It seems like EVERYONE is doing covers of tunes by either Joni Mitchell or Bob Dylan if Baby Boomer material is ever deemed worthy to be investigated. The dynamic duo of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel has been sadly ignored,…
Month: December 2014
BEBOP SPOKEN HERE…Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Dexter Gordon, et all: The Complete Dial Modern Jazz Sessions
This 9 disc set from Mosaic Records contains some of the most explosive music that ever hit American ears. Right after WWII, West Coast resident Ross Russell heard about the latest style of popular sounds that was replacing swing, something…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Dayna Stephens: Peace
You’d think a ballads album would be easy to do, wouldn’t you? Just play the mellow theme, and show some heart. So, how come so few sax players can do it? Dayna Stephens pulls of the trick perfectly. He switches…
Jason Marsalis Vibes Quartet: The 21st Century Trad Band
When I listen to an album by Jason Marsalis, I can’t help but conjure up a scenario in the Marsalis household circa 1970, with father Ellis bringing his kids together… “OK, Wynton, you get the trumpet; Branford, take up the…
Arun Ramamurthy Trio: Jazz Carnatica
If you didn’t know, the Indian state of Carnatica is known as having the spiciest and tastiest Indian food in the entire country. This band has the same flavor, as Arun Ramamurthy/v, Perry Wortman/b and Sameer Gupta/dr make some flavorful…
Spoke: (r)anthems
Here’s a creative band that isn’t afraid to mix a bit of fun into the soup. Spoke consists of Andy Hunter/tb, Justin Wood Wood/as-fl, Dan Loomis/b and Danny Fischer, and collectively they mix som warm and lyrical originals with some…
Addison Frei: Intentions
Pianist/composer Addison Frei teams up with a core trio of Perrin Grace/b and Matt Young/dr along with a handful of guests on this impressive collection of orginals, standards and even a classic. Frei has a rich and thick touch, confident…
Peter and Tony Levin: The Levin Brothers
Here’s a brother combo that, if it had one more member, could rival the Heath Brothers. Peter plays piano and B3, while Tony picks the cello and bass along with Jeff Siegel/dr, David Spinozaza/g, Erik Lawrence/sax and guest Steve Gadd/dr.…
The Toure’-Raichel Collective: The Paris Session
Here is a wonderful summit meeting, the second time that Idan Raichel and Vieux Farka Tour’ have gotten together. The mix of two worlds, Middle East and West Africa, which is represented by these two artists, is a service to…
Frank Catalano/Jimmy Chamberlin: Love Supreme Collective
High octane tenor saxist Frank Catalano was sidelined for awhile from his career, and in appreciation for his second chance, pulls a Coltrane and gives a dedication to his Creator for His grace on this album that covers the same…