Once upon a time, the most popular instrument in jazz was the clarinet. It was the sound of New Orleans traditional songs, introduced to us by the likes of Sidney Bechet and Johnny Dodds, and then segued easily into the…
Month: April 2015
A FORGOTTEN GIANT…Mal Waldron: Complete Trio Recordings 1958-1960
Pianist Mal Waldron left us in 2002, and most jazz fans either never heard of him or forgot about him. He was Billie Holiday’s last pianist as well as a hard bopper in the 1950s, cutting some cooking sessions with…
AH! TEXAS TENORS…James Clay: The Kid From Dallas
Here is one of the reasons that labels that specialize in reissues do us such a great service. I have NEVER even heard of this guy James Clay, and who knows what happened to him or where he went, but…
Mark Knopfler: Tracker
He’s listed as one of the top 30 guitarists in music, but on this album Mark Knopfler emphasizes moods and lyrics on a subtle, subdued and quietly swinging album. Along with long time partner Guy Fletcher/key, Knopfler brings on board…
Jakob Bro: Gefion
Guitarist Jakob Bro leads a gentle trio with Thomas Morgan/b and Jon Christensen/dr through a thoughtful collection of originals. Except for the 10+ minute title track, the material is kept in short and succinct segments. No matter the length of…
Jazz Bakery “Moveable Feast” Presents: Fred Hersch Solo @ The Edye 04.24.15
“It’s intimate in here; I like it like that.” So commented pianist Fred Hersch as he scanned the cozy confines of The Edye Second Space before giving the audience 90 minutes worth of delectable piano sounds. Opening up with a…
****ROTW****A FIND AMONGST THE REEDS…Balkan Clarinet Summit: Many Languages-One Soul
The closest thing this ingenious idea of 6 clarinets getting together sans rhythm (and NOT a capella as the liner notes state. “A capella” means “no instruments” or literally “like church”…your lesson for the day) was back in the 80s…
Steve Turre: Spiritman
Steve Turre shows his hard bopping heart here with a session that includes kindred spiritis Bruce Williams/as-ss, Xavier Davis/p, Gerald Cannon/b and Willie Jones III/dr. The rhythm team flexes its muscles throughout with a nice heavy cruise on “Bu” and…
Jeff Hamilton Trio: Great American Songs Through the Years
You hear records like this, and you wonder to yourself, “Do we Angelenos really appreciate the surfeit of great jazz musicians in our city?” I mean, if Jeff Hamilton’s trio with Tamir Hendelman/p and Christoph Luty/b were in New York,…
Bettye LaVette: Worthy
Vocalist Bettye LaVette’s career dates back to the R&B days of Clyde McPhatter and Ben E. King, all the way through disco and even up to this century with a few hits to boast of. Her voice has a bit…