by MICHAEL TUTINO | Aug 10, 2023 | Front Page, News
There aren’t any jazz-rock fusion or hip-hop-jazz mash-ups on an album by drummer Mike Melito. He is a jazz purist. So it’s not surprising that his eighth album, aptly named “To Swing Is The Thing,” is composed of jazz classics and less familiar tunes worthy of...
by MICHAEL TUTINO | Jun 26, 2023 | Front Page, News
Hosted by Drum Factory Direct chief creative officer Mike Dawson, Drum Candy is the definitive podcast for gear-obsessed drummers with an insatiable hunger for non-stop shop talk. Each episode will include product demos and interviews with the world’s top...
by MICHAEL TUTINO | May 26, 2023 | Recorded Music, Uncategorized
When the word “predictable” shows up in music reviews, it’s often wrongly viewed as the kiss of death. Somewhere along the way, “defying expectations” or “charting new territory” have become the quickest way to gain...
by MICHAEL TUTINO | May 25, 2023 | News
Drummer Mike Melito admires the relaxed brand of swing and bluesy compositions that typify hard bop, so much so that he believes today’s artists omit a crucial rhythmic element that distinguishes this music, apart from the challenging harmony and technique. ‘The main...
by MICHAEL TUTINO | May 25, 2023 | News
After Anker, it was one more block north to the Harro East Ballroom to see tenor master and composer of many jazz standards, Benny Golson. We arrived just as the first set was ending with a rousing non-Golson standard,“Take The A Train.” When Golson and his...