AH! VEGAS AND CROONERS!! WHAT A COMBO. BROADS, BOOZE, BUCKS AND BENNETT! Here’s a classic Vegas show from the iconic Sahara, with Tony Bennett, back in the day when “San Francisco” was still a new song, the Beatles were a…
Month: October 2013
BEST SOUL SINGER ALIVE? Tedeschi Trucks Band: Made Up Mind
Let’s talk about this… Is there really a lady who can sing the earthy blues better than Susan Tedeschi? Yes, her husband Derek Trucks is versatile on acoustic and electric guitars, and does wonders on the closing duet “Calling Out…
BLUE AND SENTIMENTAL…Jeri Southern: The Complete Decca Years 1951-1957
Here’s a vocalist that made a big hit in the scene for a short while, and then got out while the gettin’ was good. Jeri Southern, Nebraska-bred, started as a pianist but once people heard her hauntingly melancholy voice, her…
WORLD MUSIC MEETS JAZZ… Jacob Bain & Publish the Quest: Then What!?, The Green: Hawai’i ‘13, 10 Ft. Ganja Plant: SkyCatcher
The mixing of modern jazz with “world” music like reggae and Afro funk has been a boon for both genres. Here are a few more recent releases Jacob Bain sings, writes plays guitar and the optigan on this collection of…
Sasha’s Bloc: Sasha’s Bloc
Remember why you first liked jazz? It was fun, upbeat and filled with tons of energy. Eventually, most people start getting into more “sophisticated” styles such as hard bop, fusion, post bop and free, but leave it to the Russians…
The Ali Ryerson Jazz Flute Big Band: Game Changer
Ali Ryerson states her purpose for this fascinating ensemble in both the albums title and in the liner notes. The flutist’s goal is to put together a complete release that demonstrates all that a flute can contribute to jazz. And…
CLAUDIO RODITI’S SYMPATHETIC SOUND
Sound or chops? Art Farmer or Woody Shaw? Ben Webster or John Coltrane? Artie Shaw or Buddy DeFranco? This is the question every musician must ask himself. As evidenced on the his last two releases on Resonance Records (“Brazilliance x4”…
We’ll Always Have Paris…
I just got back from a trip in France, and was simply amazed at how much jazz is truly adored there. Every town has access to a radio station which plays music ranging from Nat “King” Cole to Ornette Coleman,…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Billy Bang: Da Bang!
This Feb 2011 session was the last record that violinist Billy Bang did before finally succumbing to cancer, and if you permit, he definitely went out with a bang. He was usually associated with the avant garde, but each time…
A NEW ERA OF TRIOS? Tamir Miler Trio: Walk in Spirit
It seems that every where I turn, jazz trios of piano/bass/drums seem to be all over the place. Is it due to economics? Size of stages? Poorly made reeds? I’m not sure why, but this seems to be an era…