CD Review: Mark Sherman, "Bop Contest"

Today’s review is on a CD that I somehow missed a couple of months ago. Since this new release from Mark Sherman came out in early October of 2025, I normally would have just moved on to the more recent recordings. But this CD is so good that it simply wouldn’t let me pass it by.

Mark Sherman is a multi-talented musician and a noted jazz pianist. But he is also a world-class vibraphonist, performing with the likes of Peggy Lee, Lena Horne, Larry Coryell, and collaborating with Wynton Marsalis, Kenny Barron, and Joe Lovano, among many other greats. I don’t remember doing a review led by a vibraphonist before, but now I can proudly do a review on one of the very best.

Sherman put together a powerful group of musicians to support him on "Bop Contest." First, you really have to be “best in class” on your instrument to get a jazz giant like Ron Carter to join your group. That alone tells you something. Next to join was pianist Donald Vega, who has long been one of Sherman’s favorites. The rhythm section was completed with the addition of drummer Carl Allen. Allen and Carter have worked together multiple times over the years, and their chemistry is undeniable. Rounding out the quintet is the brilliant horn player and close friend of Sherman’s, Joe Magnarelli.

I have attached two YouTube videos that clearly indicate the amazing musical talents of these five players. If you are a straight-ahead jazz lover, this recording is essential listening. The first one, an Oliver Nelson composition is delivered in true up-tempo bop fashion — tight, energetic, and executed with breathtaking precision. The interplay between Sherman and Magnarelli is especially strong, trading ideas with both fire and finesse. And then comes Hoagy Carmichael’s “Skylark”. This version is so beautiful and so tastefully performed that you will replay it for years. Sherman’s touch on the vibes is warm and lyrical, floating effortlessly above a masterful rhythm section.

Playlist 

1. 111-44

2. Love Always Always Love

3. Bremond's Blues

4. My One and Only Love

5. Bop Contest

6. Martha's Prize

7. Skylark

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Personnel

• Mark Sherman – Vibraphone

• Joe Magnarelli – Trumpet

• Donald Vega – Piano

• Ron Carter – Bass

• Carl Allen – Drums

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                                                                              111-44

                                                                               Skylark

                                                        

CD Review: The Scott Silbert Quartet, "Dream Dancing"

The Scott Silbert Quartet has recently released a new CD, "Dream Dancing" that is a tribute to celebrate the 100th birthday of Zoot Sims. Zoot Sims led the way forward for American Jazz for many decades. There were no gimmicks or tricks involved with Zoot Sims’ style. His approach was effortless swing with a big, warm tenor sound. Even today — 100 years after his birth — he is still considered one of the tenor sax giants of Jazz. Silbert writes in the album notes, “Zoot always brought an air of fun, humor and warmth to his small group recordings, always melodic and always swinging, without any pretense. Zoot’s style didn’t change over the years — it matured beautifully.”

Scott Silbert has put together a wonderful playlist of classic songs for this tribute album that includes several beloved standards, and it also showcases an original Silbert composition, “Blues for Louise,” which he wrote for Louise Sims. If you are a long-time fan of Zoot Sims or just discovering him now, this album is sure to please!

The players in the Scott Silbert Quartet are perfect to project the style and spirit of Zoot Sims. Leading the charge is Scott Silbert himself, playing with warm, smooth tones that feels almost effortless. The rhythm section — Amy Shook on bass and Chuck Redd on drums — performs beautifully, swinging when necessary without ever overpowering the music. The final member of the Quartet, pianist Robert Redd, pulls the entire group together with his sensitive phrasing and subtle harmonic support.

“Dream Dancing” from the Scott Silbert Quartet is a wonderful addition to any jazz lover’s collection — a thoughtful, heartfelt tribute that both honors Zoot Sims’ legacy and stands proudly on its own artistic merits.

