Artist: Michel Petrucciani
Title: Colors (BMG)
You might like if you enjoy: GoGo Penguin, Vince Guaraldi Trio, Robert Glasper Trio
Tell me more: The enduring legacy of the late French piano virtuoso Michel Petrucciani is celebrated across Colors, a new BMG-issued title available via 2-LP, 2-CD and digital. The range of delights across the jazz-mining collection is as vast as it is great. The lush "Colors" opens disc one, the inclusion of horns enhancing Petrucciani's inventive and flawless work on the piano. The adventuresome "Looking Up" finds the pianist performing solo, as does the touching "Love Letter." Disc two opens with a live performance of "Cantabile" captured at the Blue Note in Tokyo in November 1997; it's a stunning composition that begins gently and grows in power over the first five minutes before reemerging as a nuanced breeze to complete its near eight-minute run. The joyful "Little Peace in C For U" is bolstered by some terrific violin play from Stephane Grappelli , whose musical connection to Petrucciani astounds across the fast-moving three minutes. Even casual fans of jazz will be drawn into inviting tracks such as "Charlie Brown" and the romantic "Even Mice Dance." Released in connection with the 20th anniversary of Petrucciani's death, the magnificent collection is capped by "Montelimar," which appears on an album for the first-time ever. The dazzling original – recorded in Paris in 1994 – features Petrucciani on both organ and (overdubbed) piano. In addition to 18 audio tracks and artwork (overseen by French journalist Pascal Anquetil), Colors includes liner notes from Charles Lloyd, Marcus Miller, Lenny White, Steve Gadd and Ahmad Jamal. Information: www.facebook.com/MichelPetruccianijazz.
Title: Simulcast (Mom & Pop Music)
You might like if you enjoy: Moby, electronica
Tell me more: Infinitely dreamy, Tycho's new album Simulcast marks the sixth full-length effort from the Bay Area-based troupe. Group leader Scott Hansen has created a wonderful instrumental companion to last year's Grammy Award-nominated Weather. The new effort enthralls via eight inviting tracks as evidenced by the mid-tempo sheen of the aptly-named "Outer Sunset," the magnetic "Weather," emotive "Cypress" and edgier "PCH." The expansive "Stress" – which closes out the album – is another standout with a myriad of layers of sounds and moodscapes fitted against a laid-back beat that is both absorbing and entrancing. Tycho will embark on a "Simulcast Tour" that will span the U.S. beginning in early May 2020. Information: TychoMusic.com.
Title: Killin' It Live (Alligator Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Walter Trout, Tinsley Ellis
Tell me more: Fans of modern-day bluesman Tommy Castro & The Painkillers have finally been rewarded with a live album from the group courtesy of the winning Killin' It Live. Featuring selections recorded at venues in New York, Texas, Michigan and California during 2018, the set was produced by Castro and engineer Ron Alan Cohen. Singer-songwriter-guitar hero Castro revisits many of his most beloved cuts, ranging from the Southern blues-rock stomp "Make It Back To Memphis" and Chicago blues-flavored version of Sleepy John Estes' "Leaving Trunk" to the soulful R&B ballad "Anytime Soon." Castro dips back to his second full-length album to deliver a rocking take on the lead guitar-draped originals "Can't Keep a Good Man Down," and "Calling San Francisco." As showcased across "Killin' It Live," San Jose native Tommy Castro and his top-tier band the Painkillers (bassist Randy McDonald, drummer Bowen Brown and keyboardist Mike Emerson) are definitely worth catching live. They recently received two Blues Music Award nominations for Blues Rock Album Of The Year and Blues Rock Artist Of The Year (the 41st Annual Blues Music Awards will be presented by the Blues Foundation in Temphis on May 7, 2020). Castro has a number of upcoming Southern California dates including at The Rose in Pasadena on March 19, and at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano on Friday, March 20. Information: Alligator.com.
Robert Kinsler
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