Bobby Broom - Notes of Thanks - Steele Records
Notes of Thanks is a studio reunion of sorts for guitarist Bobby Broom’s working trio, who haven’t recorded a full album as a standalone unit since 2009’s Bobby Broom Plays for Monk. But more than that, Broom expresses gratitude to Sonny Rollins who he worked alongside for eleven years of his career saying, “I wanted to thank Sonny while he’s here.” It’s a rich and remarkable thank you. Broom continues to unfurl solos that have dubbed him as “one of the most musical guitarists of our times.” Carroll, and Watkins complete this “trio of undeniable chemistry,” offering up a few of Rollins’s best-known compositions (“Doxy,” “Alfie’s Theme,” and “Pent-Up House”), along with a handful of his eclectic, lesser-known tunes. With a clever nod to the saxophone trio pioneer, Notes of Thanks is an extraordinary homage to and by extraordinary musicians.
Mark Winkler - Love Comes First - Cafe Pacific Records
In his own words: “I imagined “Love Comes First” in a ‘50s jazz club… The video is a dream created with AI—but the voice, the song, and the love behind it are real. Hope you feel it. It’s an original song I co-wrote with Dori Amarilio who also arranged, produced, mixed and played guitar on the track. The other musicians are Nando Raio on bass, Mike Branley on drums, Rique Pantoja on piano and Mike Stevers on fluegelhorn. It’s the title song of my new album.”