Older CDs

Philly Artists CDs

What's "new" to the artists may be old to the fans.... But in any case, the "New CD" page was getting too big to load especially for dial-up users. I'm going to try to rotate "New CDs" to this page as the CD turns 6 months old or the artist releases a new CD (whichever comes first.)

Nobody is going to see it anyway, if the page takes too long to load ...

Charles Bowen Sr.

meets up with a cyber-rhythm section in this smooth one available through Coastal Distribution Hear samples on the PhillyJazz jukebox

The Blue Groove does it again

Some soulful and funky jazz here to keep your toes tappin'. Lots of organ swells and guitar wa-wa evoke a bygone era, but still looks ahead.

If I'm not mistaken, you can hear some tenor played with one of those "Octavider" boxes Sonny Stitt was so fond of back in the Seventies.

Check out some samples on the JukeBox

Take A Closer Look

Globe-Trotting Philly-girl Maci Miller has a new one out. The lithesome Langhorne lass is more easily heard in Italy or Bangkok but if you wait until December, you can catch her at the Park Hyatt right downtown.

If you can't wait, check her out on the PhillyJazz Jukebox.

Just When I Thought

Puzzle Box Experiment's hip new CD. Check out samples on the PhillyJazz Jukebox.

Hear what the newest generation of Philadelphia Jazz players is up to !

Our Man in

Tokyo

Eddie-San Landsberg came back to Philly to record this baby with some pro backing by some of B3dom's legends. Check out some samples on the PhillyJazz Jukebox.

Next time you find yourself in Japan, stop by Eddie's Place for a cold Sapporo and some greasy groove.

Night and Day, the Jump City Jazz Orchestra’s third CD release, captures the JCJO at its finest. Trumpeter Jay Webb shines on a soulful rendition of Hoagy Carmichael’s standard Georgia on My Mind, while saxman Vince Lardear gives a virtuoso performance on the contemporary jazz number, Little Girl. JCJO Artistic Director/Trumpeter Bob Wagner pays homage to the classic big band sound on Duke Ellington’s Take the A Train, and Keith Spencer and Karen Wilhelm demonstrate why they’re the finest pair of big band vocalists in Philadelphia on numbers such as Fly Me to the Moon, S’Wonderful, I’ve Got You Under My Skin, and the title track, Night and Day. In addition to these outstanding individual performances, songs like That’s All, Time After Time and a swinging’ up-tempo version of the timeless In the Mood highlight the band’s tight rhythm section and crisp ensemble sound. Night and Day is available online at the JCJO’s website http://www.jumpcityjazz.com as well as at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/jumpcityjazz.

Vocalist Barbara Montgomery has never been one to duplicate her previous efforts. The CD sees her taking yet another direction, further still away from the straight-ahead jazz which defined her early career.

As executive Producer, though she has yet again cherry-picked the region's very best Jazz players, and the results speak for themselves.

Hear some samples ("I fall in Love too Easily", and the title track "Trinity") on the PhillyJazz Jukebox.

Philadelphia educated saxophonist, Brian Woestehoff's debut CD features some of Philly's finest young lions.

It is modern without being too far-out. Check out samples on the PhillyJazz Jukebox.

John Swana's Newest Release

Philly Gumbo vol. 2

Look out for this one .. For the first time on record, two very unique Philadelphia tenor voices team up with the smoking trumpet man and his all-star rhythm section.

Charlie X

The Xman plays what he calls "Morph Guitar." In a nutshell, he mixes styles such as classical, heavy metal, bebop and folk with reckless abandon. If you enjoy genre-bending, check out some of his tunes on the PhillyJazz Jukebox or go to Charlie's website to buy the CD.

Eric Mintel

does it again with a great quartet comprised of some of our area's best players.

This is a real working quartet, and sounds like it. Not a bad cut out of 12. I can pretty much guarantee you will enjoy this. Check out the Jazz Jukebox and see for yourself.

Guitarist Chuck Anderson releases The Vintage Tracks on the heels of Angel Blue . Vintage Tracks features rare recordings with late Philly bassist Al Stauffer. Local old-timers may remember this as "Mirror within a Mirror" from 1975. Chuck has gone to enormous efforts to restore those tapes, and remaster to CD.

