovy and latinate, the tunes are originals and some work better than others. I didn't really care for 'S and P' but liked the more groove laden 'Cent quarente' and 'Boda Boda' right at the beginning far more on what is overall a pleasant listen. SG