Besides being one of the most important contributors to today’s pop scene by giving us Norah Jones, Ravi Shankar also changed America’s ears to Indian music as he introduced the sitar to millions of ears. This two album set finds…
Month: November 2016
HADEN’S LAST HURRAH…Charlie Haden’s Liberation Music Orchestra: Time/Life
Music from legendary bassist Charlie Haden’s 2011 concert at the Middelheim Festival is captured here along with three pieces with Steve Swallow at the helm in this final collection of material. The two last works include an interpretation of “Blue…
THREE MEN, THREE CHORDS…ZZ Top: Tonight at Midnight
One of music’s true guilty pleasures is taking in a gig or album by ZZ Top. Also known worldwide in the TV show Bones, Billy Gibbons returns to his “first” career as guitarist and vocalist along with Dusty Hill/b and…
Carol Bach-Y-Rita: Minha Casa/My House
Most of being successful in life is making wise choices. Vocalist Carol Bach-Y-Rita wins you over on this album with superb choices of musicians, songs, and delivery styles. Her selection of Bill Cantos/p, Larry Koonse/g, John Leftwich/b and Mike Shapiro/dr-perc…
****CO-RINGERS OF THE WEEK****A PAIR OF LATIN LOVERS…Carlos Jimenez & Michel Heroux: Voices, Michel Camilo & Tomatito: Spain Forever
Both of these albums are so similar in concept, and equally enthralling that I couldn’t separate them. They are at a photo finish for essentials for the week… Guitarists Carlos Jimenez and Michel Heroux deliver a series of duets on…
OYE’! OH YEAH! Diego El Cigala: Indestructible
Singer Diego El Cigala brings back the Old World attitude of Latin vocals on this exciting mix of salsa and flamenco. He’s got an earthy 2 pack a day voice, with a personal delivery of a guy with blisters on…
TEXTURES…Sonus Inenarrabilis: Nine Live Plays the Music of John Clark, Quinsin Nachoff: Flux
Rich mixtures of sounds abound here. The name “Sonus Inenarrabilis” actually means “undefinable sound.” Conducted by Thomas Carlo Bo, the nine piece team features a rich mixture of strings, reeds and rhythm interpreting the compositions of jazz composer and French…
SONGBOOK SIRENS…Masumi Ormandy: Sunshine in Manhattan, Kristen Lee Sergeant: Inside Out
The Great American Songbook gets dusted off by a couple of ladies. Masumi Ormandy teams up with a core trio of Lee Tomboulian/p, Dean Johnson/b and Tim Horner for a friendly visit of standards. She has a dash of later…
JAZZY GUITARS…Rale Micic: Night Music, A.G.N.Z.: Chance Meeting
Two recent releases by Whaling City Sound records brings the jazz guitar to the front line in a modern setting. Rale Micic brings his dark-toned guitar in a quartet setting with post bop artists Danny Grissett/p, Corcoran Holt/b and Johnathan…
Amina Claudine Myers: Sma Rou-Songs From My Soul
Here’s a disc that will hit you where you need to be reached. AMina Claudine Myers sings and plays piano, while Rene McLean joins in on some recitations on a deeply delivered and interpreted collection of spirituals. The album opens…