 Playlist

1. Dream Dancing – 07:19

2. Louisiana – 05:16

3. It’s That Ole Devil Called Love – 05:51

4. Deep In A Dream – 06:35

5. All Too Soon – 05:39

6. You Go To My Head – 05:50

7. Blues for Louise – 03:40

8. Someday Sweetheart – 04:17

9. Low Life – 07:10

10. Round My Old Deserted Farm – 05:20

11. Shadow Waltz – 05:33

12. Ballad For Very Tired and Very Sad Lotus Eaters – 06:22

13. Wee Dot – 04:35

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 Players 

• Scott Silbert – tenor & soprano saxophones

• Amy Shook – acoustic bass

• Robert Redd – piano

• Chuck Redd – drums

I have attached two cuts from "Dream Dancing".  The first is the title tune, "Dream Dancing" written by Cole Porter and the second is a hard swinging composition written by J.J. Johnson, "Wee Dot" that you will love!

                                                                      "Dream Dancing"

   

                                                                            "Wee Dot"

CD Review: "Ted Rosenthal Trio, "Classics Reimagined: Impromp2"

 

All jazz lovers owe it to themselves to know the remarkable pianist and composer Ted Rosenthal. For decades, Rosenthal and his gifted jazz trio have been producing some of the most compelling jazz recordings of our time. With Classics Reimagined: Impromp2, Rosenthal delivers his 18th release as a leader, a follow-up to his acclaimed 2010 album Impromptu that deepened his exploration of jazz through classical themes. 

What Rosenthal achieves on Classics Reimagined: Impromp2 is nothing short of magical. He shines a spotlight on beloved classical melodies, completely reimagining them through his jazz sensibilities. Every track on this release is a musical gift to the jazz world — expressive, inventive, and deeply felt. I have often said that the line between classical and jazz is very thin, and after listening to Rosenthal’s vivid musical imagination, he provides ample proof of this idea.

As Rosenthal himself explains:

“I have often heard classical themes as being ripe for jazz treatments. Setting these melodies with embellished jazz harmonies comes naturally to me. Finding a satisfying form for improvisation and rhythmic groove that makes the whole treatment work without sounding forced or contrived is key.” 

And Rosenthal lives up to this ideal on every track. What could be rigid or academic becomes sumptuous, spontaneous, and exciting.

 The Players

• Ted Rosenthal — piano (leader, arranger, improviser)

• Noriko Ueda — bass (anchoring harmony and rhythmic drive)

• Quincy Davis — drums (responsive, swinging, intuitive)

Adding further color to this project are two jazz luminaries:

• Sara Caswell — violin (featured on several tracks with profound lyricism)

• Ken Peplowski — clarinet (whose warm, expressive tone deepens the reinterpretations) 

The chemistry among these players is palpable throughout the album. Ueda and Davis provide a foundation so secure that Rosenthal’s flights of fancy feel effortless, while Caswell and Peplowski bring emotional depth and tonal contrast that elevate several pieces to new heights.

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Playlist 

     1. Waltz in C-Sharp Minor 

     2. Slavonic Dance 

      3. Mazurka In A Minor

      4. The Old Castle (feat. Ken Peplowski)

      5. Vocalise (feat. Sara Caswell)

      6. Allegretto from Symphony No. 3

      7. “Pathetique” Sonata, 2nd Movement

      8. “Pathetique” Sonata, 3rd Movement

      9. Salut d’Amour (feat. Sara Caswell)

     10. Je Te Veux (feat. Sara Caswell)

     11. Waltz in A-Flat Major (feat. Ken Peplowski)

For anyone who loves jazz piano,  or just craves bold musical conversation, Classics Reimagined: Impromp2 is an essential listen — and a rewarding experience from start to finish.

I have attached two songs from this CD, the first is a Chopin composition, "Waltz In C-Sharp Minor" and the second is  a Dvorak composition "Slavonic Dance".  I know you will enjoy these tracks and encourage you to pick up this CD and make it part of your Jazz collection. 

                                                                "Waltz In C-Sharp Minor"

                                                                                F. Chopin

                                                                      "Slavonic Dance"
                                                                            A. Dvorak                                  

                        

CD Review: Paul Marinaro, "Mood Ellington"

    Acclaimed vocalist Paul Marinaro has released his fifth album, Mood Ellington, and the results are nothing short of triumphant. This ambitious project, into which Marinaro has poured a massive amount of work and passion, proves that every ounce of effort was well worth it. Mood Ellington is a 25-track double-disc exploration of songs written by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, and it stands as both a tribute and a reinvention of two of jazz’s most towering composers.

