Author: Jackie Oldham

CD Reviews

Mark Osteen and Cold Spring Jazz Quartet Celebrate Familial and Cultural Roots in their new album, Next of Kin

[Photo credit: Leo Howard Lebow] n their delightful new album, Next of Kin, Mark Osteen’s Cold Spring Jazz Quartet (CSJQ) takes listeners on a rhythm-driven journey dedicated to the band’s loved ones for inspiring the music on the album.  But the definition of “loved ones” goes beyond immediate family to include all living things on the planet. | Read more>> Read More
CD Reviews

With Their New Album “Hands Entwined,” Greg Hatza and Enayet Hossain Let Their Fingers Do the Talking

How often does anyone really think about their hands? They are such an indelible part of the human body, with so many functions, ranging from touching and grasping the objects of our everyday lives, to enhancing our communications via gestures, to artistic expressions that help us make sense of our world. | Read more>> Read More
CD Reviews

Phil Ravita’s New Album Oriana Evokes Sights and Sounds of Daybreak in the City

Oriana, released March 25, 2023 by Phil Ravita Jazz, is Ravita’s second album as a leader, following the highly praised 2021 album Jagged Spaces. In addition to bassist and leader Ravita, this quartet consists of Greg Small, piano; Nucleo Vega, drums; Benny Russell, saxophone; and Mark Leppo, vibe, conga; with vocalist Deidre Jennings. | Read more>> Read More
CD Reviews

In the Valley: Todd Marcus’ New Album

Todd Marcus is a widely acclaimed Egyptian-American musician, composer, and arranger, raised in New Jersey but long based in Baltimore, Maryland. As a composer and arranger, he says he is self-taught. But as a self-taught musician myself, I know that he has music in his blood—and this, along with his early musical training, is credential enough for his amazing composing and arranging skills. | Read more>> Read More