Sighing-toned trumpeter Mathias Eick adds a dash of voice and keyboards this time around on this folksy pastoral album including two drummers (Torstein Lofghus-Heighe Andreas Norbakken), piano (Andreas Ulvo), bass (Audun Erlien), violin (Hakon Aase) and pedal steel guitar (Stian…
Month: September 2021
JAZZ IN THE BLUE GRASS…Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs: Foggy Mountain Breakdown-The Collection 1948-62
After taking in this two disc, 56 song anthology of guitarist/vocalist Lester Flatt and banjoist Earl Scruggs, you’ll be convinced that most of the rejection of jazzers of bluegrass is more of a cultural than musical thing. These two alumni…
THE BLACKEST SOUNDING WHITE BIG BAND…Glen Gray’s Casa Loma Orchestra: All the Hits and More 1931-44
Back in the early days of the Swing Era, you had either “Sweet” (aka “white” bands like Paul Whiteman or Guy Lombardo, or “Hot” (aka “black”) bands such as Count Basie, Fletcher Henderson, Duke Ellington and Jimmie Lunceford. Before Benny…
Denise Donatelli: Whistling In The Dark…The Music of Burt Bacharach
The Burt Bacharach songbook is delivered in a film noir’d atmosphere under the classy leadership of vocalist Denise Donatelli. She brings in the best of the best for musical support, including Vinnie Colaiuta/dr, Anthony Wilson/g, Larry Goldings/p-key, Larry Klein/b-key and…
Richard Carr: Over The Ridge
Rich Coplandesque atmospheres are created by violinist/composer Richard Carr and his team of strings comprised of Laura Lutzke/vi, Ravenna Lipchik/vi, Caleb Burhans/va and Clarice Jensen on this dozen panorama of tones. The strings range from a turbulent undercurrent of “Narrow…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Scott Hamilton & Duke Robillard: Swingin’ Again
It’s not well known that tenor saxist Scott Hamilton was actually the guy who refused to plug in during the “fusion 70s” and started the return to vintage acoustic jazz with his breathy blowing with mainstream old timers. Now an…
Jackson Potter: Restless
Clean toned guitarist Jackson Potter carries the swinging mainstream strings of the likes of Herb Ellis on this hip collection of mostly originals with a simpatico team of Patrick Leavy/b, Gibb Mandish/dr, Leo Folsom/p and guests David Mason/as, Joey Curreri/tp…
WAY DOWN INSIDE (THE CUMBERLAND GAP)…James Lee Stanley & Dan Navarro: All Wood and Led
Over the years, acoustic guitarist James Lee Stanley has released McCabes-styled acoustic tributes to Baby Boomer rock bands like The Rolling Stones and The Doors, all to rich success. He goes for the hat trick here, delving into heavy metal…
John Ellis/Adam Levy/Glenn Patscha: Say It Quiet
The core team of woodwind master John Ellis, guitar man Adam Levy and keyboardist Glenn Patscha is supported by Chris Morrisey/b, Dan Rieser and vibists Stefan Bauer or Erin Donovan on this collection of post bop originals and readings. Morrisey…
NIXON ERA HUMOR…Richard Pryor: Live at the Comedy Store, 1973
I’m going to go against the tide by saying this, but most entertainment in the 70s has not aged well. Ok, a couple movies like The Sting, Star Wars and The Godfather I & II, and some fusion jazz, but…