Bassist Matthew Snow leads a Charles Mingusy band of David Gibson/tb, Clay Lyons/as, Joe Doubleday/vib, Dakuke Abe/g and Wayne Smith/dr through a collection of fervent originals. The moods sway between the cool kineticsm of Doubleday as on the glistening “Venus”…
Month: December 2019
Nerve Bundle w/ Steve Lukather @ The Baked Potato 12.17.19
“You’re going to hear a lot more notes than with Ringo!” So stated Nerve Bundle drummer Gregg Bissonette just before settling down behind the traps in support of fellow Ringo All Starr Band member Steve Lukather who played in toto…
COMEBACK, BABY, COMEBACK…Elvis Presley: Elvis Live 1969
For many music fans, as well as Elvis fans (is there a difference?!?), The 1969 four week residency of Elvis Presley at the brand spanking new International Hotel in Viva Las Vegas (where he played 2 shows a night EVERY…
DYLAN AND CASH! Bob Dylan: Travelin’ Through-The Bootleg Series Vol. 15 1967-69
Each Volume of Bob Dylan’s Bootleg Series has its own unique charms, but this 3 disc set from Sony Legacy may be the most important and intimate. It finds Mr. Zimmerman at one of his creative peaks, featuring outtakes from…
DETROIT’S FIRST DIVA… Mary Wells: The Early Years-Motown Releases 1960-62
Before Diana Ross or Martha Reeves, the queen of Motor City soul was Mary Wells. This album features in her early R&B years before crossing over into a more pop sound in the mid 60s. She had a warm and…
STOCKING STUFFERS…Jonathan Butler: Christmas Together, Martina DaSilva & Dan Chielinski: A Very Chimytina Christmas, Jeff Collins: The Keys to Christmas
The great thing about Christmas, is that, like the Savior Himself, it is appealing and adaptable to all types and people. It’s just up to our accepting the joy. One of my goals is to hear guitarist Jonathan Butler lead…
Charles Lloyd Quartet: Montreux Jazz Festival 1967
This two disc set finds legendary tenor saxist and flutist Charles Lloyd with one of his most adventurous groups as well as riding a wave of popularity during these “hippie” days of music. For some reason, Lloyd’s music caught on…
FORGOTTEN FABULOUS FAMALE VOICES…Janet Blair: Flame Out!/Claudia Thompson: Goodbye To Love, Corky Shayne: In The Mood For A Song?/Georgia Carr: Songs By A Moody Miss, Rita Moss: Queen Moss 1951-1959
It completely amazes me how many fantastic singers were around a half century ago, and how so many of them have become overlooked. Take my advice; before you plop down some money for today’s singers who all sound like everyone…
VINTAGE CHET…Chet Baker: The Legendary Riverside Albums
One of jazz’s most lyrical trumpeters, Chet Baker, is given a reissue of his halcyon days at Riverside Records on this 5 album set that features him singing with and playing his horn at his richest state. He had already…
Azar Lawrence: Summer Solstice
Tenor saxist Azar Lawrence’s classic 1975 album Summer Solstice has finally been reissued, still in vinyl and still sounding fantastic. Lawrence plays alto, tenor and soprano sax as well as some exotic percussion along with McCoy Tyner-inspired Albert Bailey or…