November 2016 Newsletter

GREG ABATE &
PHIL WOODS with the
TIM RAY TRIO
Kindred Spirits Live at Chan’s

“The two players share instruments with an alto Saxophone and each can claim their spot in the ranks of world renowned sax men with a penchant for bebop.” ~The Alternate Root

• Album Of The Year
• Improvised Jazz Solo (Phil Woods)
• Jazz Instrumental Album
• Engineered Album, Non-Classical

GREG MURPHY
Summer Breeze

“The sonics are spot on with nice ambient warmth throughout.” ~Max Chandler

• Improvised Jazz Solo
• Jazz Instrumental Album

Kristen Lee Sergeant
Inside Out

“On her debut release, Kristen Lee Sergeant, whose vocals can be but- tery or deliciously tart, offers up her dramatically fresh arrangements of standards selections and three hit tunes from MTV’s early 80’s rotation with enhanced flair. “Inside Out” is a solid debut from a classically trained vocalist whose journey into the jazz realm has already yielded gems; we hope to hear more in the future.” ~ DOWNBEAT Sept. ‘16
Editors’ Picks

• Jazz Vocal Album

Tim Ray Trio
Windows

“Tim Ray, a masterful pianist, always anticipates the next great thing to play.” ~ Ed Friedland, Tucson Weekly

• Improvised Jazz Solo
• Jazz Instrumental Album
• Instrumental Composition

MONIKA HERZIG
The Whole World
in Her Hands

“Pianist/composer arranger Monika Herzig has long been a passionate advocate for women in jazz. She walks the walk with her new album, recruiting an all-female roster of ten international jazz luminaries The Whole World in Her Hands offers an eclectic mix of straightahead tunes, modal pieces, a pop cover and a ballad. Each song is engaging and the playing ac- complished, especially Herzig’s fluid execution on piano and Bunnett’s ethereal sax.Regardless of gender, jazz fans should find this music inspiring."~ JAZZIZ Fall ‘16 Issue

• Improvised Jazz Solo
• Jazz Instrumental Album
• Instrumental Composition
• Engineered Album, Non-Classical

STEVEN KIRBY
Illuminations

“...music of deep beauty and, at times, spare, folkloric elegance but also an album that doesn’t lose sight of Kirby’s jazz roots and his penchant for more incendiary playing.” ~ John Kelman, All About Jazz

• New Artist
• Contemporary
• Instrumental Album
• Improvised Jazz Solo
• Jazz Instrumental Album
• Arrangement
• Instruments and Vocals

RALE MICIC
Night Music

“Micic is bringing an intriguing new perspective to the jazz guitar” LA TIMES

• Improvised Jazz Solo
• Instrumental Composition

DANNY BACHER
Swing That Music!

“The secret of serious fun is not to take it too seriously, something the easygoing singer/saxophonist knows in his bones. It’s about making hot music, but staying cool, about cutting up while maintaining effortless self control, about having a blast with friends. Mr. Bacher’s voice is smoother than Prima’s rasp, but in his solos he revealed enough of his inner wildman to suggest a maniac behind the cool in his prodigiously talented homage to the music of three Louis: - Armstrong, Prima and Jordan, “Swing That Music.” ~ Stephen Holden, New York Times

• Improvised Jazz Solo
• Jazz Vocal Album

ERIC HARGETT TRIO
Steppin’ Up

“Listening to Eric Hargett play on his new album reminds me of all the great bebop players of my era. Whether it be the tenor sax or the baritone sax, it’s got that great feeling. To me a good solo is that after you hear it a few times you can wind up singing that solo and that’s how Eric plays. It’s my type of playing and listening to.” ~Terry Gibbs

• New Artist
• Jazz Instrumental Album
• Instrumental Composition
• Improvised Jazz Solo (Eric Wyatt)

AGNZ
Azzolina, Govoni, Nussbaum, Zinno
Chance Meeting

“Framework aside, AGNZ delivers more than an hour of tasteful small-group jazz that is well worth savoring.” ~Jack Bowers, All About Jazz

• Improvised Jazz Solo
  (Azzolina, Govoni, Nussbaum, Zinno, separately)
• Jazz Instrumental Album
• Instrumental Composition
  (Zinno, Govoni, Azzolina, separately)