New Music Monday feat. new music from Warren Wolf; Brian Ho Trio; Andy James

Join us for New Music Monday on Lunchtime! with Arturo Gómez on Monday, July 15 at noon; he’ll debut new music from Warren Wolf, Brian Ho Trio, and Andy James.

New Music Monday takes its annual summer break and will return on August 5.

Warren Wolf: “History of the Vibraphone”
Growing up in Baltimore, Warren Wolf was destined to become a giant of jazz. From the time he was only three years old, his father, Warren Wolf Sr taught his son to play classical piano, drums, vibraphones, and marimba. Wolf Jr attended the Baltimore School for the Arts and then the Berklee College of Music in Boston. His professional career began as a drummer for Christian McBride leading him to his first recordings. Wolf’s 2023 session, “Chano Pozo: Origins” was a showcase for Warren’s dominance of instruments due to his recording all the instruments of the album.

After reading the book “Masters of the Vibes” by Anthony Smith, Warren became inspired to pay homage to some of the greatest vibraphonists of jazz. They include Terry Gibbs, Bobby Hutcherson, Cal Tjader, Lionel Hampton, Dave Samuels, Gary Burton, Milt Jackson, and Roy Ayers. This time out Wolf is accompanied by a formidable quartet. Since all the skillful players of the vibes could not be included, Warren promised to release volume two of the history of the vibraphone.

Brian Ho Trio: “Bridges”
Musicians who become specialists in playing jazz organ are in a class all to themselves, I am referring to those who only play the organ, not just switch from piano or keys to the organ once in a while. Like drummers, they must master the independence of all four limbs, their left hand and foot play the bass while their right side plays the melodies, solos, and the Leslie speaker. Brian Ho has all the ingredients to become a world-class organ player. He began his love affair with the B3 while still in grammar school, by the time he was 16 years old, he became a professional player in the San Francisco Bay Area, his home turf. As a teen Brian played the organ for a Black Baptist church where he honed his spiritual side of playing. He has since become a top call organist of the Bay Area playing for visiting jazz dignitaries such as Richie Cole, Gary Bartz, Billy Hart, and many others.

Brian’s second album “Bridges” is a tribute to the San Francisco Bay Area known for its many bridges. To ensure the highest caliber of playing, Brian asked the former Joey DeFrancesco accompanist of over 20 years to join him. Paul Bollenback-guitar and Byran “Wookie” Landham are the driving forces propelling Brian Ho’s playing to his highest potential.

Andy James: “Let Me See Your Heart”
Originally from Australia, vocalist Andy James has been living in Las Vegas for many years after spending time in southern Spain as a flamenco dancer for many of the luminaries of the genre including the late superstar, Paco de Lucía. Before her stay in Spain, Andy was the bassist for the Australian tour production of the “Rocky Horror Picture Show.” In 2018 Andy released her debut as a vocalist and has recorded several albums since then, all with an all-star cast of accompanists all on her label, Le Coq Records.

James’ latest opens with a re-imagined version of “Take Five,” other well-known cover songs are Billy Joel’s “New York State of Mind” and the vintage Brazilian tune, “Photograph.” In addition to the several standards, Andy James composed three songs for this outing that have all twelve songs arranged by Jon Cowherd who also plays either piano or Fender Rhodes on all the tracks. Guests include John Patitucci on bass, Ronnie Foster playing the B3, Alex Acuña-percussion, John Ellis on saxes, and Rudy Royston playing drums, among others.

Now in its 21st year of debuting the latest arrivals to the KUVO Jazz library, many of them are played ahead of their official release date. In addition to the music comments, I’ll provide a few tidbits about the artist, if it’s a new or an up-and-coming artist. It all begins at Noon every Monday.

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