For this project, Marinaro enlisted 13 accomplished arrangers, each bringing a unique voice to their charts and contributing to a narrative arc that flows beautifully across the set. The project is completed by Marinaro’s beautiful, deep baritone voice and his impeccable stylized phrasing, which feels both timeless and deeply personal.

Marinaro thoughtfully divides the album into three thematic sets:

• Set One celebrates love and beauty with the first nine songs.

• Set Two moves into more introspective and somber territory.

• Set Three — on Disc Two — offers eight songs that feel more realistic, sardonic, mature, and exotic, rounding out an emotional and musical journey.

The 13 world-class arrangers contributing to Mood Ellington include: John Kornegay, Alan Broadbent, John Clayton, Carey Deadman, Chuck Israels, Mike Downes, Ryan Cohan, Jim Gailloreto, Bill Cunliffe, Chuck Owen, Tom Garling, Tom Matta, and Mike Allemana — a veritable who’s who of contemporary jazz orchestrators.

Paul Marinaro’s vocal personality, style, and rich baritone are ideally suited to the material of   When you add the high-level musicians performing behind him and these marvelous arrangements, the result is easily one of the finest Ellington interpretations recorded in recent years. Mood Ellington captures the genius and spirit of Ellington and Strayhorn and puts new life into each of their compositions. My hat goes off to Paul Marinaro — for his beautiful vocals, his artistic vision, and for seeing this monumental project through to publication.

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PLAYLIST: — Mood Ellington

DISC ONE — Set One (Love & Beauty)

1. I’m Beginning to See the Light — 3:52

2. A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing — 5:34

3. I’m Just a Lucky So and So — 4:16

4. Love You Madly — 3:26

5. Sophisticated Lady — 4:58

6. I Like the Sunrise — 5:15

7. Just Squeeze Me — 4:53

8. It Shouldn’t Happen to a Dream — 4:11

9. In a Mellow Tone — 3:42

Set Two (Reflection & Mood)
10. Mood Indigo — 5:43
11. Azure — 3:54
12. Don’t You Know I Care (or Don’t You Care to Know) — 4:52
13. I Got It Bad (and That Ain’t Good) — 5:02
14. (In My) Solitude — 6:21
15. All Too Soon — 4:39
16. Lush Life — 3:52
17. (I Want) Something to Live For — 5:11

DISC TWO — Set Three (Realism & Exotic Tones)

1. Don’t Get Around Much Anymore — 5:05

2. Take Love Easy — 3:56

3. Day Dream — 5:05

4. I Ain’t Got Nothin’ but the Blues — 5:46

5. Caravan — 4:53

6. I Didn’t Know About You — 4:14

7. In a Sentimental Mood — 4:39

8. Do Nothing Till You Hear from Me — 5:42 

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PLAYERS;

Core Ensemble

• Paul Marinaro — vocals

• Tom Vaitsas — piano

• Mike Allemana — guitar

• John Tate — bass

• Neil Hemphill — drums

• Rich Moore — alto saxophone, clarinet, flute

• John Wojciechowski — tenor & soprano sax, flute

• Ted Hogarth — baritone sax, bass clarinet

• Eric Jacobson — trumpet, flugelhorn

• Raphael Crawford — trombone

String Section (Violin)

• Lisa Fako (Concert Master), Eleanor Bartsch, Stephen Boe, Chuck Bontrager, Christina Buciu, Kathleen Carter, Karl Davies, Wendy Evans, Elizabeth Huffman, Carmen Kassinger, Kathryn Siegel, Jeff Yang

Arrangers

• Mike Allemana

• Alan Broadbent

• John Clayton

• Ryan Cohan

• Bill Cunliffe

• Carey Deadman

• Mike Downes

• Jim Gailloreto

• Tom Garling

• Chuck Israels

• John Kornegay

• Tom Matta

• Chuck Owen

Production Credits

• Produced by Paul Marinaro & Jim Gailloreto

• Executive Producer: Lois Cory

• Recorded & Mixed by Mat Lejeune at Chicago Recording Company, Chicago, IL

• Mastered by Dave McNair 

   I have attached two tracks from "Mood Ellington" for your listening pleasure.  The first is an Ellington

tune I was not familiar with but liked a lot, "All To Soon" that was arranged by Trombonist Tom Garling. The second song is one we all know, "Just Squeeze Me" arranged by Pianist Ryan Cohan.

