There are certain artists that you can never get enough of. There are labels that specialize in delivering reissues, and then there are ones such as Resonance that find heretofore “undiscovered” recordings that never originally saw the light of day…
Month: January 2016
Gil Scott-Heron: Black Wax
Considered “The Godfather of Rap” (which is an insult to the artist), Gil Scott-Heron’s music and world view is on display here on a fascinating 1982 documentary that finally makes it to DVD. Since he just recently left earth to…
A FORGOTTEN BOPPER…Joe Gordon: Last Sessions
One of the wonderful things about Spain-based Fresh Sound Records is that they find excellent artists that slipped through the cracks of most jazz fans. This single cd of trumpeter Joe Gordon is a perfect example. Gordon was a slick…
The 14 Jazz Orchestra: Nothing Hard is Ever Easy
Dan Bonsanti leads a hefty sized band with his arrangements of jazz standards and other creative covers on this satisfying session. The thick sax section of Ed Maina, Ed Calle, Neal Bonsanti and Peter Brewer swing to Jack Ciano/s snappy…
Carlos Santana & John McLaughlin: Invitation to Illumination
Well, it took over 40 years, but guitar wizards Carlos Santana and John McLaughlin finally reunited after their 12 stringed wonder from 1973 album Love, Devotion and Surrender. This disc (which is also in dvd form) has the two caught…
MAYBE I’M AMAZED…John Pizzarelli: Midnight McCartney
Decades ago, John Pizzarelli was one of the first jazz artists to dedicate an entire album to The Beatles’ songbook. So, how is this latest effort of McCartney’s material different from that original effort. Well, I’ve got some news for…
TENOR TIME…Nicole Glover: First Record, Dave Wilson Quartet: There Never Was
Here are a couple tenor quartet sessions, continuing the tradition started by Coleman Hawkins up to this very moment. Hailing from Oregon, tenor saxist Nicole Glover displays a thick and rich tone on this collection of (mostly) originals with a…
BEYOND MANANA…Peggy Lee: Latin ala Lee!/Ole’ ala Lee!
Think the entire Peggy Lee songbook consisted of “Fever” and “Manana”? Get a load of this 2 album compilation by Fresh Sound records. Miss Lee is backed here in 1959-60 by a pair of fun and almost tongue in cheek…
Steve Hackett: The Man, The Music
When you think of the top tier of jazz/rock guitarists, names like Steve Howe, Jeff Beck and Al DiMeola pop into mind. For some reason, Steve Hackett gets ignored in America, but his insightful 2+ hour dvd hopefully will set…
JAZZ IN MIXED MEDIA…Laura Karpman: Ask Your Mama, Caroline Davis: Doors-Chicago Storylines
Sometimes, jazz is used as part of a multi-media project. You probably won’t hear these albums performed as such in a jazz club, but the presentation on cd is quite a journey. Here are two examples. Laura Karpman won some…