Putumayo continues its musical world tour by presenting ten songs of the rich and romantic Afro Cuban tradition. The recordings range from famous Cuba to the more obscure African island nations of Sao Tome’ and Principe, even hitting Guinea-Bisseau with…
Month: August 2022
CLASSIC FRANK AND BOP PIANO FROM AVID: Frank Sinatra: Four Classic Albums Plus, Hampton Hawes: Three Classic Albums Plus
Timeless treasures from swinging vocals and piano. For my money, the earliest albums of Frank Sinatra are his most long lasting, and you get a taste of them here. His 1954 Capitol debut has him with his two best arrangers,…
SWINGING TRUMPETS…Roy Eldridge: The Verve Collection 1957-1962, Harry “Sweets” Edison: The Classic Albums Collection, Clark Terry: The Complete Albums Collection 1961-1963
In the wake of Louis Armstrong, three trumpeters became the voice of the swing era, namely Roy Eldridge, Harry “Sweets” Edison and Clark Terry. Respectively making their names with Gene Krupa, Count Basie and Duke Ellington, all three found their…
Tedeschi Trucks Band, Los Lobos & Gabe Dixon Wheels of Soul Tour@ The Greek Theatre 08.19.22
Since getting back together from the draconian COVID lockdown, Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks have made some changes in their band over the past couple of years, and all three shows at the Greek this Friday night reflected how problems…
Robert Plant & Alison Kraus with JD McPherson@The Greek Theatre 08.18.22
You know it’s going to be a good night of music when the first thing you hear on the loudspeakers as the lights go dim is Thelonious Monk’s rendition of the hymn “Abide With Me”. A night of swinging spirituals?…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****THE LAST BEATNIK…Tom Waits: Standing On The Corner
The label Revolution Beats specializes in finding vintage and obscure concert or studio sessions from artists of the 1970s and 80s. This 10 disc set is a real treasure, as it focuses on Tom Waits, who during the 1970s was…
SWINGING SENECA…Jason Palmer: Live From Summit Rock In Seneca Village, Burton/McPHerson Trio: The Summit Rock Session at Seneca Village
Tucked away in New York City, Seneca Village was once a borough for African American landowners. Here are a couple albums from concerts from the area, as free as the original residents. A pianoless quartet led by sweet toned trumpeter…
TASTY GUITAR TRIOS…Robert Kebler: Little People, The Margaret Slovak Trio: Ballad For Brad, Jimmy Branley Trio: The Meeting
Clean tone guitarist Robert Kebler creates a deft trio with Andreas Henze/b and Tobias Backaus/dr for a mix of originals and sly standards. Of the latter he is pastoral and patient on “My Ideal” and soft and easy on his…
Hendrik Meurkens & The WDR Big Band: Samba Jazz Odyssey
Leave it to someone German bred, like composer/harmonica player Hendrick Meurkens, to produce some of the best fresh and original Brazilian music these days. Here, along with conductor Michael Philip Mossman and the WDR Big Band, he brings his Samba’d…
Alan Pasqua-Peter Erskine-Darek Oles: Live In Italy
One of the best kept secrets of classy piano jazz trios is the team of drummer Peter Erskine, pianist Alan Pasqua and bassist Darek Oles. They’ve released a good number of albums over the years, and each one is a…