Some of the most creative and exciting sounds are coming from Central Asia. Just like Brazil’s bossa nova grooves created a tidal wave of influence back in the 50s and 60s, the intricate rhythms and complex harmonies from India and…
Month: October 2017
BLUESERS & ROCKERS…Dennis Johnson & The Mississippi Ramblers: Rhythmland, Dudly Taft: Summer Rain
Plug in, slide and tune in… Dennis Johnson displays his mastery of the slide guitar on this easy to please session with Tim Metz/dr, Jonathan Stoyanoff/b and Craig Long/key. His voice has been sanded by 100 grade paper, honky tonkin’…
The Liberation Music Collective: Rebel Portraiture
A mix of voices and big band sounds make for artsy jazz on this album. A mix of song and poetry teams up with Hannah Fidler on the sweet “Passing Away”, the flowing “Iqra” along with Kyle Schardt’s guitar and…
A FORGOTTEN VOCALIST…Helen Humes: The 1927-62 Collection
As this attractive 2 disc set attests, vocalist Helen Humes had a split personality of a career. On one hand, she was a sweet-toned canary in the Swing Era for both Harry James and Count Basie during their heyday. Her…
TODAY’S LEADING TRUMPET…Wadada Leo Smith: Solo-Reflections and Meditations on Monk, Najwa
It’s hard to dispute that one of today’s the most important trumpet players is Wadada Leo Smith. His left of center compositions team with his clarion clear horn for a wonderful melding of sweet and sour sonic sauces. He’s simultaneously…
THIS IS A TENOR SAX 101….****REISSUE OF THE YEAR?****Lucky Thompson: Complete Parisian Small Group Sessions 1956-1959, The Complete All Star Orchestra Sessions in Paris 1956
One of the truly sad stories of jazz is the career arc of “Lucky” Thompson, who, as the excellent liner notes from the 4 cd set state, couldn’t have been a more ironic moniker. He had a smooth tone akin…
Jeff Beck: Live at the Hollywood Bowl
Celebrating a career spanning over 50 years, guitar legend Jeff Beck delivers a searing 2 hour show at the Hollywood Bowl (on this 2cd-dvd set) that captured just about every genre his six strings have touched. His core working unit…
OTIS REDDING, SAM & DAVE, ETC…Soulsville U.S.A.: A Celebration of Stax
In celebration of the 60th anniversary of the birth of STAX Records, Concord has put together a tidy 3 disc set the covers the highlights of the celebrated label. What set STAX apart from other labels such as Motown was…
Antonino Fogliani: ROSSINI- Guillaume Tell
Yes, I’m sure you grew up hearing the “William Tell Overture,” and still have it ringing in the backstreets of your mind. Many of Giacochino Rossini’s operas such as The Barber of Seville get better press, but this four act…
MikroJazz: Neue Expressionistische Musik
A heavy hitting team of Phlipp Gerschlauer/as, David Fiuczynski/g, Jack DeJohnette/dr, Matt Garrison/b and Giorgi Mikadze/key team up for some dark shadows and fusion grooves on this exciting release. The rhythm team never loses its boproots, swinging hard on sepia…