Is this really it? I feel like I’m experiencing John Coltrane déjà vu. Every few years a “new” and “complete” reissue of John Coltrane’s seminal A Love Supreme gets out in the streets. There’s always an excuse, ranging from the…
Month: November 2015
Frank Zappa & The Mothers: Roxy-The Movie
Originally recorded to be a major movie back in the 70s, but unable to be released due to technical difficulties at the actual Roxy show, the film of Frank Zappa’s legendary 1973 show is finally able to be seen as…
Guilhem Flouzat: Portraits
Drummer Guilhem Flouzat delivers a lyrical collection of material that veers between assertive and bopping jazz along with dashes of indie music. The team of Jay Rattman/as, Ben Wendel/ts, Anna Webber/ts-fl, Laurent Coq-Can Olgun/p and Desmond White work together for…
Ben Monder: Amorphae
Guitarist Ben Monder had initially wanted to do a series of duets with drummer Paul Motian for this album, but alas God had other plans and took the drummer away after the two had recorded only two songs, “Oh, What…
SIX STRING THEORIES…Lee Ritenour: A Twist of Rit, Lou Volpe: Remembering Ol’ Blue Eyes
Ah! The jazz guitar! Here are a couple, one from one of the progenitors of modern six gunning, and the other while more obscure, makes quite an impression. Lee Ritenour looks forward here by looking back and revisiting material from…
BYZANTINE BLUES…The Gurdjieff Ensemble: Komitas, Tigran Hamasyan: Luys I Luso
Of all the monotheistic religions and denominations, the Eastern Orthodox Church tends to get the short end of the stick. They’ve been and presently are being harassed by other groups, but before that their music and culture has usually been…
Chucho Valdes: Tribute to Irakere-Live in Marciac
Legendary pianist Chucho Valdes taps into his roots by giving a musical tribute to the famed 70s Latin fusion group Irakere on this show in Marciac. One of the , if not the first bands to mix popular jazz with…
Pablo Ziegler & Quique Sinesi: Desperate Dance
Quique Sinesi brings h is 7 string guitar to team up with pianist Pablo Ziegler and guest Walter Castro’s bandoneon for a mix of modern and classic tangos. Of the more traditional groove, you’ll want to grab a partner and…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****London-Meador-Pramuk & Ross: The Royal Bopsters Project
Just when you are about to give up on jazz vocals, along comes an album that re-invigorates your heart. The team of Amy London/sop, Darmon Meader/ten, Dylan Pramuk/b and Holli Ross/alto sing a song of bebop as they mix their…
Pat Metheny (<-->) The Unity Sessions
Guitar hero Pat Metheny is captured here in a cozy studio with his latest band of Chris Potter/reeds, Antonio Sanchez/dr and Ben Williams/b along with guest Giulio Carmassi/p-fh in the midst of their latest tour. I saw this band in…