Here’s a lyrical and charming duet recording between guitarist Johnnie Valentino and Chris Colangelo, working their way through 9 Valentino pieces and a take of Jimmy Webb’s “All I Know.” The rapport between these two gents is a rich display…
Month: March 2019
SMOKING LIKE A MONTECRISTO…Espontaneo: The Abdala Sessions, Vocal Universo: Musica Universal
There are tons of “traditional” Cuban albums. These two recent releases from Ansonic Records, if they are a portend of things to come, are the real deal! “Spontaneous” is the literal translation that the team of Dayron Ortega Guzman/g, Maykel…
Fantastic Negrito: Please Don’t Be Dead
You’ll have to go to his website to get the entire background, but take it from me when I tell you that Fantastic Negrito has paid his dues to play the blues. This four song ep is a followup to…
Magnetic: EP
Back in the days of vinyl albums, this 5 song “EP” would have been a complete album; such are the days and demands of cds and mp3. It’s refreshing to have material that is in a digestible size, with Joel…
Mercedes Ellington and Steven Brower: Duke Ellington-An American Composer and Icon. Reviewed by Douglas Groothuis, Professor of Philosophy, Denver Seminary
Encomiums are appropriate for Duke . These come as books, articles, paintings, poems, photographs, tribute recordings, radio productions, and more expressions of love and respect. Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong are the two jazzmen who are followed most prominently in…
Jeff Cosgrove/Matthew Shipp/William Parker: Near Disaster
While sometimes associated with legendary tenor saxist Ivo Perelman, the trio of drummer Jeff Cosgrove, bassist William Parker and pianist Matthew Shipp show what they can do on their own. They did a similar album of three songs that filled…
Jazz Bakery Presents: Kenny Werner & Gregoire Maret’s Salute to Toots Thielemans @ Moss Theater 02.01.19
The sensitive souls of pianist Kenny Werner and harmonica player Gregoire Maret gave a 110 minute tribute to the legendary Toots Thielemans Friday night that mixed rich sounds, playful improvisations and an irresistible lyricism. Werner joked that Maret was Thielemans’…
A NIGHT OF WEST COAST JAZZ…J.C. Heard-Bill Perkins Quintet Featuring Joe Pass: Live at the Lighthouse 1964
Back in the 1960s, if you lived in Los Angeles, the jazz world was your oyster, as you had a surfeit of clubs in which to spend the evening to take in the modern sounds. One of the most legendary…
MARTIN BARRE: AFTER JETHRO TULL, A ROAD LESS TRAVELED
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT GUITARISTS OF HIS GENERATION, MARTIN BARRE GAINED FAME FOR HIS LEGENDARY WORK WITH JETHRO TULL. RESPONSIBLE FOR FAMOUS SOLOS AND LICKS FROM ALBUMS INCLUDING CLASSICS LIKE STAND UP, BENEFIT, AQUALUNG AND THICK AS A BRICK, BARRE…
JOHN SCOFIELD: ON A ROUTE AT 66
AT AN AGE WHEN MOST OF HIS PEERS ARE SITTING BACK AND COLLECTING SOCIAL SECURITY CHECKS, GUITARIST JOHN SCOFIELD CELEBRATES HIS 66TH YEAR IN A VENGEANCE, SURROUNDING HIMSELF WITH YOUNGER MUSICIANS AND STILL GOING FORWARD INTO NEW MUSICAL HORIZONS. HIS…