Want to put some fun back into the funky? Check out this set by B3er Michael Kocour, who teams up with Bruce Forman/g, Eric Schneider/as-ts and Dom Moio/dr for nine toe tapping tunes. You’ve got some rapid fire bopping with…
Month: November 2015
YOURS IS NO DISGRACE…Anderson Ponty Band: Better Late Than Never
One of the true signs of an artist is to have an individual sound. Without knowing anything about this cd/dvd, I popped it on and started listening. My first thought when I heard “One in the Rhythms of Hope” with…
WHEN COOL WAS HOT…Stan Getz/Chet Baker Quartet: Live at The Haig 1953, Lou Mecca-Bill De Arango-Chuck Wayne: 3 Swinging Guitar Sessions
Once upon a time, the most exciting sounds in jazz and popular music was when the jazz artists stopped screaming at the audience and whispered sweet and intricate melodies to their fans. Here are two recent reissues from Fresh Sound…
Bob Merrill: Cheerin’ Up the Universe
Bob Merrill displays his prowess at both the horn and voice on this hip collection of tunes that range from jazz standards to boomer classics to outer space. He teams up with Nicki Parrott/b-voc, Drew Zingg/g, John Medeski-Matthew Fries/p, George…
Chet Baker: Early Chet Baker in Germany 1955-1959
Just when you think you’ve heard all there is of legendary trumpeter Chet Baker, here comes a real thrill. Baker sticks to his horn here in a variety of settings. His Quartet with Dick Twardzik/p, Jimmy Bond/b and Peter Littman/dr…
MONK’S MOOD…Terry Adams: Talk Thelonious
Who would have thought that the most creative interpretation of the Thelonious Monk songbook would come from the famous “bar band” NRBQ? Well, BELIEVE IT! Terry Adams brings together Scott Ligon/g-B3, Jim Hoke/as-harp-stg, Klem Klimek/as-ts, Pete Donnelly/eb, Pete Toigo/b and…
MORE FROM XANADU…Kenny Barron: At the Piano, Al Cohn & Jimmy Rowles: Heavy Love, Teddy Edwards: Feelin’s, Joe Farrell: Skate Board Park
Elemental music continues to dig into the mines of Xanadu Records, and once again strikes gold with some fantastic acoustic jazz from 1974-81. At the time of these recordings, these artists were just looking for some way to get their…
Rotem Sivan Trio: A New Dance
Spain-based Fresh Sound Records keeps its finger on the jazz pulse for nascent talents, and this album by guitarist Rotem Sivan shows the benefits of hard detective work. He’s got a warm tone on his guitar, and uses it well…
DANISH TREATS…Jesper Lundaard Trio: 60 Out of Shape, Sands/Fonnesbaek/Riel: Take One
Better known for reissuing vintage traditional and mainstream jazz, Storyville Records is also capable of issuing fresh new material from modern artists. Here are a pair of trio recordings from the Jazzhus Montmarte in Copenhagen, Denmark. Bassist Jesper Lundgaard teams…
Fourplay: Silver
The number of jazz bands that are commercially successful is pretty small; ones that are successful for 25 years could probably fit into a phone booth, if you could find one. Playing swinging yet accessible music since George Bush #1…