"All To Soon"

 

"Just Squeeze Me"

CD Review: Lili Malljic, "The Nearness of You- In Loving Memory of Jim Rotondi"

 Austrian-based jazz vocalist Lili Maljic has just released her debut album, The Nearness of You – In Loving Memory of Jim Rotondi, and it is a heartfelt, masterful tribute — as well as a bold artistic statement in its own right. Her smoky, vintage jazz voice wraps around each lyric and instantly invites the listener into a world of warmth and emotional intimacy. Her phrasing is exquisite and her talent as an arranger equals her vocal gift, proving she understands not just melody, but narrative and nuance.

On this album, Lili re-imagines beloved standards from the "Great American Songbook" with deep emotional insight. The result is both familiar and freshly personal — a respectful nod to tradition, rendered with her own unmistakable voice.

Jim Rotondi’s presence looms large over the entire record. As trumpeter, arranger, and mentor — and sadly, now in memoriam — he helped shape the mood, texture, and harmonic soul of this project. The album becomes more than a collection of songs; it feels like a musical conversation, a farewell, a celebration, and a beginning all at once.

I have attached two songs from this album, the first is the title tune, "The Nearness Of You".  This Carmichael classic is usual performed as a ballad but Jim Rotondi has provided a spirted 7/8 time arrangement that Lili performs perfectly.  The second is "The Shadow Of Your Smile" set to a Bossa Nova beat that make this tune new again!

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Playlist:

    1.The Shadow of Your Smile

1. Easy To Love 

2. Never Let Me Go 

3. The Touch of Your Lips 

4. The Nearness of You 

5. This Can't Be Love 

6. You Go To My Head

7. The Song Is You 

8. I Didn't Know About You 

9. That Old Black Magic 

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Players:

• Lili Maljic — vocals (and arrangements on some tracks) 

• Jim Rotondi — trumpet and arrangements (notably on several tracks) 

• Oliver Kent — piano 

• Miloš Čolović — bass 

• Mario Gonzi — drums 

            

        

                                                            "The Nearness Of You"

                                                             "The Shadow Of Your Smile"

CD Review: Piper & The Hard TImes, "Good Company"

Piper & The Hard Times — Good Company

The super blues band Piper & The Hard Times has just released their second album, Good Company, and it delivers everything their fans — and the blues world — have been waiting for. I reviewed their first album Revelation, which went on to win the 2025 IBC Best Independent Produced Album and the Blues Music Award for Best Emerging Artist Album at the 46th annual Blues Music Awards in Memphis — accolades that were no surprise to me. Piper & The Hard Times is one of the strongest and most compelling blues-rooted groups I’ve heard in years. 

Their new album, Good Company, is every bit as strong as their debut and firmly cements the band’s place among the genre’s most exciting contemporary blues acts. It’s soulful, raw, and inventive — and I wouldn’t be shocked to see this creative ensemble collecting even more awards in the future.

