Pianos, Strings & the “Spanish Tinge” | New Music Monday

The veteran, versatile pianist of note Bob James releases an in the pocket live quartet performance recorded on the campus of Northwestern Michigan College.  On LIVE at Milliken Auditorium Bob is joined by guitarist Perry Hughes, Nathaniel Phillips-bass and the drummer Clarence Penn. The Angeleno pianist of Nicaraguan descent Donald Vega‘s newest is a tribute to one of his piano heroes, Monty Alexander. For With Respect to Monty,  Vega called on Monty’s bass man, Hassan Shakur,  the late Gerald Wilson’s son, guitarist Anthony Wilson and the polished Lewis Nash to do the drumming.  

The Cuban born violinist Dayren Santamaria is always in demand in Los Angeles, she’s classically trained,  plays jazz, Gypsy  swing plus  contemporary and traditional Cuban jazz and dance music. her debut as leader is titled Belleza or (beauty). From the San Francisco Bay Area we have received the brand new  Intercambio (exchange) as by the wonderful Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet.  New York City’s Albert Rivera releases Back At It, a bop septet. Add to the mix, the latest by vocalist Lauren Henderson who brings a mix of the Caribbean and Latino sounds to her CD,  A La Madrugada at dawn. We also toss in some other new arrivals to fill out the hour on Lunchtime At The Oasis beginning at Noon.