Between Andres Segovia and Christopher Parkening, the most important classical guitarist was, beyond doubt Australian John Williams (not to be confused with the “Star Wars” conductor). His first three albums, all solo releases, were like a gauntlet not unlike the…
Month: August 2022
Dylan Ward: Tourmaline
Dylan Ward uses his reed collection of soprano, alto and tenor saxes not for bop lines, but for creating sonic atmospheres. Occasionally teaming with Seth Andrew on laptop/electronics or Kenneth Michael Florence/g-p-elec, Ward plays with tapes, effects and tonalities to…
Chris Antonik: Morningstar
Singer/guitarist/writer Chirs Antonik paints it black on this collection of hard hitting metallic originals. There’s an Aerosmithean swagger to the guitar work and vocals to pieces like “Back TO The Good” while anthem like hooks dominate tunes such as “Pilgrim”…
SO, THESE EIGHT BEATS GO INTO THIS BAR…Eddie Slack: Mr. Five By Five-The Singles Collection 1940-49
One of the best fads that ever took jazz by the storm, and I pray it never leaves, has to be the relentless eight to the bar beat of boogie woogie supplied by ten demonstrative digits on the piano. There…
SOMEWHERE THERE’S MUSIC…Alex Smith: Determined Values, The Jeff Kaiser Ockodektet: 132350
The Pf Mentum label prides itself of experimental and far left of center intuitive recordings. It’s nice to have a label who knows what it is, just like the good old days. Here are a couple recent white knucklers. Playing…
Ben Patterson: The Way Of The Groove
Big-toned trombonist Ben Patterson digs in deep with his team of Shawn Purcell/g, Harry APpelman/B3-p-synth, Paul Henry/b, Todd Harrison/dr, Luis Hernandez/ts and even joins in the vocals with Evan Reiger and Purcell. His horn fills the room on his solo…
Dave Slonaker Big Band: Convergency
Big band leader Dave Slonaker brings together a collection of some of the West Coast’s top session studs to interpret his charts and tunes on this collection of mostly originals. The only cover is a velvety rendition of “I Had…
THE GRETA GARBO OF COUNTRY…Bobbie Gentry: The Girl From Chickasaw County
If an artist can be called “legendary”, Bobbie Gentry is a member of that club. She grew up in the classic “country” song style of poverty, wanting to be a songwriter, but suddenly got world famous with her haunting popular…
Thin Lizzy: The Boys Are Back In Town-Live at the Sydney Opera House, October 1978
In the realm of “two lead guitar” bands, Thin Lizzy is always one of the top picks. Led by Irish bassist/singer Phil Lynott (1949-86), he is still revered in Ireland as one of the most distinct musical voices in the…
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****SWEDE DREAMS…Kolonien: Till Skogen
Rich vocal harmonies, upbeat folk beats and acoustic joys are delivered by the team of Eric/b-voc and Arvid/g/voc Rusk, cousin Anna Moller/vi-va-fid-voc and neighbor Mischa Grind/perc-org-voc on a mix of vocal and instrumental tunes that are as fresh as today’s…