This big band may come from NYC, but they sure sound like they stayed awhile in either Kansas City or Memphis, as they’ve got the steady southern swing down pat. You’ve got a steady Basie beat with John Bauers on…
Month: August 2020
SOUNDS FROM OUTSIDE…Flaherty/Roberson/Colbourne/Hunt: Borrowed From Children, Jerkagram & Martin Escalante: Parkour, Dylan Jack Quartet: The Tale Of The Twelve-Foot Man, Daniel Carter/Matthew Shipp/William Parker/Gerald Cleaver: Welcome Adventure
Musicians that take you on a white-knuckler of a ride. Hold on to your hat! Paul Flaherty plays alto and tenor sax, James Chumley Hunt is on trumpet and conch shells, Mike Roberson hits the electric guitar with drummer Randall…
Michel Hausser: Mr. Vibes Quartet & Octet Sessions 1958-1960
Just like bebop clarinet players, the niche of European vibes players is pretty much an uncharted map. Frenchman Michel Hausser cornered the market back in the bop era of 1958-60, with this two disc collection showing that he could hold…
THE LAST OF A BREED…Bobby Rush: Rawer Than Raw
10,000 years from now, when the re-excavate the La Brea Tar Pits, they’re going to find the bones of Bobby Rush firmly grasping on to his harmonica, and they’ll make a display of him in the Natural History Museum in…
ESSENTIAL HARD BOP AND ROCKABILLY FROM AVID…The Miles Davis Quintet: Four Classic Albums, Rockabilly Legends: Five Classic Albums Plus
The latest releases by UK’s Avid Records includes some music that is essential for understanding Western Civilization In 1956, Miles Davis signed a lucrative contract with Columbia Records, which put the trumpet star on the map. In order to get…
ROCKABILLY FROM PHILLY…Charlie Gracie: The Charlie Gracie Collection 1953-62
An overlooked pioneer of rock and roll, guitarist and vocalist Charlie Gracie (b 1936) is re-evaluated on this fun loving 2 disc set that covers his days with a plethora of labels. Gracie’s voice and delivery was sort of a…
Peggy Lee: The Ultimate Peggy Lee
Vocalist Peggy Lee was “ultimate” in many ways, as she was able to score hits in almost every decade and musical style. This 22 song retrospective covers here vocal and career range, including the big hits like the sultry “Fever”,…
Sophie Tassignon: Mysteries Unfold
Sophie Tassignon creates ominous and ethereal moods a la vintage Nico with a tone like June Tabor on this album that has her voice in solo and multi-tracked mode accompanied by her synthesizer. Her voice reaches deep into subtones on…
Antonio Adolfo: BruMa-Celebrating Milton Nascimento
Pianist Antonio Adolfo shows good taste in both playing, arranging and selection of material by focusing on the songbook of legendary Milton Nascimento. Adolfo mixes and matches horns, percussion and guitars with a core team of bassist Jorge Helder, drummer…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****La Lucha: Everybody Wants To Rule The World
The La Lucha trio of John C. O’Leary III/p, Alejandro Arenas/b and Mark Feinman/dr mix and match with a delightful array of guest on this seamless tapestry of sounds. They do a sole piece without any accompaniment and they show…