Because of the trajectory of his musical/spiritual career, John Coltrane’s premature death in 1967 evokes the same questions as the Kennedy and Lincoln assassinations: What would their careers have been like if they had lived a longer life, and how would…
Month: October 2014
Joe Ferrara: The Tiger Walks Through My Dreams
Wanna know what a modern Rat Packer sounds like? Step right up and give a listen to Joe Ferrara, who gives Tom Jones a run for the money in terms of macho pop song delivery. From the opening POW of…
Mike LeDonne: I Love Music
AN OPEN LETTER TO ERIC ALEXANDER Dear Mr. Alexander, I realize that you aren’t the leader on this fine disc, and B3er Mike LeDonne definitely deserves credit for not only some fine solos, but selecting tasty tunes like “Put On…
Claire Martin: Time and Place
Here’s an attractive and creative mix of styles delivered by vocalist Claire Martin who teams up with a first rate jazz tea of Joe Stilgoe-Gareth Williams/p, Jeremy Brown-Laurence Cottle/b and Ben Reynolds/dr as well as the rich and flexible Montpellier…
BY JOVE! Tubby Hayes: England’s Foremost Tenor Meets US Jazz Greats
If you’re a hard bop fan, you’re gonna go crazy over this Brit, Tubby Hayes. His life and career was cut short by a heart attack and death in 1971, but he had such a heavy rep that he even…
A PAIR OF TRIOS…Parker Abbott Trio: The Wayfinders, Alex Mercado Trio: Symbiosis
Here are two recent releases by threesomes. The team of Teri Parker and Simeon Abbott play just about anything with keys, ranging from piano, Rhodes, Hammond B-3, samplers and even a Wurlitzer and beyond, and bring in some rhythm in…
STILL OUR BROTHER…Ray Charles: Genius Loves Company-10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition
Has it really been a decade since Ray Charles departed from earth? Time may march on, but good music sure can last. He went out in style, with this collection of duets being a fitting farewell. Concord is reissuing the…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Mike Marshall & Choro Famoso: Segunda Vez
Need a little latin joy in your otherwise musically miserable life? This disc is your answer. Mandolinist Mike Marshall teams up with Andy Connell/cl-as, Colin Walker/7-strg and Brian rice/perc for 17, count ‘em, 17 bon bons of Brazilian love. A…
Yelena Eckemoff Quintet: A Touch of Radiance
Pianist/composer Yelena Eckemoff brings together a group of artists that are leaders in their own rights, but here they work together in a collection of music and poetry. While the team of Mark Turner/ts, Joe Locke/vib, George Mraz/b and Billy…
Gian-Carla Tisera: Nora La Bella
Want some music that mixes the passionate sensuality of latin folk with the hard swing of jazz? Here’s a lady that delivers. Bolivian vocalist Gian-Carla Tisera has a husky and earthy voice with an at times operatic quality and delivery…