If jazz is “America’s Classical Music,” then Miles Davis’ 1959 album Kind of Blue has to be considered his 9th Symphony. As the only living member of that iconic session, 80 year old drummer Jimmy Cobb has been touring the…
Month: April 2013
BENSON’S FAVORITE GUITARIST-Grant Green: The Holy Barbarian St. Louis 1959
Uptown Records has unearthed another great treasure here. Guitarist Grant Green, who has been sighted many times by George Benson as one of the first guitarists that inspired him, is caught here in his hometown in 1959 and 1960, just…
Shuggie Otis: Inspiration Information & Wings of Love
Son of famed R&B star Johnny Otis, Shuggie Otis had, and actually still has, an impressive career on his own. This 2 cd set includes the classic 1974 psychedelic soul album Inspiration Information as well as a previously unreleased and…
Gerald Clayton: Life Forum
Best known for his own working trio with Joe Sanders and Justin Brown, as well as his work with The Clayton Brothers Band, pianist Gerald Clayton expands his borders a bit here with some ambitious and experimental sounds as well…
MONK’S CLASSIC QUARTET! Thelonious Monk Complete Paris and Milan Concerts (1961)
Frequently imitated, never replicated and always inspiring, pianist Thelonious Monk is featured here on this fun and energetic pair of discs from a pair of concerts that were previously issued as Monk in France and Monk in Italy. His quartet…
A BLAST FROM THE PAST-Pat Metheny Group: We Live Here Live in Japan
One of the most shocking things about this 1995 concert with Pat Metheny’s group that was touring in promotion of the We Live Here album is that during the interview section both Metheny and other members of the band talk…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Boyd Lee Dunlap: The Lake Reflections
Not too many artists put out their first disc at 85, but pianist Boyd Lee Dunlap acutally did that not too long ago. Suffering a stroke not much time after, not only did Dunlap keep his life, but he kept his chops…
****DESERT ISLAND DISC!!! ****Duke Ellington: The Duke at Fargo 1940 Special 60th Anniversary Edition
There are simply a certain number of jazz records that you have to hear and include in your collection. Likewise, there are specific small groups and big bands that everyone, not just jazz fans, but MUSIC and LIFE fans need…
TWO UNDERAPPRECIATED GIANTS-Frank Wess & Johnny Coles: Two At The Top
As a general rule, Uptown Records has focused on releasing material from the 40s to the 60s, obscure radio broadcasts or studio material that got lost in Grandpa’s attic. This time, they are actually bring back one of their own…
Hristo Vitchev Quartet: Familiar Fields
I first heard guitarist Hristo Vitchev on his Heartmony release not too long ago, and was impressed on that collection of duets with Weber Iago/p-key by his sense of understated lyricism. Here, in a quartet format, once again with Iago as well as Dan…