Time to check out more sounds of reggae!! Vocalist and guitarist Taj Weekes leads a rich and thick team of Radss desiree/b, Adoni Xavier/g, Baldwin Brown/dr, Aya Kato/key, John Hewitt/key and Valerie Kelley/voc through some traditional reggae with added electronic.…
Month: May 2016
Alfredo Rodriguez Quartet@The Blue Whale 05.17.16
At the Blue Whale Tuesday night, pianist Alfredo Rodriguez demonstrated that there is a vast difference between “Cuban music” and music played by a Cuban. Instead of replicating sounds of the Buena Vista Social Club or Ricky Ricardo, the pianist/composer…
THIS IS THE LONDON BLUES 101…John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers: Live In 1967-Volume Two
If you got the first volume of these “official bootleg” sessions blessed by John Mayall that were released last year, I’m sure your first response was “could there be any more?” Well, proof of a benevolent God exists, as He…
Christopher Zuar Orchestra: Musings
Christopher brings together a richly textured big band to interpret his sophisticated yet swinging pieces. The Rhythm team of Pete McCann/g, Frank Carlberg/key, John Hebert/b and Mark Ferber/dr is able to gently drive the orchestra through a myriad of moves,…
Ferenc Snetberger: In Concert
Here’s a gorgeous album by guitarist Ference Snetberger, who’s caught in a concert at Budapest’s Franz Liszt Academy of Music. He plays classical guitar here, and uses it in a variety of luscious moods. None of the titles are given…
OH YEAH!!! Johnny Winter with Doctor John: Live In Sweden 1987
Ah! Life just seems so easy and basic some times. Here’s a gig from 1987 that takes the basic joys of the blues down to its electric marrow. Johnny Winter wails on both guitar and vocals with a swinging team…
JAZZ WITH A SMILE: Braun-Whalum-Brown: BWB, Al Jarreau: Live at Montreux 1993
What initially got me fascinated in jazz was that everyone from the musicians to the people in the audience seemed to be having a good time. No “attitude” was present. I left the club feeling more alert and alive than…
Theo Croker & DVRK FUNK: Escape Velocity
Trumpeter Theo Croker sounds like he was dropped in a time machine as he melds spacey funk and electronica on this recent release. He’s teamed with Anthony Ware/ts-fl, Michael King/p, Eric Wheeler/b and Kassa Overall/dr, but that doesn’t give the…
Nik Bartsch: Mobile
Relentless grooves and moods are the sonic wallpaper created by pianist Nik Barsch. He uses a pair of settings, or “continuums” , a “mobile” team with Sha/bcl/cbcl, Kaspar Rast/dr-perc and Nicolas Stocker/dr as well as an “extended” one with a…
Take 6@Smothers Theatre Pepperdine 05.14.16
“Speaking to one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with the Lord in your heart” Ephesians 5:19 If you wanted a hint of heaven, even the beaches at Malibu paled in comparison to the sounds…