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Playlist:

    1. Good Company-3.59

    2. Now I’m Lovin’ You – 4:12

    3. Tear It Down – 5:14

    4. Cowboy Gucci – 3:52

    5. In The Meantime – 5:06

    6. Turn the Tables – 2:20

    7. Runaround Man – 4:12

    8. Cheatin’s Gotta End – 3:41

    9. Keep It to Yourself – 4:08

    10. Not Your Fault – 4:23

    11. My Place – 3:43

    12. Those Days – 7:56 

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Players:

• Al “Piper” Green — Vocals, Songwriting

• Steve Eagon — Guitar, Songwriting, Bandleader

• Dave Colella — Drums, Percussion, Songwriting

• Amy Frederick — Keyboards (Piano, Organ, Rhodes)

• Parker Hawkins — Bass

Additional Musicians 

       .  Eddie Meyer — Tenor Saxophone

• Charlie DiPuma — Additional Saxophone

• John Wallum — Organ (guest on select cuts)

• Lisa Oliver-Gray — Background Vocals

• Etta Britt — Background Vocals

What Makes Good Company Special

One thing you never get with Piper & The Hard Times is imitation. Their music is original and authentic — not derivative or formulaic. You can feel their joy in playing together, and that spirit comes through in every groove and solo. This record isn’t just a collection of songs — it’s a musical conversation between players who have trusted each other’s ears and instincts for years.

Recorded over just three days in March 2025 at the legendary Oceanway Studio A in Nashville, the performances are tight and energetic yet full of heart. The production by Tres Sasser and engineering by Joe Costa captures the band’s raw power without polishing away the grit that makes their sound so compelling. 

Tragically, just as the band’s momentum was peaking — their touring calendar packed and excitement building — frontman Al “Piper” Green was diagnosed with cancer on June 4, 2025. The band has understandably scaled back live dates to allow Piper time to heal, and the blues community has rallied around him with an outpouring of support. We all wish Al a speedy and full recovery and look forward to the day they hit the road again full force. 

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I have attached two tracks from "Good Company".  The first is the title tune on the album, "Good Company".  The second track is "Cowboy Gucci".  If you are a Blues fan, you will love the music of "Piper & the Hard Times"!

                                                                        "Good Company"

                                                                         "Cowboy Gucci"

CD Review: Sacha Boutros, "Sacha: Paris After Dark"

Jazz Vocalist, Composer, Arranger and Producer Sacha Boutros has recently released her fifth album, "Sacha: Paris After Dark".  This release follows her first successful CD,   Sacha: NY After Dark". According to Sacha, "For me, this album is a love letter to Paris, to music, to my childhood and family, and to the powerful bond between cultures.  The "After Dark" aesthetic captures the sound and spirit of a city at night. The music you hear in cafes, clubs, taxi, and on the streets."  

This was my first experience listening to Sacha and I was totally impressed by her beautiful voice and perfect Jazz phrasing.  Americans love French singing and music as much as the French love American music especially songs from the "Great American Songbook".  I have always enjoyed French singing even when, in my opinion, the vocalist might not have been the best.  But with Sacha Boutros you get it all,  a beautiful voice, a great selection of songs, an understanding of lyric and spot on Jazz phrasing!  Multi-talented Sacha Boutros speaks seven languages and sings in 14.  

Sacha is now working on two follow-up cd's in this series that I am looking forward to:  "Sacha, Las Vegas After Dark" and "Sacha, Mexico After Dark" .  I highly recommend adding this CD to your core Jazz collection. 

I have attached two songs from "Sacha, Paris After Dark".  The first is the American classic, "La Belle Vie"  (The Good Life)  and the second is the romantic "Je Reviens Te Chercher" that tells the story about a lover coming back years after a break up. 

Full Playlist — Sacha: Paris After Dark

1. Je Reviens te Chercher

2. Si tu Vois Ma Mère

3. Ne Me Quitte Pas / I’m a Fool to Want You

4. April in Paris

5. Et si tu n’existais pas

6. La Javanaise

7. Smile

8. Love in Portofino

9. In the Still of the Night

10. La Belle Vie (The Good Life)

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Contributing Musicians

• Sacha Boutros — vocals, piano

• Franck Amsallem — piano, vocals; arrangements

• Hugo Lippi — guitar

• Thomas Bramerie — bass

• Stéphane Belmondo — trumpet

• Tony Rabeson — drums

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Production Credits

• Produced by Sacha Boutros

• Arrangements by Sacha Boutros & Franck Amsallem

• Recorded & mixed at Studio Sextan – La Fonderie (France)

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                                                                      "Le Belle Vie"

                                                                    "Je Reviens Te Chercher"