Dave Dzubiniski

Dave's Website

Percussionist Seán J. Kennedy's latest features a cast of great area artists including Larry McKenna. You can hear some of these originals on the PhillyJazz Jukebox !! Better yet, buy it at your convenient local CDBABY

Joanna Pascale

Perhaps the youngest professional songstress on the Philly scene, Ms. Pascale offers this debut CD as her introduction. Backed by some of Philly's finest, you can hear samples on the Phillyjazz Jukebox

Dig "Easy Living" where Terrell Stafford and Farid Barron could easily be mistaken for Pops and Fatha' Hines ....

It is always heartening to hear new blood emerging to replace our favorites as they pass. The inter-generational co-mingling on Philly's stages is something we probably fail to appreciate as much as we should ....

Joanna has a website ... www.joannapascale.com where you can read more ...

CD Available at CDBABY, Tower Records, and Sounds of Market

Tom Lawton

retrospective/debut

This double-CD features Tom on piano, Ben Schachter on saxes, John Swana on trumpet, Lee Smith on bass and Jim Miller on drums. Norman David makes a guest appearance on clarinet.

retrospective/debut is comprised mostly of Lawton originals penned over a 25-year time span. While maintaining hard-bop sensibilities and swing, these guys get pretty outside at times. Fortunately, they have the musical sense to pull it off. Playing free has seen a lot of excesses over the years, but any fan of straight-ahead jazz will not feel lost listening to this.... challenged maybe, but that's a good thing.

Read an All About Jazz Review

Bootsie Barnes

Boppin' Round the Center

Bootsie's latest release is a no-holds-barred swinger which gives plenty of space to Philly's young lions (Derrick Hodge and Farid Barron) as well as not-quite-so-young cohorts John Swana and Craig McIver. Selections range from tender ballads to classic 52nd Street-style bebop.

Listen to the title track on the PhillyJazz Jukebox

Read a review on ALLABOUTJAZZ

Available to order from CDBABY.COM

Kenny Gates' new CD featuring Billy James, Lee Smith and Bootsie Barnes is a swinger.

Chuck Anderson - ANGELBLUE

Fabled guitarist and teacher Chuck Anderson returns to the Philly Jazz scene with some of our finest players as sidemen. Even if you are not a guitarist, check this out !! Very contemporary, but too good to be called "smooth." Hear Gerald Veasley, Ronnie Burrage, John Swana, Ron Kerber and Dan Kleiman along with Chuck ....

Subtitled, "a tour of jazz", this transcends many styles ...

Exit 45 / U-Turn

Hailing from across the river, these folks put out some very tight, well-produced contemporary Jazz. Check out their unique approach to "Girl from Ipanema" on the PhillyJazz Jukebox !!

Ed Niederhiser - Trumpet and Flugelhorn, Ed Crockett Bass, Bob Fant Drums and Sally Ada-Marie - Poetry perform on this CD which comprises many different Jazz styles. Hear a sample on the PhillyJazz jukebox.

Audubon, Pa., June 26, 2002 - "Summertime" sizzles with the release of
the Audubon Jazz Explosion's second CD.

Titled "Summertime," the CD
features classic big band and jazz numbers originally performed by the Count Basie Orchestra, Woody Herman and the Thundering Herd and the
Buddy Rich Orchestra.

The CD goes on sale at the AJE's July 3 concert in Southampton, Pa., and is available for purchase at all the band's summer concerts and online at http://www.jazzexplosion.com. "Summertime" will also be available at select local record stores.

"We decided to call the CD 'Summertime' as a tribute to the band's roots," explains CD Co-Producer Mike DiFebbo. "While the band is now active year-round, performing at corporate events, weddings and public concerts, we started out as a rehearsal band, playing almost exclusively at outdoor concerts in the summer."

AJE is an 18-piece jazz big band, under the direction of Collegeville saxophonist Bruce Greenwald. The band consists of five trumpets, four trombones, five saxophones, piano, bass, drums, guitar and two vocalists. AJE is unique in that it is a professional-caliber band whose members are professionals in a wide variety of fields including law, dentistry, business, psychology, information technology, engineering and aerospace.

The CD's 13 tracks include "Sweet Georgia Brown," "What Kind of Food Am
I," "Love for Sale," "When You're Smiling," and "Route 66."

