TWO SOLO BASS ALBUMS?!? Did we do something wrong? Seriously, this has got to be the most challenging genre; It takes a special talent to keep it interesting, yet have something important to say. You gotta have either a lot…
Month: December 2012
Toots Thieleman: 90 Years
Well, if nothing else, this records answers the question “when does a harmonica player lose his chops?” Judging from this collection of songs from various tours, we now know that it’s sometime AFTER 90 years old, as mega-veteran harmonica player…
Art Pepper: Unreleased Art Pepper Vol VII: Neon Art
Laurie Pepper, widow of legendary alto saxist Art Pepper, has been doing a remarkable job keeping the artists name in the jazz scene with an impressive collection of previously released live recordings. The The latest cache is quite clever; it…
Bob Belden’s Animation: Transparent Heart
Bob Belden is nothing if not ambitious. Not only is he one of jazz’s most important journalists, but each of his releases always has a feeling of importance to it, with none of them ever sounding quite alike. This one…
Luciana Souza@The Blue Whale 12.18.12
Vocalist Luciana Souza just gave Angelenos another reason for hanging around town for the Christmas holidays, as she has made a promise to continue her annual Advent tradition of ending the year with a concert at the very hip Blue…
The Wynton Kelly Collection: 20 Solo Transcriptions
If you play any kind of an instrument, odds are you’ve got at least a handful of the Play-a-long book and cd sets from Jamey Aebersold. This time around they’re doing something out of their comfort zone, which is putting…
Nik Bartsch’s Ronin: Live
A few years ago, I caught pianist/leader Nik Bartsch’s and his band at the Bakery. The concert was almost as intriguing visually as it was acoustically, as the band played their sets in subdued and dark lighting, adding to the…
Etta James: Live at Montreux 1993
If you want to hear the blues like they’re supposed to be done, Ms. Etta James, who just recently departed this mortal life for her eternal reward before a just God, is not a bad place to start indeed. This…
GUITARS! Eric DiVito: Breaking the Ice, Isra-Alien: Somewhere is Here
Electric or acoustic? Paper or plastic? Latte or mocha? Lots of choices in modern society. Here are a couple guitar albums from artists you might not know, but could easily become friends with. Cool toned electric guitarist Eric DiVito mixes…
POPE’S AUTHORITY
What is the most common advice given to aspiring musicians? It’s got to be the easier said than done, “Get your own voice.” While we all have our favorite musicians, and dream of playing just like them, the fact is…