The Sunday Jazz Brunch Presents

Bill O'Connell

Air Date: 4/17/2022

Pianist Bill O'Connell is mostly known for his prowess in composing, arranging, and performing Latin jazz, especially with regard to the Latin All Stars band that he leads. However, his latest CD, A Change is Gonna Come, is strictly a straight-ahead affair.

This effort has a superb supporting cast including Craig Handy (saxophone), Lincoln Goines (bass), Steve Jordan (drums), and Pedrito Martinez (percussion). As with a number of recent CDs, there is a theme: difficult times related to pandemics and politics. 

"We have to remain optimistic in the crazy time we're going through," says O'Connell. Song titles on the new CD reinforce the recent pains we all know about: Covid Blues, Enough is Enough, and Chaos, for a few examples. It seems as if the artist is saying "It can't go on like this, a change is gonna come." 

The show opens with the title track, and during the second hour we'll hear a very pretty song on the CD, Sweet Peanut.

The Rest of the Story

Pianist Lynne Arriale's new CD is very good, par for the course as far as her music is concerned. Also on piano is Joe Alterman with a live recording, which is quite good. The only thing that bothers me about live recordings is that the engineering is often much worse than a studio album. On this release it is not too bad but the playing is outstanding.

I am enjoying vibes player Michael Benedict's new CD, Jazz Vibes. Mark Winkler's new CD has a great sound, and I'm sure you'll recognize Don't Be Blue during the second hour.

Gabor Bolla is a Hungarian tenor saxophonist who leads one of the oldest working jazz quartets in Hungary. I'm sure you will enjoy the straight-ahead tracks on the new CD.

Guitarist Diego Figueiredo has released yet another new CD - I believe it is not even a year since the release of his prior CD. He has a well-deserved reputation as a young lion of Brazilian jazz. We just got this CD in and I have one track for you during today's show - more to come.

I hope you enjoy these great new tracks. Which hour of the Sunday Jazz Brunch is your favorite? Drop me an email at marty@wicn.org and let me know! Thanks for tuning in.

Marty


HOUR ONE: Contemplative Morning

Bill O'Connell-A Change Is Gonna Come 2022-04 A Change Is Gonna Come
Lynne Arriale Trio\The Lights Are Always On 2022\06 Sounds Like America
Blue Moods-Myth & Wisdom 2022-04 Duke Ellington's Sound Of Love
Joe Alterman-The Upside Of Down 2021-11 Don't Forget To Love Yourself
Charles Goold\Rhythm In Contrast 2022\Lo's Lament
Reid Hoyson Project-Reid Hoyson Project Featuring Keith Bishop '' Your Move'' 2021-07 Domingo
Michael Benedict-Jazz Vibes 2022-03 Remberance
Immanuel Wilkins-The 7th Hand 2022-05 Witness
Daggerboard\The Skipper 2022\Agapanthus
Sam Kirmayer-High and Low-05 What Could Have Been 2018
Chiara Civello\Chansons 2022\09 - I WISH YOU LOVE (Que reste-t-il de nos amours)

HOUR TWO: New For You

Lynne Arriale Trio\The Lights Are Always On 2022\Loved Ones
Pat Bianchi-Something to Say - Music of Stevie Wonder 2022-02 Until You Come Back To Me
Reid Hoyson Project-Reid Hoyson Project Featuring Keith Bishop '' Your Move'' 2021-02 Stablemates
Sam Kirmayer\In This Moment 2022\The Turnout
Yolanda Flores\Sheer Bliss 2022\Take It Away
Bill O'Connell-A Change Is Gonna Come 2022-07 Sweet Peanut
Mark Winkler-Late Bloomin' Jazzman 2022-02 Don't Be Blue
Daggerboard\The Skipper 2022\Conception Point
David Janeway\Distant Voices 2022\Brigitte
Michael Weiss\Persistence 2022\Second Thoughts
Gabor Bolla Quartet-On The Move 2021-07 Swingin' At The Haven
Jorge Garcia\Dedicated To You 2022\Dedicated To You

HOUR THREE: Brazil/World

Sergio Pereira\Finesse 2022\Let it Out
Dee Bell\Love for Sailing Over Seas 2022\Boa Nova
Ted Moore Trio\The Natural Order of Things 2020\06 Amorzinha
João Donato-Coisas Tao Simples 1995-04 Café Com Pão (Jodel)
Diego Figueiredo\Follow the Signs 2022\Follow the Signs
Electro Samba Orchestra-Bossa Nova Classics Vol 1 2022-08 Somewhere in the Hills
Mark Winkler-Late Bloomin' Jazzman 2022-06 Bossa Nova Days
Frank Colon-Latin Lounge-01 Emerald Coast-2020
Diego Figueiredo\Follow the Signs 2022\Dear John
Michael Benedict\Jazz Vibes 2022\Balanco No Samba
Jim Allchin\Costa Azul 2022\Happy
Sergio Pereira-Nu Brasil-02 East River 2018

HOUR FOUR: Groove, Baby

Daggerboard\The Skipper 2022\The Dream Within A Dream.
David Benoit\A Midnight Rendezvous 2022\Long Journey Home
Juan Carlos Quintero\Table For Five 2022\Song For My Father
Bill Banfield\Hey Holla\Perfume In Her Mind feat Nanina Johnson
Pieces of a Dream-Just Funkin' Around-07 On the Move 2017
Maysa-Sweet Classic Soul-01 Wishing On A Star 2006
Nicole Henry\TIME TO LOVE AGAIN. 2021\9. Overjoyed
Norman Brown\Heart To Heart\She's Mine
Philip Bailey-Love Will Find A Way-03 We're A Winner 2019
Richard Elliot\Authentic Life 2021
Rick Braun-Crossroads-09 Come With Me 2019
Sade\Lovers Rock\All About Our Love

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