Jan 4 2019
Best of 2018 #43: Rudy Royston – “Flatbed Buggy”
As the go-to drummer for an impressively diverse array of musicians, it’s always been a source of intrigue as to the influences Rudy Royston has absorbed along the way, and those he affected by way of his own perspective. The answer provided by his excellent 2018 release Flatbed Buggy is “a little bit of both, actually.” Before Bill Frisell’s recent trip down nostalgia lane, the guitarist was cementing his view of a modern Americana Jazz that incorporated healthy doses of chamber and folk. Royston was right there for much of that ride, and the sharp differences between his expression of that music from those of Frisell’s, while situating itself as a bird-of-a-feather recording, show that the forces being exerted upon the music were not a one-way conduit of creativity. The masterful balance of a light tunefulness and heady imagery makes for an intoxicating contrast in reactions, both emotional and cerebral… of complexity presented as simply as a well-crafted melody.
Released on Greenleaf Music.
I wrote about the album for The Bandcamp Daily.
Music from Denver, CO.
There’s an absorbing personality borne by the dual nature of 
It would be a grave oversight to omit the quartet 
This gospel for a cubicle life captures the angst of the career employee, and it does it with a seriousness and sense of humor, both. And Chris Abelen doesn’t treat the subject like some superficial topic. There’s a sincerity throughout that is unmistakable. There’s also a series of catchy melodies and engaging grooves that makes this album very easy to like. It’s a little something different, but delivered in a way that feels comfortingly familiar. Lorena del Mar‘s vocal antics really cinch this album as a winner.
Jan 5 2019
Best of 2018 #42: Jessica Lurie – “Long Haul”
Released on Chant Records.
Read more on Bird is the Worm.
Music from Brooklyn, NY.
Available at: Bandcamp | Amazon
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By davesumner • Recap: Best of 2018 • 0 • Tags: Allison Miller, Brian Marsella, Chant Records, Jazz - Best of 2018, Jessica Lurie, New York City, Todd Sickafoose