Henry Franklin & Bob Mocarsky - Shanghai - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Bassist Henry Franklin brings friends together on his new CD InchTwo ViewsInch. The recording is divided into two groups, the first is a trio recording with pianist Cecelia Coleman and saxophonist Ben Clatworthy joining Henry on bass. The second group features pianist Kirk Lightsey, drummer Carl Burnett, guitarist Calvin Keys, percussionist Lee Jimenez and saxophonist Ben Clatworthy with Henry holding the bottom down on bass. There is also a spoken word piece featuring vocalist C. Infinite and Henry.

June Night is the latest from Henry InchSkipperInch Franklin and this superb west coast band. Great original songs written by the members, along with fresh new versions of June Night, the title track and The Purple Gazelle a Duke Ellington favorite. Also Mr. Dwight Trible vocalist and urban legend contributes a song as well as Mr. Mon David, singing sensation from the Phillipnes. This CD swings from beginning to end and with the Skipper on top of his game, this is a recording for all jazz lovers.

The New Duo Album by Piers Faccini & Ballaké Sissoko Our Calling Two decades after their very first collaboration, British-Italian folk songwriter Piers Faccini and Malian kora virtuoso, Ballaké Sissoko return with a mesmerizing album Our Calling. Set for in February 2025, this fascinating dialogue between a virtuoso instrumentalist at the peak of his powers and an inspired songwriter and wordsmith, succeeds in creating new song forms with a lightness of touch that bridges continents and plays with tradition. Through ten exquisitely crafted tracks, Our Calling is a sonic and narrative praise song for migration in all it's forms. The two friends's entirely acoustic dialogue was recorded in Paris side by side and live in the studio over five days. The album's originality is that it feels deeply Malian at i s musical core, all the while being seamlessly infused with an essence of folk songwriting, sung in the English language. Recorded by Frédéric Soulard (Shapes of the Fall), the album unites an extraordinary cast of musicians, including Vincent Segal, Badjé Tounkara, and Malik Ziad.