I love this time of year when people run through their list of top ten whatevers-movies, shows, books, hair styles. I don’t care! It’s a Top Ten! I emailed a ton of various writers and jazz journalists in order to…
Month: December 2012
****ROTW****EARLY ITALIAN ART: The Buddy DeFranco/Tommy Gumina Quartet: Pacific Standard (Swingin’!) Time, Pat Martino: Alone Together with Bobby Rose
Here are a couple discs that feature two of our best artists in earlier, and more obscure, settings. Lots to like in these rabbit trail releases: Back when JFK was alive and running for president, Buddy DeFranco came up with…
Various Head Banging Guitarists and Wailing Long Haired Singers: Re-Machined; A Tribute to Deep Purple’s Machine Head
Who would ever have conceived that one day there would be a nostalgic desire for Heavy Metal Music. “Ah, those were the days. When head banging was REALLY head banging!” or “We weren’t big; the arena’s got small.” Or how…
John Daversa: Artful Joy
Trumpeter/band leader John Daversa puts out music that never stops trying. Enthusiastic, swinging and enjoyable over the top, the music here has a hard hitting flexibility of sounds and rhythms that’s hard , not to ignore. He teams up with…
Sam Newsome: The Art of the Soprano Vol. 1
Talking about your tough solo projects! The soprano sax has got to be the Mt. Everest of summits to climb. Steve Lacy made it to the top with a few releases, but most have succumbed to altitude sickness in the…
Roger Davidson Trio: We Remember Helen
Pianist Roger Davidson has to have one of the most elegant and genteel touches around. He’s put out a catalogue of Latin material that is second to none. This time out, he teams up with David Finck/b and Lewis Nash/dr…
Zohar’s Nigun: The Four Questions
Zohar’s Nigun consists of Daniel Weltlinger/violin, Daniel Pliner/p, Alon Ilsar/dr and Simon Milman/b. What makes the concept of this album interesting is that these four artists are exploring the depths of cultural and religious identity; what makes a person who…
Lost Bayou Ramblers: Mammoth Waltz
Well, this sure ain’t your uncle Jacque’s Cajun music. The LBR’s consist of Andre Michot/acc, Louis Michot/v-fiddle, Cavan Carruth/g, Pauly Etheredge/dr, Korey Richey/programming-g and Alan LaFleurb. Except for the traditional and danceable “La Jolie Fille N’en…” all of the material…
Ellen Robinson: Don’t Wait Too Long
Here’s a vocalist that sounds like she is comfortable with a lyric, be it her own or Irving Berlins. Ellen Robinson, recorded here at the Freight & Salvage Coffee House in Berkeley, CA, is teamed up with a modern and…
Freddie Mercury: The Great Pretender
Pun possibly unintended, but the lead singer of Queen was undoubtedly one of rock’s most mercurial stars in all of rock. Singer/songwriter/performer non parallel, Freddie Mercury is fascinatingly captured on this biographical documentary. It covers his entire life story, from…