The CD's title track, "Summertime," features a guest appearance by Glenn Dodson. Dodson, of Chester Springs, Pa., began his long and accomplished career by attending the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. He spent nine years with the New Orleans Symphony, where he played jazz
with Al Hirt and Pete Fountain. During that time, he also spent six seasons with the Santa Fe Opera Orchestra. Dodson spent three years with the Chicago Symphony before joining the Philadelphia Orchestra in 1968 as its principal trombonist. He also returned to the Curtis
Institute as an Instructor of Trombone and Brass Ensemble. Now retired, Dodson continues to coach and play in many jazz groups including his own Raz-Jaz Dixie Band.

In addition to the band's signature sound, the CD contains vocals by Karen Wilhelm and Keith Spencer. Wilhelm performed with several local bands and starred in a number of local theater productions, including "Nunsense" and "Annie Get Your Gun," before joining the AJE last year.
Spencer's extensive live performance experience includes singing back-up vocals for such artists as Roberta Flack, Rosemary Clooney, and Sandi Patty. He has also performed in many professional companies ranging from Philadelphia's Prince Theater to the Broadway tour of Andrew Lloyd
Webber's "Music of the Night."

The CD was recorded, mixed and mastered at Morningstar Studios in Spring House, Pa., between October 2000 and May 2002. It was produced by AJE members Mike DiFebbo and Bob Wagner, and engineered by Glenn Barratt, a member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences' Grammy nominating committee.

For more information, please visit the band's website at
http://www.jazzexplosion.com, mail the AJE at P.O. Box 118, Eagleville,
PA 19408, or call (610) 331-2315.

One of the most skilled and tasteful drummers on the scene today releases a new CD entitled "RH Positive." This effort features the lyrical Larry McKenna on tenor, Pete Colangelo on bass and Tom Lawton and Paul Pelusi splitting piano duties. Every track is a gem! It's a good thing he puts these CD's out 'cause we NEVER see him playing around his own hometown. What's it mean when we gotta go to GERMANY to see our local cats perform live ??

The always beautiful Denise King's latest CD entitled "Fever" is out. As usual, Ms. King surrounds herself with Philly's most talented accompanists, and produced a collection of gems. The title track "Fever" shows off the bluesy saxophone of Sam Reed as well as a totally under-heralded Stan Slotter sounding like Sweets Edison on the trumpet.

The CD balances full-band arrangements with some very subtle piano-voice vignettes which show off the subtle side of Denise's vocal artistry. Pianist Aaron Graves matches wits with her on a lovely version of "Autumn Leaves."

The entire CD is a pleasure from track one to track twelve. You can order it directly from her Web Page Order Form !!!

These are not the same Philadelphians as Benny Golson's but they provide just as much fire. Bootsie Barnes, Sid Simmons, Mike Boone and Byron Lanham are about the best Philly has to offer. It just doesn't get any better than this.

Andrew's "Inspire" is a superbly-produced collection of smooth Jazz and love songs as well as some funky blues-oriented material. If you're a fan of the genre, chances are you'll dig this quite a bit. If the smooth sound isn't your thing, at least it shows Philly cats aren't all just hard boppers. You GOTTA dig the horn section. If you like Yellowjackets or Spyro Gyra, why not try the homegrown version?

This bass-infused undertaking spans styles from bop through fusion, Latin and more. Some fine Philly players round out the sound !! Nobody can accuse this cat of staying in one groove too long ! Check out these Windows Media samples.

Bassist Craig Schoedler's new release features some locally-recognized artists such as Tom Petroski and Vince Colella. Jerseyites and New Yorkers, such as Ralph Bowen, Steve Jordan and Mike Stern round out the personnel.

Art-Museum area guitarist / composer Mike Kennedy's debut CD features some of Philly's finest new-generation of players : Chris Farr, Lucas Brown and Dan Monaghan. Mike's relaxed swing make it seem easy, (though you know it's not.) Hear what I mean on the PhillyJazz Jukebox....modern, but with respect for the tradition.

Mary Ellen Desmond and Meg Clifton are joined by a host of Philadelphia's finest accompanists and soloists on this tribute to songstresses Peggy Lee and Rosemary Clooney.

For Booking Information contact Alan McMahon Music Agency